Fredward looking bloated

[Freddiemom]

Fred's been looking alittle too round so I called the vet today (I want a fecal done). He said that it could be parasites & I could just pick up some ivermectin for $1 (oral or injection) to treat whatever it is. Fred has been acting and looking good. I insisted that a fecal be done before anything is treated. The Vet also said it could be something to do with calicum. That is something I was concerned about before. I have cut back tremdouslly on his calicum. His urates are alittle hard but I thought that is just the way he is. I can't cut back more on the calicum. I dust lightly 1 or 2 crickets 5 times a week. So, I am on my way to take in a stool sample -Fred cooperated & poo'd this am for me. I just read that iver is really bad for reptiles. Maybe I'm just being paranoid, too. With the new beardie in the house I am just watching extra close. She just pancakes out so nice. No, they aren't together & they haven't been. IF it is parasites what should he be treated with?
Liz

 

[beardie parents]

I would check out your husbandry first. What are your temps? What do you take them with? What type of UVB do you have? is it a coil/compact? or a long tube? what brand (example reptisun 10 or reptiglo 10) When was the last time he pooped? Also, when the urates are hard, it is also a sign of dehydration. Speedy's is a little hard normally but I think that's just because she doesn't eat enough greens. How old is he?

If you could answer these questions, it will help. Also, I have also heard about the ivermecton and the several stories on this forum that I've read about beardies being given ivermectin they all died. To be fair, I talked to a reptile vet (on September 19, 2009) that says he used it all the time, and if it's used correctly it's safe. I still wouldn't use it. In fact, I don't like the fact that the vet wanted to treat without testing. I had a vet do that and it didn't work out very well.

 

[Freddiemom]

Fred is in a 55 gal, Reptisun 10 36'' flo tube, 8" from bottom, 4" closer at basking, brand new -just got it Monday. 105-110 basking taken with dig probe, cool side around 70-80 (it's such a long tank). He pooped this am, took sample to vet, LOADED with round worms wants to treat probenzon...something or other- it's on my answering machine. He said to treat both beardies. 1x week for 4 weeks. Oh no...

Panacur is what he wants to treat them with. Do I need to get weights on both of them before starting treatment? Did I do something wrong? What is the prognoises with this?

 

[diamc]

Hi there, sorry to hear that Fredward isn't doing well and has parastites. It concerned me that your vet wanted to treat him even though he hadn't done a fecal check beforehand. By all means, please do not let him give ivermectin as that should only be used on livestock.

Here's some information that should help you: http://www.petmd.com/reptile/conditions/digestive/c_rp_worms Protozoan parasite is the word you were looking for. Panacur (Fenbendazole) is used quite often to treat parasites in reptiles. All antibiotics are drying so bathing at least every other day and also offering oral fluids helps keep them hydrated. You should also use a probiotic to help restore the good gut flora that the antibiotic kills off. Soy yogurt (non-dairy as reptiles can't digest dairy), Benebac, Acidophilus, NutriBac area all probiotics. Yes, your vet would need to get an accurate weight on each beardie. How old is Fred and your other beardie?

Here's some more info for you to read: http://www.anapsid.org/resources/rxdose.html

 

[Freddiemom]

Fred is about 6 months, Stardust is about a year. Fred was exactly .5 lbs a month ago. Star has never been weighed. She's about 17'' long Fred was 15.5 last time I checked.

Hi there, sorry to hear that Fredward isn't doing well and has parastites. It concerned me that your vet wanted to treat him even though he hadn't done a fecal check beforehand. By all means, please do not let him give ivermectin as that should only be used on livestock.

Welcome to my world. This is the best vet within a 50+ mile radius which is why I want to do my studies here. I do know that ivermectin was used off label to treat cats & dogs for a long time before Advantage and the others came to be.

My other question is do you think Fred has had this all along? He is a "puppy Mill" beardie. Did he just contract them? Did Stardust give them to him? I did let Fred play in the grass outside when it was warmer. Most important-is Fred going to be OK? He will get the best care I can give him. Thank you for the links I will be reading them right now. My daughter and I are so very worried. They both will be going to the vet in the am. Thank you so much

 

[diamc]

Ok, since he is only 6 months old, I wouldn't cut back on his calcium as he still has lots of growing to do and needs the calcium to help him build strong bones. The calcium and UVB work together to give him what he needs. So, using the calcium 5 days a wk on all the feeders he wants to eat for one feeding a day is really what he needs. If his urates are hard, that means he needs more hydration so increasing the baths and oral fluids would help with that. Are his urates white or yellowish?

I really doubt that he's had the roundworms the whole time, otherwise you would have seen noticed some symptoms like runny stool, loss of appetite, loss of energy, etc. He may have gotten them from the crickets, hard to say exactly. My female had roundworms a while back and I did the treatment as well as the probiotics and she handled it fine. I just mixed the Panacur in a very small amount of baby food applesauce and she very willingly licked it off her nose, it was actually very easy. They should both be fine, but like I said, be sure to use one of the probiotics that I mentioned and keep them both very well hydrated. Good luck.

 

[Freddiemom]

Thank you-I feel much better. The funny thing is Fred hasn't acted or looked sick. His stools are normal with the only prob being the urates are a bit hard & they are a bit yellow. I bathe him every other day at least. 15 to 20 min each time. He still eats like a little growing pig, he even eats his dandilion green every day like a good boy. I hoping that I caught his so early on that there are no other problems. I just noticed him looking plumper this week. Thank you again. I am just trying really hard to do everything the best possible way, we just love our Fredward so much. All the kids at my daughter's school love him too. When the weather was warmer we walked everyday to pick her up.