Sad News.

[skjonnhet]

As you all know, Zelenka is pregnant. Let me make that was pregnant. I'm guessing she couldn't handle it or something went wrong because she passed away at 11:10 pm. We had to do something that was very hard to do. We had to perform an emergency C-Section on her to get the eggs before they died to. She had 4 and unfortuantly, one was already rotten. So, it had to have died before she did. The other 3 look healthy and fertile and we hope they survive. They are our only link to Zelenka now. Zelenka was our first water dragon. Because of her, we sarted to love them all. She will never be forgotten.

We love you Zelenka!

[RedDr4gon333]

Oh so sorry! But wow, a C-Section on a lizard??? That must have been interesting. Who performed it? How were you positive that she was to the end? And if an egg inside of her was rotten, whoa that is weird. I am sorry I sound so amazed when you are in a time that I know must be hard, but this is the first time I have ever heard anything like this. Do you know what might have been wrong with poor Zelenka besides having difficulty with the eggs??? Did you perform a necropsy?? And, sorry if this is too morbid for you especially since she did JUST pass, but my curiosity will one day be the death of me, but did you happen to take any pictures of the whole thing? I wonder what could have caused the eggs to already become rotten within the mother. When you say rotten, how do you mean? Just like the off-white color that you know isn't right? Or was it like REALLY rotten kinda rotten?

Again, I am super sorry over your loss. I do hope that those 3 eggs survive so that you have a legasy to Zelenka.

[Pooka]

I am so sorry to hear that zelenka passed. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family again (both humand and animal). Sounds much like she became egg bound and the egg poisoned her after it died. I understand if it is difficult for you to discuss, where there any warning signs before she became ill or was it just her suddenly passing in the night last night?

Again, I am deeply saddened to hear she is gone, she was very beautiful, and will be missed by myself and other members of this community as well.

[skjonnhet]

Zelenka just all of a sudden passed. Before, her pregnancy seemed to be going like normal. She was looking awful,but from Tricia's water dragon page, that is what happens. I don't know what went wrong. I was actually going to take her to our vet today for a check-up just to see if everything was in order. I couldn't do it yesterday because Wednesday is the vets off day. When we got home last night, we found her in her nest box passing away. After a few minutes, she passed and all that was left were the nerves in her tail going crazy. After a few minutes, that stopped. We left her alone for a little while just to make sure she had completely passed. Then there was the discussion of the eggs. There could still be a chance for them. Even though we love Zelenka and didn't want to cut her open, we knew we had to for her babies. So, My husband and I cleared a space on out table and put card board on it. We put on a pair of latex gloves( he had left from his piercing days) and found a razor blade. My husband did the C-section and I just assisted. He made a small incision starting at the low level of her belly close down to her vent. As soon as she was opened, he knew something was wrong because of the smell. He lightly pushed on one side of her belly and out came a beautiful white egg and then another. They were attached by a sac that I helped remove. I marked the top of the eggs and placed them in the incubator. When he went to the other side and pushed, an egg just popped out. This was the rotten egg. It was brown and smelled very badly. After that egg, he pulled out another healthy egg. We are not 100% they are fertile,but they look to be. After all was done, he sealed her back up with super glue. Sounds strange I know,but did you know that the military created super glue to close up wounds? It has really been storming here and we are waiting for it to lighten up so we can bury her.

[skjonnhet]

Oh, and sorry,but no pictures.

[dragosmom]

Zelenka was a beautiful and well-cared for dragon. Something beyond your control caused this death and I am so deeply sorry for your loss. I don't know what gave you the emotional strength to salvage the eggs but I am so glad that you were able to do it. If they make it, a little part of Zelenka goes on.
RIP, Zelenka.

[RedDr4gon333]

Amazing. Thank you for the sotry skjonnhet, I know it must have been hard to do. You must have really loved her to be able to do such a precedure. Well done guys, well done. Zelenka will never be forgotten. Sorry she had to go.

[dragonlvr9]

IM SO PROUD OF U (not to sound weird) BUT HOW U HANDLED THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!! i would have never done that probably. I REALLY HOPE THAT DOESNT HAPPEN TO KATIE!!!!!!!!!! YIKES!!!!!!!!!!!!

wow, u performed all that stuff!!! thats amazing!!! well after the vet visit, plz report wat was wrong.

Very sorry for ur loss. that is very sad. Hope the 3 eggs make it. Are u using a hovabator?

[skjonnhet]

Thank you all. Your support really helps.We think we know what happened. On her right reproductive tract, two eggs came out healthy and attached to each other with sacs. On her left reproductive tract, the rotten egg had be dug out and it had no sac nor was it even attached to the other egg. The other egg was surrounded by its sac. So, there was a problem with her left reproductive tract. Another thing that we found out was it looked like it wouldn't have been much longer for her to lay them since the eggs were so close to her vent. Also, to those wanting to know what incubator we are using, we are using a home made one and we know it works because we have hatched 13 five-lined skinks in it before.

[Zekey]

So sorry for your loss....What a courageous & wonderful thing you did by (hopefully) saving her babies!

Please know that my thoughts are with you!

[dracco]

So sorry for your loss I know how it feels as I lost two dragons to being egg bound hope your eggs hatchTEXT