It's a sad day

[trailblazer295]

Well this day didn't go very well. Woke up and checked in on the reptiles as I always do in the morning. Quick scan of temperature, humidity and see where they are in the cage. This morning I found my vine snake laying on the ground with his face in the dirt. I thought he was dead from his positioning. When I touched his tail he moved but a slow flail of his body. I looked online to find the closest reptile vet which of course was closed today being a holiday. They listed an after hours place a bit further away. I couldn't reach them on the phone but their message said if it's an emergency just come in. I pack him up in the container I bought him in and drove there. Despite the regular clinic listing reptiles this one didn't have anyone who works with them. They made a few phone calls and the only place in the are who had someone on call that deals with reptiles was over 100km away. You'd think living near a big city in a region with over 5 million people there would be more vets that deal with reptiles. Anyway gassed up the truck and hit the highway. I was wondering whether he would even be alive when I got there as he turned belly up during the drive and didn't look good at all. I kept the truck warm so he didn't get cold. He was alive when I got there over an hour later. The vet didn't think he had a good prognosis. They gave him a warm bath and some calcium to see if he would respond. He didn't respond and was still moving very slowly if you touched him. Vet said his heart sounded okay. Yesterday he was alert and in the branches and this morning I find him like this. While we were discussing options, the vet was recommending euthanasia due to the poor condition he was in and not responding to the calcium. In the time it took for them to bring him into the room so I could see him before they did the injection and sign the form to authorize it little CriKee decided on his own it was time. He didn't move when I touched him and sure enough they checked no heart beat. Feel really crappy and feel I failed him. One day he seemed fine, he has eaten the two times I've offered food. Even took a rat pinkie last week instead of mice hoppers so no danger to him being hurt. But for some reason less then 24hrs later he is laying dead. Feels like I failed him, was my job to look after him and well here we are. I took him home so I can bury him in my backyard.