Oxibendazole for pin worms

[MyMojoJojo]

Hello. I rescued a dragon last month. Took him to vet for check up with fecal sample. Took the vet more than 2 weeks to give me results. Negative for coccidia but she indicated that he had a rather high count of pinworms and did some research on treating it. So, she recommended a one time deworming treatment. I took him in last Saturday and they gave him 25 mg of Oxibendazole. Since his visit, his last 3 poops went from well-formed and healthy looking to nothing but liquid diarrhea. To say I am upset is an understatement. She is a reptile vet but I’m questioning this treatment now.

He is in a 4x2x2 tank with a 12% Arcadia uvb hung inside 13” above basking platform. For heat I have 2 75w Arcadia bulbs. Basking temp is steady at 102. Mid tank is 80. Cool end at 76 (I’ve been running our A/C non-stop since it’s been so hot here.) I use f10 ready-to-use disinfectant.

He eats collard and mustard greens, and dubia roaches dusted with Repashy Calcium Plus. His appetite has been fine up until today. He did a ginormous poop this morning which was nothing but liquid.

I will be calling the vet tomorrow to let them know what is happening. I’m just so upset that I put him through this. I know that pinworms are a normal occurrence and usually nothing to worry too much about. But since I was told his count was higher than she liked, I agreed to her plan.

Has anyone here had this same experience? Am I worrying too much? I’m just so sick over this.

 

[AHBD]

Sorry to hear this....I agree it would have been better to have left him with the pinworms as they usually cause no problem as you indicated by his previous good condition. Hopefully he will get over this but I can feel for you to see this happen. Definitely tell the vet that it was a bad idea and fenbendazole is the more commonly given drug. She must be inexperienced..

 

[MyMojoJojo]

Thank you AHBD. Sad to say that she’s been around a while. I will call tomorrow.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

That is definitely discouraging, poor boy!
The medication must not have sat well with him, but I agree, many times treatment just isn't needed. If he wasn't showing signs of poor health, lack of appetite, etc then his system would likely get them cleared out on his own without any medication.
You could get him on some probiotics if needed to help him out awhile.
Do you happen to know what the pinworm counts were by chance?

Tracie

 

[MyMojoJojo]

Hello,

That is definitely discouraging, poor boy!
The medication must not have sat well with him, but I agree, many times treatment just isn't needed. If he wasn't showing signs of poor health, lack of appetite, etc then his system would likely get them cleared out on his own without any medication.
You could get him on some probiotics if needed to help him out awhile.
Do you happen to know what the pinworm counts were by chance?

Tracie

Hi Tracie. Unfortunately I didn’t think to ask what the count was. I have a bottle of probiotics in the fridge that I purchased from Beautiful Dragons but it is over a year old and I’m not sure it’s safe to administer. I will order more today.

 

[MyMojoJojo]

Tracie, I found your website on another post. I ordered a bottle Reptophilis.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Oh ok! I will get that shipped out for you on Tuesday! I hope it helps him out.
How is he doing today?

Tracie

 

[MyMojoJojo]

Hello,

Oh ok! I will get that shipped out for you on Tuesday! I hope it helps him out.
How is he doing today?

Tracie

I gave him a bath this morning to help with his shed and he did a normal poop. I put in a call to the vet yesterday and left a message for her letting her know about the side effects of the deworming medication she gave him. He has a fecal test to due in 6 weeks from this coming Saturday. Either way, I’m going to give him some probiotics just to be safe. Is it ok for him to have them, say every other day?

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Yes, you can safely give probiotics daily for awhile, to help balance out his
gut flora. Every other day is fine as well!
How is his shed coming along?

Tracie