Parasites..how do you know?

[Amy]

I am a new owner, how do you look or know if they have parasites? I got mine from a breeder.

[Dani33]

You can visually see mites. They are tiny, but eventually you would notice them. For internal parasites, you would need to take a fecal sample to a vet. My vet charges $20.

[Amy]

OH! Okay...I guess I should call my local vet. I cant see any mites, so he is probably ok. Thanks!

[ReptiliansDOTca]

You will need to take at least three consecutive, and fresh, stool samples in for sampling to get a 90% accuracy in determining a negative test. Again, the samples should ideally be fresh.

[Amy]

Ok...thanks. I hope my local vet does reptiles!? I live in a small community so I am not sure. I guess I should have looked into that.

Is there a high chance that mine would have parasites at 8 weeks? If he dosent, how would he end up with them? How are the passed on to them? (wanting to know so I can avoid it later)

[drewlowe]

Parasites are passed from other animals, food, and water.

It's advised to get a fecal done at least once a year to be sure you little one has nothing. As ReptiliansDOTca you will want the fecal to be fresh no older than 24 hours and do not refridgerate it before taking to the vet.

this is a link to the arav.
http://www.arav.org/Directory.htm

Here's one that is by other peoples recommendations.
http://www.herpvetconnection.com/

Jamie

[ReptiliansDOTca]

Please note, and keep in mind, that any vet can run a fecal testing for parasites, regardless of the type of animal. Please do not let them say they do not deal with reptiles - any veterinarian or vet technician is capable of locating the parasites common to reptiles. In the worst case, they will find a parasite but will be unable to identify it.

The chances of your animal hosting parasites revolves around several things. This includes, but is not limited to, its living conditions (ie. cleanliness and level of sanitation in its enclosure), the animals it has come in contact, whether or not it is captive bred, or wild caught (wild caught specimens will often be hosting parasites), what you have come in contact with, etc.

[drewlowe]

Along with what ReptiliansDOTca was saying. I highly suggest the book:

Understanding Reptile Parasites: A Basic Manual for Herpetoculturists & Veterinarians
by Roger Klingenberg

It has all the basic parasites and if your vet doesn't treat herps you can take this along with you and they would have all the proper meds and dosage charts, along with pics. of the parasites.


You can purchase this book through amazon it shouldn't be more than 10.00.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1882770218/qid=1084228461/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/102-3480613-2808139?v=glance&s=books
Jamie

[ReptiliansDOTca]

I will second that recommendation. It is very simple, yet informative. Infact, it was one of the key tools in allowing me to be able to efficiently run my own fecals on my reptiles.

[Amy]

Thanks. I do need some books on reptiles, I like to read up about everything. I keep his tank very clean, he was bred by a breeder but I will still take some fecal samples to my vet this week to be sure.

Thanks!