Confused and frustrated after vet visits. Coccidia.

[mattps81]

So I brought my bearded dragon to a vet that claims to be a reptile vet on 3/6/18 because my bearded dragon had a loss of appetite for months and wanted a fecal done for peace of mind. The results are as follows:

"Direct= soft formed sample, decreased flora, spirochetes 3+, coccidia 4+, 2+ large rod forms with internal structure, possible protozoans.
Float= Coccidia 4+/DM
gram stain-- 40% gram pos, 60% gram neg, large rod forms are not visible on the gram so must be fragile protozoa. Spirochetes also did not show up on gram or the straightened out"

So the vet has me giving a dose of .2ml of SMZ-TMP liquid every day. And the vet gave him 1 dose of Metronidazole oral and was told to come back in 2 weeks for a second dose of metronidazole. So I followed instructions and I brought back 2 weeks later on 3/20/18 for his second dose and another fecal sample.

Now i'm told he has the following
"Coccidia 4+, oxyurids possible roundworms, capillaria"
So the vet gave me more of the TMZ-TMP and was told to up dose to .4ml every day. The vet also gave my dragon a dewormer which I was told by the receptionist that it goes on his back and it's called Profender. ( I googled it when I got home and it looks like it's a dewormer for cats??)

So I'm just feeling, worried, frustrated and confused. I want the best for my little guy and want to make sure my vet is giving me proper medication to treat him.

From doing some research on these forums, I bought a steam cleaner from amazon so I can make sure his cage is as clean as possible. And I was reading about a probiotic called acidophiliz+, I was thinking about ordering some of that. Or even non dairy soy yogurt. The vet didn't really tell me what else to do besides just give the medication.

If anyone has any feedback or advice to help my dragon get back to his old self.

 

[AHBD]

Sorry that your dragon is having trouble. How many days has he been on SMZ-TMP ? The sulfa drugs are harsh and don't always work too well. Try ordering toltrazuril, it can work in just 2 doses. Here's where to get it , instructions included :

http://www.beardeddragon.co/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=478

This is for dragons that weigh 250 or more grams. They also have the lower dose for smaller dragons.

 

[mattps81]

Thank-you!
I will check it out. He has been taking the meds every day since 3/6. And they said to keep giving to him every day until bottle runs out which looks like probably another 2 weeks.

 

[AHBD]

Oh no, that's waaaay too long. It can destroy all the good gut flora/bacteria along with the bad, making your dragon susceptible to all sorts of problems including yellow fungus disease. If he hasn't been on a probiotic, get some non dairy soy yogurt [ fruit flavored ] from Walmart.

 

[mattps81]

Ya that seemed like a long time to me too. Plus my beardie hates the stuff, so i feel like i'm stressing him out from sticking the syringe down his throat to give him the med.
I went out and bought a vanilla flavored soy non-dairy yogurt earlier today and gave him about .75ml.
(why do you recommend fruit flavored? any particular reason?)I wasn't sure how much to give him.

 

[AHBD]

Any soy yogurt will do but it seems that beardies actually like the fruit flavored so it's one thing that they may willingly eat instead of refusing it like the meds. If your guy likes the vanilla, that's fine. Just a little bit at a time is needed, I don't really know what would be considered the perfect amount but it wouldn't be too much, especially because of the sugar content.