Kermit's story, long and graphic.....

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Posted by jiffypop on September 05, 2002 at 20:26:52:

In Reply to: For PHFaust posted by jiffypop on September 05, 2002 at 07:02:08:

Kerm came to us as a rescue, dumped on a science teacher by one of his students. He was about 6 inches SVL, malnourished, dehydrated, with abscesses and toes turning black. I honestly didn't think he'd live the 2 hour drive home.

Amazingly, he did, and started eating food offered by hand almost immediately. This wonderful little lizard had a very strong will to survive. He ate and filled out and started to grow and look healthier.

In October of 2000 Kermit was living as a freeroamer in a room with a female that I was rehabbing from a spinal injury. One night when I came home from work I checked on them as I'd always done. In the light coming from the hallway I could see something amiss with Kermits profile. I turned on the overhead light in the room and was horrified by what I saw. It seemed as if almost half of Kerm's face was missing. The only blood visible in the room was on Isabelle's lips. I couldn't reach the only herp vet around and the next day was Sunday and we had a show to do out of town. I put Kerm in a 50 gallon breeder tank and hoped for the best until Monday morning. Sunday morning before we left I gave Kerm his plate of food and he dug in just like normal. By the time we arrived home Sunday evening it was apparent he had a raging infection going. Monday morning we were at the vet and started antibiotics. Doc Mark said he wasn't sure how much healing would occur since the wounds were bone deep. One nostril was completely severed and displace to the center of his snout...the other external nares was gone completely, and he had a severed tear duct. This photo was taken 5 days post attack.

Kermit didn't eat for 21 days. We supplemented with fluids and baby food but it was difficult because I didn't want to disturb the healing wounds. Finally, on day 22 he started eating on his own again.

Kerm continued to heal well. New tissue granulated over the exposed bone. After about 2 months he was well recovered.

In January of 2001 Kermit broke a front arm while on a trip to see Doc Mark. Doc xrayed the fracture and said it couldn't be set...the ends of the bones were shattered. He suggested euthanasia. I refused, reflecting on his amazing recovery abilities. We reduced the fracture the best we could, splinted and vet-wrapped it and Kerm and I came home. I put him back into that breeder tank with 2 new UVB lights and NeoCalc daily. Within 5 weeks Kermit was using the leg normally.

This wonderful iguana has worked his way into my heart like no other animal I've ever had..aside from my beloved Thelma. He truly is amazing and his will to survive is unlike anything I've ever seen before. I'm sorry for the lengthy post but anything less wouldn't do this guy justice. Kermit headbobs to everyone!!

Follow Ups:

Thank you for telling us Kermit's story eyespy 09/05/02 (0)
Perhaps it will be better (safer) if you put him in a cage! Flavia Guimaraes 09/05/02 (2)
- Flavia, Kermit has never been caged since I've had him..more jiffypop 09/05/02 (1)
  - Its better to be in a cage than to be attacked AGAIN!!!! Flavia Guimaraes 09/06/02 (0)
Re: Kermit's story, long and graphic..... xta 09/05/02 (0)
Beautiful story!!!Thanks for sharing!!more Flavia Guimaraes 09/05/02 (0)