Spike's Legacy

Spike was my male German Giant repeat rescue that ended up with a systemic infection I couldn't cure. Last year, I chose to donate him to a local University reptile research project instead of simply putting him down and burying him in my backyard. 

Today my back up vet (who helps run these projects) told me that through the images taken during their research on Spike (after he'd been humanely euthanized), vets have discovered a major artery running alongside a beardie's ribs that makes the perfect injection site for a catheterizing. Its revolutionary! No vets had known it was there before the new imaging data. 

I'm so proud. And grateful. Spike was a tough rescue, but his life is leaving a legacy that will help many future bearded dragons. And that makes my heart happy. 

Adorable!

Gary Dean got his tube feeding today. And then some sunshine time. And then bath. He's so cute! He's slowly making progress. Hopefully by next week, I can stop tube feeding him. 

Gary Dean is being Tube Fed

My baby dinosaur did really well for a week and then stopped eating again. On Sunday, I noticed a tremor in his tail and some paralysis in a back leg. 

Blast! The MBD was getting worse. 

I tried to force feed him Critical Care and he pushed it all out his nose and acted like he was choking. It was not fun! 

Yesterday I took Gary Dean back to the vet where he got a shot of Calcitonin to strengthen his bones, a shot of calcium to boost his levels, and a tube feeding. 

He was super active in the brooder tank they had him in and finally had a really big poop! 

I'll tube feed him for a week and then take him back in. I've tube fed a tortoise and a bearded dragon and a chameleon. Today's feeding didn't go so well. But I did manage to get some food in him. 

He's so stinking cute!! Sometimes he licks his lips with his long forked tongue and it's the cutest thing ever. Even the people at my vet's office who aren't big lizard fans adore this little guy. 

Mooshy is Shedding!

Finally! Mooshy's nasty sand coated & stained skin is coming off. He's starting to be a normal colored beardie! 

Great pictures to show that calcium-sand is NOT healthy or natural. 

Helping out Nationally

On my blog, in my Etsy store, and on the hang tags of my costumes sold at reptile shows, it states that profits from the sale of my merchandise go to help local and national rescues. 

The "Local" part is obvious, but I wanted to share a few examples of how I've been able to help internationally. Not at all to brag but to provide "Truth in Advertising." 

There was a turtle and tortoise rescue in Idaho who desperately needed more lights and heat pads when they brought their rescues inside last month. I was able to help them buy a few things. 

There was a baby chameleon with severe MBD in a pet store in Georgia. It had a good owner to go to, but she didn't have the $40 the pet store insisted on having. I made "bail" for the chameleon who is now doing great. I also got to name him "Neville." :) 

A group I work with was recently alerted to a guy who has an adult bearded dragon and a juvenile ball python (Yes, that's a snake!!!!!!) in a 20 gallon tank with no heat. Or lights. Together. 

Um, where do I even start to tell you all the ways this is WRONG?!?! 

Anyways, the group didn't quite have enough money raised to do a rescue and I was able to help them meet their goal. We're hoping these two will be rescued and into the right set ups within the week. 

I can't help everyone who asks for help and I don't help everyone who asks.  I do offer a lot of free advice via email and Facebook to all over the world. My favorite was a blog reader from South-east Asia. :) 

The money I earn goes back into supplies and vet bills and helping other rescues. I feel very blessed to be able to help. I can't do everything, but I can do something. :) So can you! 

Tiger's Belly

This beardie was as thin as a board when I rescued him. He's obviously recovered from that. He was totally posing for my camera by looking up and then off into the distance. 

Here is the first pic I ever saw of Tiger: 

My Poor Sick Dog

My 8 year old Maltese, Belle, has been so sick since last night. 

I spent 3 hours and $460 at my vet's office this morning to find out her blood work is normal. :/ She did get fluids and some antacid since her tummy seems to be bothering her. 

Her eyes are very bloodshot. 

She's been sleeping most of the day and did eat some bland food earlier. She's peeing on her own.  She's just sick. And won't bark. 

I hope she's able to sleep tonight and can wake up more perky. I hope *I* can sleep tonight instead of worrying about her all night. 

Beardies in crisis don't stress me out because I know what to do for the most part. A dog is crisis was outside my comfort zone. Thankfully I have two vet tech friends who know dogs who gave me good advice. 

Mooshy Update

Mooshy hasn't been doing well. He's not able to catch insects on his own and he's not very active. I decided to take him back in to the vet for some blood testing. That's also when we discovered he's been losing weight in the last 3 weeks.  

His bloodwork was normal. His fecal test (since he was nice enough to poop on his blanket) showed a massive Protozoa infection. But Dr Folland observed him trying to eat a superworm and trying to walk. 

Mooshy has a neurological problem that affects his gait (the way he walks) and prevents him from eating. I'm guessing he has had this for awhile and his last owner didn't notice he was starving. His condition is not treatable, cannot be fixed, and is not contagious. Basically, Mooshy has brain damage though we don't know why. 

He will always need someone to help him eat and drink. He will always fall off couches and such. He will always struggle to catch his live food becaus he can't grab them straight on. 

Mooshy is going to be a special needs for the rest of his life. He will probably get worse over time, but he adjusts pretty good. He's not normal, but he's happy. 

After I get another 150 to 200 grams on him, I'll be keeping an eye out for a home for Mooshy. He's fine here, but there may be a better option and I'm willing to explore that. 

If you're interested in adopting Mooshy and have experience in feeding special needs beardies, send me a message. :) Let's talk. 

P.S. The pics are of Mooshy trying on the prototype of a stegosaurus costume. He hated it. And the costume needs some adjustments. 

Then there was that one time my Etsy shop was laughed at on Comedy Central...

Ha!! I'm not flattered or insulted. It's pretty funny though. 

I won't post a link to it because it is not "Family Friendly" at all. If you Google it, be warned. 

Two Special Needs Beardies Available for Adoption

Dory, a 3 year old female, with one big eye. She eats well (though sometimes needs help finding live insects because she can only see well out of one eye). Super friendly, loves to snuggle, loves soft blankies. 

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Peanut, a 9 month old, is quickly recovering from Metabolic Bone Disease. Because of two undiagnosed bone fractures that healed badly, he walks on his wrists. He loves to be wrapped in soft blankies and snuggled. He eats great too! Because of his MBD, he hasn't been handled a lot and is still learning to be picked up without fear. I call him a "He" but I'm not 100% sure on that. 

Looking for stable loving homes for both of them. Willing to ship to right person. Must show you have complete set up (at least a 40 gallon tank). 

Message me for more details. 

Gary Dean, rescue 106

When it comes to my vet's office calling to ask me to help, I have a hard time saying "No." And when it comes to absolutely adorable babies that fall asleep in my hand, I am a sucker. 

I'm not ashamed to admit that. 

Look at this baby savannah monitor! Could *you* have said "No?" 

He's a baby savvy with a mild prolapse and severe MBD. 

He fell asleep in my hand while we were waiting for the vet. 

I paid for his vet visit and was going to send him with my friend. But he was too adorable. He's with me for now. I have the supplies to get his calcium levels up and then I'll find someone to take him. 

An End

I got a phone call from my vet's office today, but since I was shopping, I sent it to voicemail. I knew they'd be calling about picking up the ashes of Turbo & Sancho, but I still wasn't able to deal with it. 

I sent my husband to pick it up. He handed to me and I started crying. 

The box is beautiful. 

I love the engraving on the top. 

It now sits on my mantle with Kip's ashes. It's where my beloveds rest. I'm going to add a bit of the fleece blankets I wrapped them up in last week to add on top of the box. 

Always in my heart. Turbo and Sancho. 

A biggie meanie?! No way!

Iago was not pleasant to his foster parent. His nasty behavior earned him a bad nickname too. So I was a little nervous about him coming. 

But look at this little darling! 

He let me cut his nails without fighting me at all. Even my good beardies don't do that! Then I wrapped him up in a blankie and tucked him in my shirt. 

Now he's just chilling with me, looking around him. He's sort of jumpy which tells me he's been neglected. 

I love his light colored eyes. They are very alert and expressive. I think this guy will be okay (which I wasn't so sure of that last night). 

A Hard Memory-- comes with a warning note (see below)

WARNING NOTE: do not read this post if you are very tender hearted about dying animals. It's heart breaking. It's not gruesome or nasty but just really really sad. 

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On Monday when I put my beloved iguanas down, I had an extra traumatic experience that has been too painful to recount until now. I still expect to cry as I write this though. 

Sancho died very quickly and very peacefully. I held her as her breath slowed and she went to sleep for good. Her tail (where they injected her) bled on me and her nail scratched a hole in my shirt and her spines scratched up my arms, but she passed peacefully. 

Turbo didn't die quickly. He went to sleep and snuggled into my neck, but he didn't stop breathing. 

5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes. Sancho was long gone. The vet came in multiple times, but Turbo was still breathing. 

Finally- after about 35 minutes, the vet decided to give Turbo another injection. But, since there wasn't enough blood pressure left in his tail, he injected it into his belly. And then left. 

It must have hurt poor Turbo who reared up and struggled against me. His mouth was gaping and he was trying to thrash about. I kept trying to hold him and soothe him, but I couldn't hardly talk because I was sobbing. 

Turbo didn't die easily or quickly or nicely. It has been haunting me. It felt like forever until he calmed down though it was only a few minutes. When he was gone, I knew it. I didn't need the vet to use his heart monitor. Turbo was gone. I laid him down on the towel next to Sancho. 

I took a few pics and paid my bill. I didn't even wait for the vet to come back in to checkI left. I was numb and aching all at the same time. I felt broken and I was tired of sobbing in public. 

I got in my van and just sat there, staring down at my hands. My shirt had iguana blood and pee (Sancho lost control of her bowels at the end). My hands and arms were scratched. My head was aching from crying. I was a mess. I just sat there, unable to move. 

I heard a tap on the window. It was my vet. I rolled down the window. He reached in, patted me softly on the shoulder, and said he was sorry. I shrugged in response. I appreciated his gesture but I had nothing to give back. 

Later that night, as my sweet husband wrapped his arms around me, I choked out the experience of Turbo thrashing. The pain of the memory was festering in my heart and I couldn't bear the weight of it. I had to share it. I felt slightly better after telling someone. That's the point of this post too. I can't carry the weight of those sad 5 minutes alone. I need to let them go so I can remember the good times instead. 

I'm so sorry, Turbo. I'm sorry if I made you die. You were so sick and only getting worse. I couldn't watch you suffer any more. I'm sorry the last 5 minutes of your life sucked. I hope you forgot all about it as your sweet iguana soul went back to heaven. I love you dearly. I'll never forget you and I'm sorry. Always remember us snuggling together while I rocked you. Those will always be the happy times. 

With love forever for my handi-capable iguana Sancho and my one eyed lover boy Turbo. You both were the best. 

Iago, rescue 105

This is Iago, a feisty male beardie. He was taken to a pet store and abandoned/dumped. He is 2, but super small. And he was obviously never handled. The poor thing is scared to death of everyone and rather aggressive. 

He puffed up his bearded and hissed at me. I laughed at him and told him to "Cool his jets!" He'll soon learn how to be nice and love blankies. 

Oh and he'll get fatter. I'm super good at fattening up my beardies. :) 

My 1000th order

Meet Florence! Her owner, Amanda G, was my 1000th order last week (or was it the week before?!). 

Amanda & Florence win a $25 gift card plus free shipping. 

The shop is so busy that I'm already up past my 1,050 order. Halloween is coming. 

Babysitting Steve

Steve is my nephew's 5 year old female bearded dragon and I'm babysitting her for the next week. 

She is super mellow and super large. 

Yes, her name is Steve. She matched well with Lizzie, our male bearded dragon. :) 

Luckily, I know how to tell if a beardie is a boy or girl now so we have fewer name problems. 

Nubs Came Back!

Nubs was one of my most difficult rescues. He went as close to death as a beardie can get and yet he still survived. Absolutely a miracle.

See?

I very slowly brought him back to life (crying the WHOLE time). After a few days, he looked like this:

And then a year later, he looked like this:

And now he's back with me. He's still pouting and not very happy. I hope he recovers quickly. He's such a sweet beardie and I am really hoping that he'll like to play dress up with me! ;)

For all of Nubs story, click on the label "Nubs" and read the oldest post first and work forward. It was such an ordeal.

Woo hoo for Free Advertising!

This morning, I got this email:

Sweet! So I went to this website: 

And found this at the bottom of today's post: 

And the bearded dragon link takes you to my Etsy shop. Woo hoo!! 

Plus The Dainty Squid is an awesome website. So flattered.