should i treat parasites or not ? need help

[zackbeardieowner]

Hi I took some stool samples for my reptiles including beardies to the vet and the results all came positive for pinworms and coccidia should i treat them is there any risk? and I've heard the good bacteria that keeps them healthy dies off i really want to keep them healthy not eliminate the parasites and have a weak dragon which dosent eat much please help i have to go back fro medication at the clinic but before i do give it is it really worth it also how do they occur am i doing something wrong can you give me tips to eliminate them and will they affect my animals life at all
thanks,
Zack :?

 

[brittani299]

Hello . I would treat your beardies. Yes the good bacteria does die off as well but you can get some probiotic powder that you can give your beardies daily. Usually these problems are caused by habit it problems. I know in a previous post you said you have sand. Get rid of it. The sand can harbor the bacteria. Replace with paper towels while your beardies have the parasites. When your beardies poo take out the paper towels and replace with new ones. Also can you answer these questions. They will help to see if you tank is set up correctly:
How old is your dragon?
How long have you had your dragon?
How long is your dragon?
What is the sex of your dragon?
What size enclosure do you have your dragon in?
What type substrate do you have on the bottom of your tank?
Do you use UVB lights?
If so, Is it a coil, compact, fluorescent tube, or Mercury Vapor bulb?
What is the brand name and number of your bulb? Wattage (if MVB)?
How old is your UVB bulb?
How close can your dragon get to the UVB?
Do you use a separate basking bulb? What kind and what is the wattage? Is it a white or colored bulb?
Di you have any type of night time heat source (ceramic heat emitter, colored bulb, etc)?
How long are lights on each day?
What are the basking temps?
What is the cool side temp?
What is the night time temp?
Do you take the temps with a stick on thermometer, a digital thermometer with a wire and a probe end or a temp gun?
Where exactly are you taking your basking temps?
Do you use a heat rock or heat pad?
What do you feed your dragon? Please be specific.
How often do you feed and what time do you feed (morning, afternoon, night)?
Do you gutload (feed) your crickets, worms, etc?
Do you use vitamin or calcium supplements? What brand(s)? How many days a week do you use each of them?
Is your dragon having regular bowel movements (poops)?
Do you bathe your dragon? How often?
Do you mist your dragon or offer water other than in the bath?
Have you gotten a vet check and fecal done?
Does your dragon share an enclosure with another dragon?

 

[zackbeardieowner]

i have more than one dragon

 

[Tonja]

Yes it is best to treat for parasites. In beardies, heavy loads of parasites can cause a prolapse in them. Coccidia in mine were treated with totrazuril and 2 doses got rid of the coccidia. Panacur got rid of the pins in Emily and Geico. One dose of droncit got rid of the tapes in Geico. They may go off their food while on antiparasitics but in the long run its best to get rid of them. Pins can infect humans if hand washing isn't done after handling them. You will need to clean their tanks daily by disinfecting. Wood furniture can be baked in the oven at 250 for 30 mins to an hour. if you have a steam cleaner that has hot steam and not hot water coming out of the nozzle then you can steam clean the tank. Yes remove the sand, as eggs can be laid in it and start the parasite cycle all over again. When dragons poo they have some moisture that is also excreted and you cannot remove all that bacteria from sand so its and I am not being mean, the equivalent of living in a litter box for them. Sand, since beardies lick their environment, will get sand in their system and that hardens in their digestive tract causing an impaction. Right now would be best to use paper towels or newspaper while they are infected with parasites to stop the cycle. Parasites are caused by many things..illness and stress can raise the levels of coccidia in beardies. Pin worms can come in live feeders and be ingested by the beardies. Thoroughly wash all veggies in cold water or hot water to help kill anything on veggies you feed them. Sometimes veggies aren't properly cleaned by the producers/sellers and have dirt on them, this dirt can have parasites in it. While treating a beardie for parasites, the meds can kill off the good gut flora that they need for digestion and good health. You can give probiotics 2 hours after they take their medicine and for up to 2 weeks after they are done to replenish the good gut flora. Probiotics can be non dairy soy yogurt, benebac from the pet stores which is relatively inexpensive or a pro biotic powder you can order.

 

[zackbeardieowner]

guys i really appreciate your reply i was totally against sand but there is nothing that looks better than it what will look nice and is safe thanks zack
this is my latest set up

 

[Tonja]

I use paper towels on the floor and have laid 6 x 6 inch tiles over the towels. Its easy to clean and not expensive. I have a 40 gallon breeder tank and both have tiled floors. Tile comes in an array of colors both natural and colored to include slate. I even designed my vivs around the color of the tiles. I theme my vivs for my dragons. I did not grout my tiles so when and if they leave a mess I can just take out that one tile and clean it and put it back. The paper towels under the tiles catch any moisture and food debris so its an easy clean up also.

 

[Tonja]

can I borrow that picture of your tank and use it to repost something to you, I will delete from my computer when done. Did you make the back wall?

 

[zackbeardieowner]

yes of course i posted another thing in the enclosure section asking for help to add more stuff in there the background is the back to nature slimline red gneiss

 

[mortitia]

If I have the link right you should be able to get some really great ideas from here

viewtopic.php?f=34&t=202548

Marie x

 

[Tonja]

Ok I am an artist and looking at the picture of your viv this popped out at me. The center looks like a lady giving a kiss to a beardie on his snout while a beardie sits on her head. then saw another on the left. Funny how the brain works to make a picture out of chaotic lines lol