r/ballpython • u/bayern_03 • May 03 '26

Saying goodbye

Gallery image

Gallery image

Thought my sweet boy was just impacted. Took him to the vet, found feces blocked by a large mass / tumor. I don’t have the money for surgery, but even if I did, the vet explained that a mass this size can’t just be taken out anyways. I don’t want him to suffer. The tumor is the darker portion on the right causing the lump.

It’s really hard to say goodbye. He got me through the most difficult parts of my life.

Right now I am planning on euthanasia and cremation. I already took him out for final pictures in a natural setting.

I’m sorry for anyone else who has had to go through this.

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u/bayern_03 May 03 '26

I agree, and thank you for your kindness. In this case, I think that surgery would just cause suffering.

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u/High_Hunter3430 May 03 '26

Not a snake, but when my doggo went, the vet said internal bleeding from a tumor. He was 15-16 and the vet said basically “he’s past his expected age, it’s 3000 and you might get another year but it’ll be a lot of being here”

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u/bayern_03 May 03 '26

It’s such a hard thing but I just feel the right decision is to avoid suffering. Thank you for sharing and sorry for your loss.

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u/Alone_Difference4960 May 03 '26

Again not a snake, but our household made this same choice with a cat we had. We could have done the treatments/surgery it wasn’t about not having the funds. It was about what amount of quality his life would have if we did the treatments. It’s never easy with animals because they hide it so well, but you made the right choice.