tumors

[ssssnakeluvr]

My valley garter is getting old...she has a tumor on her head... she is in good health otherwise, feeds real well. she is probably over 10 years old. I have had her for 5 years now. she had was gravid and had babies the year I got her. she hasn't bred since. I think she may be too old for it now. I don't want to put her down yet because she isn't showing in signs of pain or having any other health problems and has good body wieght...if she starts to go downhill, then she will be put down.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//504/valley_girl_1.jpg

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//504/valley_girl_2.jpg

she is still feisty and appears ok, but looks kinda bad. she is also a large female, around 34 inches long.

[Snake lover 3-25]

awww that's sad..... can't a vet do anything about it????:confused:

[ssssnakeluvr]

possibly, but at her age, surgery can be risky, they recommended putting her down when it starts to cause any odd behaviors or her health starts to deteriorate. she's my only valley garter left from my home town area in Idaho, which coincidentally is in Valley county!!!! :eek:

[Snake lover 3-25]

awww that stinks.... do you have any of her young???

[ssssnakeluvr]

no, they are all long gone! hopefully next summer I can get back up there and get another pair.

[Snake lover 3-25]

awww i hope you find some!!!:D

[jeanette]

well at least you are giving her a good quality of life and know that when she starts to suffer then you will ease her passing.

[jitami]

I think that is reasonable Don and I appreciate you sharing her picture with us...

[Lori P]

I'm glad she's in your care, Don, and that you'll give her the dignity of putting her down before she suffers. She is a beautiful girl!!

[drache]

that looks so nasty
it must be hard to see her decline

[ssssnakeluvr]

it looks worse than it is...she is still alert, healthy (other than the tumor..), and very feisty. Once she starts to go downhill, she will then be put down.

[crzy_kevo]

aww poor girl glad shes not in any pain

[gregmonsta]

It's a sad thing but she had the best of care with you :)

[Garter_Gertie]

She probably has no idea what's going on with her eye as it's been gradual. But for the tumor, she looks GREAT! Good color, alert, 'happy,' and a good size. It's like a dog that has to get it's leg amputated for whatever reason - they don't know they're three-legged. And they adjust fine and continue to be happy and gimpy! :D

It is sad she had to get a tumor as no tumor is good. But this is better than a liver, kidney, etc., tumor. She may continue to live a long life as long as the tumor is external.

You are definitely doing the correct thing, Don. Why put down a dog with three legs when s/he's happy and adjusts? Good job. Give her my love.

[anji1971]

She is a pretty girl, Don. Hope you get a good, long time out of her yet before you have to make any sad decisions.
How long has she had the tumour? If it's slow growing, she may not be in any danger for quite a while. Let's keep hoping!

[ssssnakeluvr]

She probably has no idea what's going on with her eye as it's been gradual. But for the tumor, she looks GREAT! Good color, alert, 'happy,' and a good size. It's like a dog that has to get it's leg amputated for whatever reason - they don't know they're three-legged. And they adjust fine and continue to be happy and gimpy! :D

It is sad she had to get a tumor as no tumor is good. But this is better than a liver, kidney, etc., tumor. She may continue to live a long life as long as the tumor is external.

You are definitely doing the correct thing, Don. Why put down a dog with three legs when s/he's happy and adjusts? Good job. Give her my love.

funny you mention a 3 legged dog.....I have a 3 legged cat!!! she was born with 3 legs! she is about 12 years old and gets around as fast as any other cat I have had!!!
she has had the tumor since last fall...not real fast growing but is growing. It doesn't seem to bother her either, not affecting her sight....

[ssssnakeluvr]

She finally passed away this week...she didn't eat for the first time since I have had her and I went out and found her dead in her cage. she was still feisty last time I fed her and didn't show any signs of pain or suffering...she never bit, but would come shooting up out of the cage when I opened it, very active!!!

[crzy_kevo]

well that is unfortunate but you did mention she was problably 10 years old so it was problably her time

sorry for your loss don find a nice place to bury her:o:(

[jewel-dragons]

bad news... sorry for that...

maybe the tumor was growing inside the head?

[ssssnakeluvr]

I am pretty sure it was growing inside also...tumors can be nasty!!!

[Stefan-A]

It's a real shame.

[zooplan]

sorry for your loss, Don.
Did you inter her or did you give her to your vet for dissection?
One of my red sided females passed away because of a tumor two years ago, she spend her last weeks in the care of Daniel and was part of a vetenary study than.
I now remember that I still not have seen the report about her.

[ssssnakeluvr]

she was buried in my backyard graveyard....anyone with kids and pets has one! it has been real hot hear lately and she passed away during the night I guess....I went out for my daily check (have 4 gravid garters...still waiting....) and could smell something dead. It was warm in the room and she was a bit smelly....so she joined my other various family pets

[jitami]

So sorry to hear that Don...

[drache]

I'm sorry that she passed, Don

[Lexa]

I'm really sorry for your loss. At leas you can take comfort in the fact that she reached a good age and had a great life with you.

[Snake lover 3-25]

I'm so sorry for your loss...... she was a beauty

[anji1971]

Sorry to hear the sad news, Don.:(
I've wondered about her on and off since you first put up this topic. Glad that she didn't seem to be suffering, though.

[ssssnakeluvr]

thanks everyone! I am glad she didn't seem to suffer....was feisty and active right up to the end!!!