JoJo and Milo Update

A long overdue update on Milo & JoJo---

Both went to the vet in Monday. Milo's snotty nose hasn't changed much so we stopped antibiotic shots and are now putting an antibiotic drop in his nose twice a day. 

JoJo's cough is almost gone-- in fact, I haven't heard it since Monday. She's getting another week of antibiotics and then she'll be done. 

Both are now eating wax worms and roaches on their own. Now that they are eating, they are both more active. JoJo has a foster home lined up and Milo is about to be upgraded to a bigger tank. 

I would cheer over not having any more sicklies, but that will jinx me with a half-dead beardie. :)

Good News for JoJo

Little miss JoJo ate two roaches today all by herself! Hooray for progress!! 

The Gamble of Rescue

Miss JoJo took a turn for the worse this morning. Her lungs are filled with fluid and she started to vomit (always a bad sign). 

I'm brought back to the harsh reality of rescue: when is it "enough" or when are you doing more harm than good? 

The words of a Kenny Rogers' song is in my head right now: 

   you gotta know when to hold 'em, 

   know when to fold 'em, 

   know when to walk away, 

   know when to run.

This is always the hardest part of rescue- deciding when is it ok to quit. It's possible to spend massive amounts of time and money trying to keep one beardie alive, but are you just prolonging their agony? When is it ok to let the beardie go and stop the injections, the force-feedings, the stressful interventions? 

Sometimes a sick beardie takes that choice away from you and simply dies, but more often than not, it's up to you to decide to fight for a life that may or may not be possible or to graciously allow a sick body to die. 

My goal with JoJo today is to keep her warm and comfortable and to limit her stress. I am not sure if she will make it through the day or not, but she, at the very least, will be safe & warm & loved. 

And I, like always, will second guess myself and wonder if I could have, should have, would have done more . . . . 

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UPDATE: JoJo is alive and doing well. :) she ate on her own today (Nov 16, 2014) and may be on the upswing. 

Update on the Sickies

Milo enjoyed being in the sun today. He'll get his 2nd antibiotic shot tomorrow and I hope that perks him up more. When beardies are so sick, it takes lots of time to bring them back. 

JoJo was going well today but seems mor sickly tonight. It's an up and down process- like a yo-yo gone crazy. Playing the waiting game is one of the hardest parts of rescue. That and checking for breathing first thing in the morning. 

Mr Lizard is eating well on his own and enjoys walking around too. I gave him a cave tonight and he was happy to curl up inside up & go to sleep. 

Sun Time for the Sickies

JoJo, rescue number 67

JoJo is a sweet juvenile beardie who has a respiratory infection that turned into pneumonia. As a precaution, I took her to the vet as soon as I got her. He felt bubbles in her lungs. :(

She'll be in antibiotic shots for 3 weeks and I'll force feed her Critical Care formula until she starts eating on her own. 

This is her in her sick tank next to Mr. Lizard. 

She is breathing easier this morning and is a bit more alert. Yay for antibiotics!