Wow, I haven't posted on here for years. When I did, it was when Pooka was very young. I smile looking back on some of those posts. She was such a little stinker back then!!
Pooka is almost 4.5 years old now, and tragically, I think she's nearing the end of her life.
Back in May, I noticed a funny bump on her tail. After a lot of back and forth, it was diagnosed as a kind of chromatophoroma (a kind of skin-pigment cancer). My partner and I made the decision to have most of her tail amputated, in the hopes it would stop the mass from spreading. I knew that it wasn't a guarantee, but it seemed like her best chance, and I still stand by that decision.
Unfortunately, this month other masses appeared on both the remaining stump of her tail and on her mouth. Today, the vet took off an additional inch or so of her tail. Apparently some of the muscle was black inside, and the vet had to cut further than initially planned.
We're waiting for results, but I'm not feeling hopeful. Her passing feels more a matter of "when" than "if." I'm already beating myself up about whether the additional amputation was just putting her through more pain (after talking with the vet, it seemed like her best option).
I want to care for her as long as she can enjoy her heat lamp and give us glares and get excited over bugs and fruit. I'm so torn because right now, she's still alert and interested. Even the vet agreed that it's too soon. But if she's constantly blackbeard-ing or not interested in food or looks like she's in pain, then I don't want to put her through that.
For those that have faced this before - when and how do you decide to let go?
I know I haven't posted here in forever, and you don't know me, but I think I've been a pretty good lizard mom. Pooka eats mostly the approved greens (with occasional bugs), she has the right lighting and temperature, and she regularly goes to the vet. And yet her genetics were just against her. Pooka is a gorgeous coral color, but is that the reason for her cancer? Should I have gotten a normal-type dragon, or gone to a different breeder? But then I beat myself up for regretting anything, or resenting the fact that her genetics have been less than perfect.
Anyway - thank you for listening to this long-time stranger. Any thoughts on those with similar experiences would be appreciated.
Pooka is almost 4.5 years old now, and tragically, I think she's nearing the end of her life.
Back in May, I noticed a funny bump on her tail. After a lot of back and forth, it was diagnosed as a kind of chromatophoroma (a kind of skin-pigment cancer). My partner and I made the decision to have most of her tail amputated, in the hopes it would stop the mass from spreading. I knew that it wasn't a guarantee, but it seemed like her best chance, and I still stand by that decision.
Unfortunately, this month other masses appeared on both the remaining stump of her tail and on her mouth. Today, the vet took off an additional inch or so of her tail. Apparently some of the muscle was black inside, and the vet had to cut further than initially planned.
We're waiting for results, but I'm not feeling hopeful. Her passing feels more a matter of "when" than "if." I'm already beating myself up about whether the additional amputation was just putting her through more pain (after talking with the vet, it seemed like her best option).
I want to care for her as long as she can enjoy her heat lamp and give us glares and get excited over bugs and fruit. I'm so torn because right now, she's still alert and interested. Even the vet agreed that it's too soon. But if she's constantly blackbeard-ing or not interested in food or looks like she's in pain, then I don't want to put her through that.
For those that have faced this before - when and how do you decide to let go?
I know I haven't posted here in forever, and you don't know me, but I think I've been a pretty good lizard mom. Pooka eats mostly the approved greens (with occasional bugs), she has the right lighting and temperature, and she regularly goes to the vet. And yet her genetics were just against her. Pooka is a gorgeous coral color, but is that the reason for her cancer? Should I have gotten a normal-type dragon, or gone to a different breeder? But then I beat myself up for regretting anything, or resenting the fact that her genetics have been less than perfect.
Anyway - thank you for listening to this long-time stranger. Any thoughts on those with similar experiences would be appreciated.