At What Point....

[ClownCarOnFire]

...Do you decide it's the right time to put a gecko in the freezer and end it's pain?
I've had this gecko for like 8 months and she hadn't grown, like..at all. She sheds horribly and is so frail I fear "helping" her shed would just turn into a disaster.
I have tried many things, including most importantly warm water soaks and rubs with wet Q-tips.
Now she's getting ready to shed again but she still has skin from other sheds on her. :main_no:

She eats...somewhat well. Usually two meal worms hold her for a few days.
But is it really fair to keep her going? I don't see this gecko surviving, and I don't like the idea of bringing her to a vet when I don't think they could do anything anyway.

Obviously, I feel like the most horrible person on earth...
I never expected that this would happen.


Basically I am asking...should I just put her in the freezer and end her suffering? :main_huh::main_no:

 

[Halley]

I have a couple of geckos that have failed to thrive as well. I would say at 8 months time the most humane thing to do would be to put her down. Some things are worth than death…

 

[Ehatcher]

Id say atleast take her to a vet. Its worth it in my opinion. And if you do euthanize... put her in the fridge and cool down before straight to the freezer. Frozen blood would hurt going through the heart.

 

[jandsfannon]

I had one little rescue that everyone told me to put down. It had lost its tail, was barely eating, had already lost its toes from having horrible sheds. It was not doing good at all. Everytime I thought ok Im going to have to euthanize I would go to get the little one and it would run around like a lunatic. I thought now this does look like a gecko thats ready to give up and die. Well a YEAR later, I have it shedding properly, it eats like a pig, it has colored up amazingly.
So I guess you would have to take a good look, and think whether or not you think you can help it make it, or whether or not its best to euthanize.
I have had to euthanize a few hatchlings this year, its such a hard decision and it breaks your heart but in the end we have to do whats best for the animal.
Good luck and I really hope your little one turns around for you.

 

[gothra]

If it is just shedding problems, why not just help her out everytime she sheds? I think it could be the layers of old shed making it difficult for her to shed on her own now? If you can't get the shed off, maybe you can get her to a vet to take care of that? I don't know, its really up to you. If you really do want to end her life, please don't put her straight into the freezer, as Eric had mentioned, it causes immense pain when the blood froze in a living gecko.

 

[rince]

why would you leave the shed on her so long anyhow? You should help her if she can not get it off by herself within 2 days. Euthanizing an animal should not be taken lightly and putting them in the freezer is at least crontoversial. Bring her to a vet, get her checked out and if he decides it is necessary, he will euthanize it in a more 'humane' way. Freezing will create little ice crystals in the blood which is considered very painful. With adopting an animal we also take responsibility for this animal. So if really necessary you should step up to the plate and take a trip to the vet.

 

[RocksMama77]

I would suggest a vet trip before you try to euthanize. It could be a simple parasite problem that could be taken care of. Also do you have a moist hide for her? Are her temps good? Have you tried feeding other feeders like crickets, roaches, waxies. There are some geckos that are just picky and will try to waste away if they can. I adopted one of my girls a few months ago. She is a slow grower and is a picky eater. The only thing big about her is her tail.
I don't mean to be offensive at all, so please don't take it that way. I just hate to think there could be something out there to help her. Any way it goes I wish you luck and let us know how things are going.

 

[Gregg M]

If you must euthanize, the freezer is not the way to go...
Unfortunately some animals fail to thrive... This is true in their natural environment and in captivity... Think about this... If that animal was in the wild, would it thrive???

 

[acpart]

I thought I'd weigh in here to clarify some things (I have been PM'ing Deanna). This is not the usual situation where there's a gecko with some shedding problems that she hasn't cared for correctly. I adopted this gecko out to Deanna last winter. She had hatched from an egg given to me by an aquaintance who has a pair of geckos and no incubator. This gecko and her clutchmate both hatched with multiple congenital anomalies. They were both very small with very funky eyes --we thought they may both be blind-- and a real inability to care for themselves. I don't know how the gecko with Deanna is doing, but the clutchmate was adopted by a friend and neighbor. She has required incredible amounts of care, which my neighbor has been able to lavish --she not only requires hand feeding, but until recently she actually needed the mealworms to be pushed into her mouth with help to swallow. Even now at 9 months, she's only 10 grams. We just came back from the vet this afternoon because she had a huge lump under her eye that turned out to be a malformed tear duct.

I honestly don't know if this gecko that Deanna has is salvageable, but she's been trying with it for an amazing 8 months. I do trust that if she feels it just can't go on with any quality of life, she's correct. She and I have talked about a vet visit in our PM and I believe that is her intention.

I know everyone is trying to be supportive and give suggestions. I just wanted you all to understand that this is an unusual situation.

Thanks,

Aliza

 

[rince]

Hello Aliza,
thank you for clarifying those points. Still my main issue is, that the freezer is in my opinion not the correct way to euthanize this poor fellow. It is a terrible thing and I hope that no pet owner makes this decision lightly, but if it has to be done, it should be done by a professional with a method most unlikely to cause pain or suffering. I am sorry if my post was harsh or even sounded accusing, that was not what I meant and I apologize if this was the impression you got out of my post. I am sorry for what Deanna has to go through

 

[acpart]

No problem. I think it was fine to point out that the freezer was not the best idea, and, actually, we had quickly moved beyond that idea. I just didn't wan't people to think that this was a minor problem with shed.

Aliza

 

[RocksMama77]

I apologize as well if I sounded offensive. my heart is with you and this little gecko. It sounds to me like you have done as much as anyone can.

 

[ClownCarOnFire]

Well. I never ended up being able to get to a vet. I am very ashamed of myself to be typing this. I am a failure.
She's...I think, dying as we speak. Right now all I can do is be with her, in her final moments. I mean, she's moving around on her own and stuff, but still, I think it'll be within the night. So I am prepared to stay with her.
I've made her a little enclosure. Just a little hide and a water dish. I'd put food in but she's rejected everything I've offered her the past few days. She's too frail to force feed.
I'm so sorry, little girl. Very much a trooper. <3

 

[Adinar]

I would say that if she survives the night and you still think it best to end her suffering, take her to a vet to have it done. Any normal vet can do it. If they even charge you, it's not much. When I had to take Dante in to be put down, they didn't charge me. When it was Odin's time, it was only 10 bucks. The freezer way is WAY too extreme imo. This way if you have it done by a vet, you know it's painless.

It's horrible making those decisions, but you're doing it for her best interest.

 

[ClownCarOnFire]

Yes, I wanna bring her to the vet right now, honestly. I am gonna try.
But honestly, I think she is dying right now. She's hardly moving, and when she does it's not like..normal movements.
So I am kind of a wreck right now. It looks so awful..

 

[JordanAng420]

I agree with Val. If there's something that can be done, i'm sure it shouldn't cost an arm and a leg. Just request the gas euthanasia...it's the least painful, less stressfull option IMO...and I have a specialty degree in anesthesia....

 

[JordanAng420]

Sometimes there are vets that see patients on emergency...i'd go ahead and get on the phone, to call the animal hospitals in your area, maybe someone is familar with exotic medicine....

 

[ClownCarOnFire]

Yeah... I just feel so awful for this. I mean, being here and seeing how well you guys care for your animals...I feel like an awful person for this.
I mean, I expected it...or so I thought..but still.
I know it's life and it happens, but it's still always sad.

I will certainly visit a vet tomorrow, if she makes it through the night, if not well...

 

[ClownCarOnFire]

Ok, well. As expected, she's passed away.
Something I never experienced before with geckos. So it was somewhat...traumatic.

Although I am extremely saddened over this, I feel someone okay knowing she's no longer in any pain.
She was certainly a little trooper, I can tell you that much.

As sad as this is, I have to say, I am happy I got to spend time with this little gecko, she really taught me a lot and gave me a few laughs due to her quirky ways.

Rest in peace little one, I'm very proud of you.

 

[JordanAng420]

I'm sorry, Deanna.

Your little one will be in my prayers tonight.