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di*in*IN
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Post subject: PARASITES
 Posted: Dec 10, 2005 - 03:22 AM
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Dragon Team Member
Joined: Nov 21, 2003
Posts: 2364
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Status: Offline
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 _____PARASITES_____
By Annie (LisaAnnie) and Diane (di*in*IN)
There is no getting around it: sooner or later, nearly all dragonkeepers end up dealing with some kind of parasite. Additionally, it's not at all unusual for a dragon to be hosting more than one type. You will hear debate over whether some parasites are a normal part of a dragon's gut flora, though this is arguable, as a recent small-scale experiment indicated that babies don’t appear to be born with them even from infested parents. It is important to keep in mind that, in a cage environment, even low parasite loads can quickly and easily reach dangerous levels that make dragons sick.
There are two classes of parasitic organisms that feed on dragons, endo- (internal) and ecto- (external) parasites. This article will discuss the endoparasites dragonkeepers will most likely encounter.
EXAMPLES
ECTOPARASITE: MITES (follow link to KCS post) http://dragontank.com/main/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=4543&sid=6eedbc644519a19c730ba535546e09fb
ENDOPARASITES: HOOKWORMS, PINWORMS, ROUNDWORMS, COCCIDIA, etc
SYMPTOMS OF PARASITE INFESTATION
It is very important to have the dragon evaluated by a competent reptile veterinarian. All symptoms associated with parasites can apply to other medical problems as well, and it will take the expertise of your vet to correctly determine the proper course of treatment. If left untreated, severe parasite infestations can lead to death. The majority of parasite infested dragons, however, will have NO SYMPTOMS. A few will exhibit some hard to identify symptoms and those dragons who are overcome by their infestation may experience one or more of the following:
Anorexia ....loss of appetite
Anemia
Depression
Diarrhea....watery stools
Emaciation....wasting away, extreme thinness
Failure to grow
Bloody or mucus covered stools
Strong-smelling fecal material
Weight loss
Lethargy
Vomiting/Regurgitation
Neurological problems
Stress can cause a dramatic rise in the parasite "load" in dragons as well as other reptiles. These stress inducers can be illness, overcrowding, improper environment temps, befouled lairs, constant intimidation by lairmates, lack of good husbandry practices, etc. Coccidia has also been linked to the use of crickets as feeder insects.
Diagnostic methods used to determine the presence of parasites include a careful physical examination, a detailed patient history, noting the keeper's observations, a discussion of husbandry practices (temps, etc), and most commonly a fecal exam using a microscope for a flotation test. If the vet finds parasites, a suitable medication will be prescribed. Follow this link to a KCS article with tips on how to administer oral meds. http://dragontank.com/main/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=4793
When treating dragons, it is absolutely imperative to practice good disinfection techniques in their lairs, because treating just the dragon while ignoring their environment will result in reinfection. There are very few products widely available that actually kill some of these parasites. Many vets believe that even bleach cannot kill them. The current recommended cleaning method is to wash well with dish soap, and rinse well. Mixing dish soap and dishwasher soap may be even better. While these also do not kill parasites, they have surfactants (slippery chemicals) that prevent the parasites from sticking to surfaces, so that they can be rinsed away. I usually wash and rinse items twice in this dish soap/dishwasher soap mixture and hot water, just for peace of mind. This is a highly effective method, as I use it to clean my fecal testing supplies, and have never had residual organisms on my equipment this way.
NOTE: We do not recommend the use of ANY herbal product, including Para-ZAP, to treat endoparasite infestations in reptiles. They won't help, and might actually harm your dragon. We also don't recommend any of the junk found on pet store shelves. The only thing these products will get rid of is your hard-earned money.
IMPORTANT!! You must give ALL of the doses prescribed by the vet....even if the dragon appears to be feeling better. Not giving the entire prescription risks creating a medication-resistant strain of parasite.
PINWORM (nematode)
One of the most common of all reptile parasites is the pinworm. This is one of the parasites that some debate might even be beneficial in small amounts. The problem? It can "bloom" until it is anything but beneficial. Two possible signs that pinworms have gotten out of hand are anorexia and weight loss, but remember that it is most likely you will see no symptoms.
Treatment: Fenbendazole (brand name PANACUR) is the current prescription medication used to treat pinworms. It is given orally, and a repeat fecal should be done at the end of treatment to determine if the regimen needs to be repeated.
Standard typical dosage: 25 mg/kg given orally. Repeat once a week X 4 doses.
Note: Your vet may have a different preferred medication regimen.
HOOKWORMS (nematode)
These parasites are fairly common in reptiles, and can cause a variety of symptoms, including (but not limited to) anorexia, weight loss, anemia, bloody and/or mucus covered fecal material. If left untreated, severe infestations can lead to intestinal obstruction and death.
Treatment: Fenbendazole (brand name PANACUR) is the current prescription medication used to treat hookworms. It is given orally, and a repeat fecal should be done at the end of treatment to determine if the regimen needs to be repeated.
Standard typical dosage: 25 mg/kg given orally. Repeat once a week X 4 doses.
Note: Your vet may have a different preferred medication regimen.
ROUNDWORMS (nematode)
Roundworms are not the most common parasite keepers deal with, but they have been known to show up. Infestation by these nasty pests causes, among other things, anorexia, weight loss, regurgitation, and intestinal obstruction.
Treatment: Fenbendazole (brand name PANACUR) is the current prescription treatment of choice for roundworms, and is administered orally. After treatment Repeat fecal is needed to determine whether or not further medication will be needed.
Standard typical dosage: 25 mg/kg given orally. Repeat once a week X 4 doses.
Note: Your vet may have a different preferred medication regimen.
COCCIDIA (Protozoa)
We saved the worst for last. You will hear it said that coccidia is a normal component of a dragon's gut flora. However, even proponents of that position agree that it is very difficult, if not impossible, to keep any parasite levels low in a cage environment, as caged dragons live in close proximity with their feces. Some of the most prominent and well respected vets in the field believe that ALL levels should be treated. Coccidia is the most frustrating of all parasite infestations to deal with. Left untreated, severe cases will cause many problems like anemia, weight loss, lethargy, diarrhea, and even death, but most of these symptoms only arise when the dragon succumbs to the infestation, and getting them back at this point may be difficult. For the most part, you will find NO recognizable symptoms.
It is completely normal for a keeper to have to do multiple drug treatments in order to eradicate coccidia. It is imperative that you treat the environment as well as the dragon. Have separate cleaning "tools" that are used ONLY when cleaning the infected dragon's lair. Keep the tank as clean as is possible. Do not use a substrate while treating for any parasite infestation, but especially not for coccidia! Use paper towels or newspaper. Do not furnish the tank with any rocks, wood, or cage furniture that has cracks and/or crevices or that can't be thoroughly cleaned. Use cardboard or paper that can be discarded on a daily basis.
TREATMENT: There are several prescription medications currently used to treat coccidia. ALL of them can cause dehydration, loss of appetite, and watery stools. It is critical to keep your dragon well hydrated while on these meds.
Albon (sulfadimethoxine) the most commonly used prescription drug, is falling out of favor due to the impact on the liver and kidneys. Administered orally. There are three commonly accepted dosage regimens for Albon.
1) 75 mg/kg on the first day, followed by 40mg/kg daily x 6 days
2) 50 mg/kg for 3 days, stop for three days, then the same dosage for three more days
3) 50 mg/kg for 5 days, then give every other day until fecals are negative
TrimethSulfa (trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole), AKA Bactrim, Septra, TMP/SMX, or TMS. Also a commonly used prescription drug in the fight against coccidiosis. Thought not to be as harsh as Albon. Administered orally. Successful treatment will require multiple doses. TrimethSulfa is NOT effective against coccidiosis when given as a one-time dose.
Typical Dose: 30 mg/kg once daily for 7 days, then off for 7 days, then once daily for 7 more days.
NOTE: Your vet may prefer a different dosage regimen
Zithromax (azithromycin). New prescription treatment that is showing some promise and gaining acceptance, but harder on the dragon than Septra. This medication has been used successfully by keepers in the US and in the UK. It appears to work better if given after an unsuccessful round of Septra. Your vet may not be aware of this one, and might appreciate hearing about it.
Typical Dose: 20 mg/kg every 72 hours for 5 doses. Fecal test at end of treatment. Repeat if necessary. For resistant cases, can be given every 48 hours for 21 days.
PROBIOTICS
IMPORTANT!
While the medications are working rid dragons of endoparasites they also kill off good gut flora as well. The use of probiotics will help to increase the speed at which the dragon's system returns to normal. Follow this KCS link to a short article on probiotics.
http://dragontank.com/main/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=5078 |
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