How serious is entamoeba

[Abbipetty]

Hey, Inanna has entamoeba in her stool sample. Im worried sick about her, and I don’t know what the best course of action is. I do not want to stress her out, by putting her on a new medication, especially a harsher one. They want to treat her, because she is still having loose stools, and yesterday had diarrhea. They did not specify what type of entamoeba she has, they just said it can be normal, but that the dr wants to treat it due to the loose stools. She just got off a anti parasite medication, and I don’t know what to do. What would you guys do. She is otherwise acting pretty normal, besides seeming a bit stressed out, but could very well be due to the changes in her cage as I had to make sure everything in there could be easily sanitized. She is eating, good as ever, is fine and bright when I hold her, and take her out. But sometimes she has dark stress marks all over, energy seems normal too.

 

[smaugthebeardie3756]

Entamoeba isn't usually that serious. It is typically what they call a "commensal" parasite, meaning it derives benefit from the host while the host has no positive or negative consequences. When their numbers get out of control, they can cause problems like diarrhea, loss of appetite, dehydration and the like, which is why I suspect your vet wants to treat. My guy had the same last year and was treated with metronidazole once a week for three weeks and that was it. Doesn't need to be completely eliminated, just lowered to a level that your dragon can then keep in check with its own immune system. Making sure your husbandry is on point will help with that. The metronidazole was well tolerated by my dude and he didn't seem to have any negative side effects. His poops looked much better afterward as well.

 

[Abbipetty]

Entamoeba isn't usually that serious. It is typically what they call a "commensal" parasite, meaning it derives benefit from the host while the host has no positive or negative consequences. When their numbers get out of control, they can cause problems like diarrhea, loss of appetite, dehydration and the like, which is why I suspect your vet wants to treat. My guy had the same last year and was treated with metronidazole once a week for three weeks and that was it. Doesn't need to be completely eliminated, just lowered to a level that your dragon can then keep in check with its own immune system. Making sure your husbandry is on point will help with that. The metronidazole was well tolerated by my dude and he didn't seem to have any negative side effects. His poops looked much better afterward as well.

Thank you, I called yesterday, and she said that the numbers were very low, and that she wasn’t gonna treat it because it was so low, but because of her diarrhea she wants to treat it anyways and see if it maybe helps. If it doesn’t, she wants to do a blood test to eliminate anything else. She’s had this problem with her stool since I got her, but was not having this problem at her last home. she was very dehydrated and rarely had greens besides lettuce. When I got her I immediately tried to fix this, and she’s eaten a lot of greens everyday since, as she really likes them. I’ve also given her plenty of water, and I know she’s supposed to have bugs once a week, but sometimes she only has bugs once every other week or so, but I am trying to up her protein slowly. Anyways, would you give her the metronidazole now, or have a blood test first? I’ve already tried to lower her water content a tiny bit, to see if that’s the problem, but she hasn’t gone to the bathroom yet so I’m don’t know if it did any good yet.

 

[smaugthebeardie3756]

Thank you, I called yesterday, and she said that the numbers were very low, and that she wasn’t gonna treat it because it was so low, but because of her diarrhea she wants to treat it anyways and see if it maybe helps. If it doesn’t, she wants to do a blood test to eliminate anything else. She’s had this problem with her stool since I got her, but was not having this problem at her last home. she was very dehydrated and rarely had greens besides lettuce. When I got her I immediately tried to fix this, and she’s eaten a lot of greens everyday since, as she really likes them. I’ve also given her plenty of water, and I know she’s supposed to have bugs once a week, but sometimes she only has bugs once every other week or so, but I am trying to up her protein slowly. Anyways, would you give her the metronidazole now, or have a blood test first? I’ve already tried to lower her water content a tiny bit, to see if that’s the problem, but she hasn’t gone to the bathroom yet so I’m don’t know if it did any good yet.

I would probably go with the vet's advice ultimately since I'm not one (and assuming this is a reptile vet and not a regular vet that just takes reptiles), but with low numbers I would probably hesitate and question just like you are doing. I think it would also depend on how aggressive they wanted to be with it. Like I said, mine was treated with one dose weekly for three weeks, but I've heard of dragons being treated with metronidazole once or even twice daily for a week or more. With that kind of schedule, especially after just finishing a course of a different parasite treatment, I would probably want to wait until I got blood tests back.

Is there undigested material in the stool? If so, you may want to check temperatures to make sure they are getting hot enough for your dragon to digest properly. The high water content may also be a cause, as well as a lack of bugs. The fiber from the exoskeleton can help to bulk and solidify the poop. Also, 4-5 bugs twice a week is better than 10 bugs once a week. Not as much to digest all at once. Speaking only from my own experience, cutting back slightly on salads can also help. I used to do a salad every day, but I've switched to two days on and one day off. His poops do look a lot better formed, and he gets almost as excited to eat his salad as he does his bugs now!

I hope you get this resolved. It sounds like you're doing the right things to figure it out, and I hope my long meandering answer helps!

 

[Abbipetty]

I would probably go with the vet's advice ultimately since I'm not one (and assuming this is a reptile vet and not a regular vet that just takes reptiles), but with low numbers I would probably hesitate and question just like you are doing. I think it would also depend on how aggressive they wanted to be with it. Like I said, mine was treated with one dose weekly for three weeks, but I've heard of dragons being treated with metronidazole once or even twice daily for a week or more. With that kind of schedule, especially after just finishing a course of a different parasite treatment, I would probably want to wait until I got blood tests back.

Is there undigested material in the stool? If so, you may want to check temperatures to make sure they are getting hot enough for your dragon to digest properly. The high water content may also be a cause, as well as a lack of bugs. The fiber from the exoskeleton can help to bulk and solidify the poop. Also, 4-5 bugs twice a week is better than 10 bugs once a week. Not as much to digest all at once. Speaking only from my own experience, cutting back slightly on salads can also help. I used to do a salad every day, but I've switched to two days on and one day off. His poops do look a lot better formed, and he gets almost as excited to eat his salad as he does his bugs now!

I hope you get this resolved. It sounds like you're doing the right things to figure it out, and I hope my long meandering answer helps!

Thank you so much, again! The vet I go to does it all, literally. I’m not sure if my vet is specifically a reptile vet, but they’re highly rated for reptiles in my area, and every one I called recommended them. Anyways, she said she wanted to treat it with one dose daily for a week, and see. I don’t believe there is undigested material, but I can’t really tell. I can post a picture of her most recent stool sample, the one that made me call the vet, but it’s tmi for sure. I’ll try your feeding recommendations!! I agree, when I cut back on salads her poop does seem more solid. And thank you, I’m trying so hard to get this figured, she’s had me worried sick for weeks. Your answer 100% does help! I appreciate it so much more than you think. So thank you! (Ignore the bandana, she was sleeping on it prior, so I just put it in there with her as to not wake her.)

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

I agree, it usually isn't' really serious but as
with anything, if it is left unchecked it could become troublesome.
As suggested, sometimes too many greens will yield runnier stools due to overhydration.
Which medication are they wanting to use for her? The Metronidazole/Flagyl is usually the medication routinely used to treat this issue.

Tracie

 

[Abbipetty]

Hello,

I agree, it usually isn't' really serious but as
with anything, if it is left unchecked it could become troublesome.
As suggested, sometimes too many greens will yield runnier stools due to overhydration.
Which medication are they wanting to use for her? The Metronidazole/Flagyl is usually the medication routinely used to treat this issue.

Tracie

Thank you Tracie! Metronidazole, is the medicine they want to treat her with.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

That sounds good, it is an effective medication. Be sure to keep her well hydrated while on the medication as it can dehydrate her. If you have any probiotics, you can use those also.

Tracie