Vet recommended pinkies?

[staciarain]

I tried to do some searching on this forum and I see quite a few people advising against feeding their dragons pinkies, but my vet just explicitly recommended them at our visit the other night. This is a big ol' girl who just laid some infertile eggs, is currently being treated with antibiotics for an infected foot, and had a cloaca prolapse last week that I replaced myself and hasn't had an issue with it since.

Unfortunately, living in the midwest without a car, I occasionally have cricket shortages and have had to do what I can with worms/freeze dried bugs/occasional dubias (my colony is suffering big time right now). Pinkies sound like a great (very, very occasional) option to rotate into her protein offerings, but I'm seeing a lot of concerns about 1) Impaction from the cartilage, 2) High fat content, and 3) Potential presence of bacteria.

I'm wondering if maybe the vet recommended them specifically for my dragon's situation, or if maybe she's just not fully aware of the potential risks? I don't want to take bad advice, but I also don't want to shun vet recommendations based on a few forum posts I've seen. Anyone have advice?

 

[Claudiusx]

Some people have success, some people don't.

In the end it comes down to the simple fact that there is nothing a pinky offers that other feeder insects can't also offer but in a much safer manner.

It is ultimately your decision, but myself personally, the risk to reward ratio isn't there for me.

-Brandon

 

[Claudiusx]

Additionally, if your dragon is old enough/big enough to eat pinkies, they are big enough to eat superworms too.

You can buy 1000 superworms for around 20 bucks and that will survive you for months if not all year.
No worries about cricket shortages or feeding off your dubia colony.

-Brandon

 

[kingofnobbys]

What was the vet's reasoning ?

I'd pick up the phone and call the vet and ask for why.

Personally I'd never give a dragon pinkies , though I'm told some breeders give pinkies to their females after they have laid a clutch.

See this for nutritional information
viewtopic.php?f=76&t=247933
viewtopic.php?f=76&t=247919

 

[staciarain]

She claimed they're just more nutritious than a lot of insect options, then directed me to anapsid.org and said it has a lot of good info. I'm gonna err on the side of no pinkies, my research and this info you've added don't seem to support her recommendation unfortunately, it admittedly makes me worry a bit about her other treatment choices.

 

[Gormagon]

She claimed they're just more nutritious than a lot of insect options, then directed me to anapsid.org and said it has a lot of good info. I'm gonna err on the side of no pinkies, my research and this info you've added don't seem to support her recommendation unfortunately, it admittedly makes me worry a bit about her other treatment choices.

Recommending "pinkies" would send up a red flag for me as well!!!

 

[CooperDragon]

If you need an infusion of dubias for your colony I can help. Darwin's colony is way ahead of what he can keep up with.

 

[staciarain]

If you need an infusion of dubias for your colony I can help.

That would be awesome - I need to upgrade the container I keep them in, but as it gets warmer (and this is my past year in a freeeezing cold apartment) they should be able to thrive! I think I'm down to two or three adult females at this point, so anything would help!

Side note: just got the lab results that the foot infection is staph, if you or anyone else here has any experience with that (I hope you don't) let me know. I know it can be kind of aggressive in humans so it has me nervous.

 

[CooperDragon]

I can give you hundreds. Plenty of adults too. My colony has filled a 20g long tank. Marin might be able to help regarding Staph at least how it relates to humans.

 

[CooperDragon]

I just asked her about it and she says Ceftazidime is the proper medication for treating Staph because it's a Cephalosporin. Hopefully it will clear up after this round of treatment.