Tiny

[Susann]

“Ask the beasts and they will teach you the beauty of this earth.”
St. Francis of Assisi

Wow what a day.
Part of me feels silly feeling this much pain after this little creature who was only here for 8 days, but the other part of me understands. He was such a helpless little guy, and as a mommy I will always love most the one who needs me the most. I think the tiny little bug left such a big hole in me partly because of all the potential I saw. I know that sounds cliché maybe, but I could just imagine the joy on the faces of little kids, who didn’t have the use of their legs, crawling alongside little Tiny who was crawling just like them...

But part of loving him meant to not be selfish and keep him here for my own reasons, but to let him go at first sign from him of pain or struggling. Tuesday night I noticed that he wasn’t just "filling out", but also taking very shallow breaths. I had been gently massaging his tummy with warm water to try to stimulate that function, but after yet another water session yesterday morning with nothing happening, I decided that it was probably time to let him go. He hadn’t eaten or taken any water since Monday, and I felt him weakening. He had gained 2 grams, which is an impressive amount when you start out at only 7 grams.

I still couldn’t just trust my own feeling, so I had the vet do another x-ray. It didn’t look very hopeful, and even the vet said that we were probably about to cross the line of going into “heroic measures” trying anything more than I had already been doing.
So we let little teeny Tiny fall asleep.

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened. "
Anatole France


You would think that that would be enough for one day. Well you would have to think again.

I get home, start putting stuff away, get some food out for the babies, put it on plates, go to put them in the tanks. Kentucky likes to sleep underneath the paper towels, so to make sure I’m not putting the plate down on top of him, I peel the paper back. And about drop the plate.
Kentucky had ballooned up to what seemed double the size of the day before! I don’t believe my eyes; I stand there and just blink for the longest time. Finally gather the courage to pick him up, and he’s all soft and squishy and his breathing seems a little labored.

I take him to the tub, give him a long warm bath, in case he’s a little (or A LOT!) constipated, even though I know he’s been pooping. We all know a warm bath is a skink-enema. Nothing. He’s basically just floating around!
I flip out, start bawling. What the crud is going on!? Well, no other choice than to just load him up, and point the car back to the vet’s office (about an hour drive one way).

Vet picks him up, and after palpating a little says “I think he’s OK. I don’t feel anything that makes me think it’s a blockage.” So he squeezes Kentucky a little, and the poop starts coming. And coming. And coming. Vet says “See? I think he’s fine; maybe he was just a little plugged up, maybe he just engorged himself yesterday...” And a light comes on.

I usually just put some food on a plate, more than I think they can eat, and put the plates in the tanks for them, come back after a little bit and take what’s left on the plate and throw it away.
The day before, Kentucky and Nevada’s plate (they are roommates) was nearly empty! I was a little astonished, but figured it was because they didn’t eat all that much the day before. But still thinking that that was a lot of food for them to put away!

We put Kentucky on the scale. He weighed 30 grams at birth. In a week he’d gained 5 grams, so the day before he was at 35 grams. He now weighed 47 grams!!!! The little porker had gained 12 grams in ONE. DAY. And that was AFTER pooping!!!

I guess from now on he gets just a little dab of food, and I’m watching who eats what!

Well, today I can laugh about it. Yesterday, after 4 hrs in the car and losing Tiny, not so much laughing.

[Katydid11]

That's really sad to hear. He was adorable! It was really kind of you to give him a chance and also to know when to let him go. Those are the hardest decisions.


Stupid nature!!

[ljhinders]

my heart goes out to you susan but his/her spirit will stay with you. you will always have those great pics and memories to remember him/her. hugs to you

[juliec1]

Hu gs

[xxmonitorlizardxx]

[Spindown]

oh no! I would have offered to adopt Tiny if he had made it, I already have one special needs animal.
Also, putting reptiles in the freezer is one of THE most inhumane methods of euthanasia. I hope thats not how he got put to sleep, but if it is, now you know for the future.
Poor little guy, I'm sorry for your loss

[StaceyLeigh]

So sorry A loss is a loss, no matter how many days. I felt sadness even with the stillborns and I didn't get to know them at all.

[Spindown]

I had to re-read this, as my day has gone to heck...I'm so glad Kentucky was ok! I'm just picturing the miles of poo being squeezed from a baby skink. I'm not sure whether to be or

[Linnea]

I'm sorry for your loss

[Susann]

putting reptiles in the freezer is one of THE most inhumane methods of euthanasia. I hope thats not how he got put to sleep, but if it is, now you know for the future.

How do you recommend doing it?
I paid the vet to do it, and to dispose of him afterwards, but it cost me $72. Not everybody can afford to pay that for a dying animal, and lots of people outside of the U.S. would have to drive for hours to get their skink to a vet who could do it.

I've been told that, outside of an injection, the most humane way of euthanizing a mammal is to drown it, and the most humane way to euthanize a reptile is to put it in the freezer.
I could personally never do either, but if that's your only option... Sometimes driving for hours, or getting on a buss, is not the most humane option for a suffering animal either.

[Bird_Brain]

So sorry to hear he didnt make it, Susann! It's never easy to do, but the most humane.

[Spindown]

deleted.

[El Lobo]

Susann, I am genuinely saddened for you for your loss. I can speak as someone who has had to make that call to end suffering on more than one occasion and know it is irrelevant how long the animal had been in your care, it will always a decision that is made by putting aside your wants in favour of the animals needs.

Could we please take into account the sensitivity of this thread before rushing into opinions. There are times when silence speaks louder the words.

[Spindown]

Sorry Susann

There are times when silence speaks louder the words.
And then theres me. X_X

[Karen]

Definitely not what I wanted to see coming back to the site... So sorry Susann. It sounds like you made the right choice on letting the little guy go though.

[Richard.C]

Sorry for the loss susann,its definatly the pitts going through that,but sometimes it is the most humane thing to do

Rip tiny

[Susann]

Thank you everyone (SapphireTigress too ).
I feel quite a bit better today. Staying busy with the 5 little cuties, and the 6 big cuties.
Even Balloon Boy has mostly deflated to somewhat normal measures today, so I can breathe easier there too. ...little stinker...

[Spindown]

haha you should keep KY...he sounds like he is going to be all sorts of trouble for many years to come And he's good at doing impressions!