Well guys, this will probably be my last post to this thread... It's been almost a month since I put Dino down. It's been a long, hard road. We almost got out of that tunnel but, it just wasn't meant to be.
Having Dino taught me so much more about our littlest friends... They depend on us completely. They never complain. They don't know any other life but the one we give them. They do "enjoy" things: like bugs, baths, and head scratches! :love5: They are tolerant. They are tough. They show us when they don't like stuff or don't want to be bothered: they puff at us, they hide, they black-beard. On that rare occasion, they might even hiss! :evil: (Dino did that once at vet #1!) I learned from this little dragon that when something is wrong... something is wrong. And more often than not, when something is wrong, it is VERY wrong. :shock:
When I saw those big puffy breaths, I had a very bad feeling. Most of us know, from experience, when they are showing signs of illness, they've been ill for a while, without showing it. Who knows how long that fluid was building up in her chest and in her lung? But when I saw the x-ray, I just couldn't believe how bad it was. A couple times in her
bath, I thought I saw a funny huff or a puff. I would watch her intensely and then I wouldn't see it again. Then I saw her filling her beard up a tiny bit in her tank as she inhaled. Once or twice, then the week of her appointment a few more times. Should I have taken her earlier? Would it have made a difference? I don't know. Dino was at the vet once a month since last July!!! How did we miss this? :shock:
Most important thing I learned from Dino is: Silent, these creatures are silent... Trust your instincts. If you think something isn't right, it probably isn't.
I want to thank you all again for being here when I needed you. I needed you guys a lot and you never let me down... you were always "here". :help: Cheering us on, encouraging me when I needed it. Keeping the faith, pushing me through those tough days. I had a lot of them. Coming here made it so much easier to keep going. I wanted to get her better. I wanted to be able to say, "We beat Yellow Fungus! It can be done!" But, that just wasn't the case here. :roll:
Of course, I want another beardie. I probably will get another one, eventually. I need to take a break from it all for a while though. When I do get one, I'll be back and I'll be looking for you guys! :mrgreen: In the mean time, I hope all of your babies continue to grow and be healthy and happy! I don't want to say "goodbye", just "so long" for now... :wave:
I wanted to share Dino's spot with you. (It's right around the corner from Spike.) It is marked by this little, resting Dragon. That's just what Dino needs... some rest. Rest easy Dino. I love you.