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Joined: Dec 08, 2004 Posts: 998 Location: South Florida
Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2005 7:06 pm Post subject: Well Then...
I'm so Pisst it's not even funny. After a few days of socializing and everything going perfectly, the thing I feared most has happened. The female grabbed the male across his back. His foot has been almost completely torn off. His skin torn badly over his back with puncture wounds. The skin behind both arms has been torn badly with puncture wounds. It doesn't look good to be honest I don't know if he'll make it through the night! I will NEVER put any tegu with another again unless they are the same size. This female has been kept with other tegus all her life without any problems (other males!). I'm at a total loss here. I'm going to keep praying for the male to pull through but I'll have to take it day by day. Wish us luck as we will both need it! This is a major setback! I love these animals to death, things like this happen with monitors and tegus and unless you keep them seperated all the time there is no way to prevent it. _________________ John Light
http://www.jlexotics.com/
Joined: Nov 06, 2004 Posts: 972269 Location: Central Maine
Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2005 8:15 pm Post subject:
Oh my god! That is absolutely horrible. I wouldn't have left them unattended until they had been monitored in the enclosure together for at least a few days and then I would still have been nervous.
What did the vet say? Obviously the vet treated the wounds, but did they give him something for the pain? Did it cause just derm and muscle damage or did it damage bone? Did the vet save the foot with a cast or split and wraps or did they have to amputate the foot to save the tegu? Please keep us posted.
Joined: Dec 08, 2004 Posts: 998 Location: South Florida
Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2005 11:29 pm Post subject:
Oh my god! That is absolutely horrible. I wouldn't have left them unattended until they had been monitored in the enclosure together for at least a few days and then I would still have been nervous.
-I didn't leave them! They were being monitored! This was day 3 of being watched! And this was my largest worry!
What did the vet say?
-Pray, he lost alot of blood. This morning he was real fat with NO folds. Now he has folds on his sides and isn't near as fat!
Obviously the vet treated the wounds, but did they give him something for the pain?
-Yes, no idea what it's called though.
Did it cause just derm and muscle damage or did it damage bone?
-The female cut straight through the bone!
Did the vet save the foot with a cast or split and wraps or did they have to amputate the foot to save the tegu? Please keep us posted.
-There was no choice but to amputate the foot. The bone was seperated. The foot was holding on by a very little piece of skin. The arm also had a clean seperation and muscle and so on was popping out.
Looks like all she got was a damaged nose scale or 2 which when she sheds out should be fine. He's still bleeding a bit and the more I look him over the more holes in him I find. I'm basicly not going to be handling him at all for awhile. I'll try and feed him in a day or 2. Basicly all I can do is pray. _________________ John Light
http://www.jlexotics.com/
Joined: Nov 06, 2004 Posts: 972269 Location: Central Maine
Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2005 11:55 pm Post subject:
I am seriously suprized that if he has lost that much weight already that the vet sent him home instead of putting him on an IV.
I'd concider calling another herp vet for a second opinion.
As far as my statement, "I wouldn't have left them unattended until they had been monitored in the enclosure together for at least a few days and then I would still have been nervous.", I wasn't attacking you, I just meant I would have monitored them for at least a few days inside the enclosure, not counting the weekend you spent prior to redoing the tank.
Joined: Dec 08, 2004 Posts: 998 Location: South Florida
Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2005 9:01 am Post subject: This morning...
He seemed real sluggish. I really don't know how far he's going to get with this. He just shed out and his blue was really starting to pull through! He's so beautiful and was just an amazing little guy! I am beyond words as I still wish I could of somehow stopped it! If infact he were to die I'd be afraid to get another male even if he was bigger. I'd be afraid one of them would get torn up again. I have learned one thing....and thats raise em up together from babies. Either that or only place 2 adults together, don't mix adults and juvies at all! GRRR....nothing has gone right for me lately! _________________ John Light
http://www.jlexotics.com/
Joined: Dec 08, 2004 Posts: 998 Location: South Florida
Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2005 4:48 pm Post subject: It's time...
I was told I could have a day to think about what I'd like to do. It was recommended to put him down. I now see that he's not going to pull out of it and I don't want him to suffer any longer! Tonight he's going to the vet to be pet down. This is very hard for me as I've never had to do this before. I really can't blaim the tegus. This giant mistake that cost Mr. Magoo his life will never happen again. I've learned so much in so little time with him. If I produce babies this season I'll be sure to keep one back named Mr. Magoo Jr. in honor. _________________ John Light
http://www.jlexotics.com/
Joined: Dec 08, 2004 Posts: 998 Location: South Florida
Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2005 7:48 pm Post subject: Didn't even get that far...
I came home today to a dead tegu. I'm in deep regret! This really sucks! I completely feel in love with him and now he's gone. well that's it for updates... _________________ John Light
http://www.jlexotics.com/
Joined: Dec 28, 2004 Posts: 253 Location: Miami, Fl
Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2005 8:04 pm Post subject:
so sorry for your loss. Don't beat yourself up over it, wild animals are not predictable and this is all part of life with these wonderful creatures. I had a breeding pair and when I introduced a second female into the pen the female that was in there was very upset. I figured they would work it out but noooooo. The new female (even though they were close in size) got the crap beat out of her. she lost a chunk of tail and had some big gashes but nothing life threatening. Live and learn. _________________ Bennett
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