Question about panacur treatment

rich_19 · 05-31-03, 09:11 AM

I recently purchased a beautiful hypo tang. male leo gecko and had a fecal exam for him when he stopped eating. I found out he had worms (I forgot what they were called) and was told to give him panacur for 3 days and repeat 3 weeks later. I've already given him 3 treatments for the first 3 days and it's now been 3 days since the last treatment and he still won't eat. When should I expect positive results? I should also point out that it seemed the gecko had quite a heavy infestation.

Trace · 05-31-03, 09:31 AM

Hmmm.... now that seems to be an awfully heavy dose of Panacur to me, particularly for a leo? Did a vet prescribe this to you? I usually dose with it once and repeat 10 to 14 days later. Anywho, the good thing about Panacur is that you can't really overdose with that medication, so you should be ok.

I find that Panacur is an appetite suppressant, so your leo may not feel like eating for a day or two, but his appetite should come back shortly. Again with 3 straight doses of Panacur like you've done, it doesn't surprise me that he won't eat.

As for positive results, you won't see them until the final doses are given in 3 weeks. He should eat in the meantime, but expect him to be off his again after the final meds are given.

Hope this helps.

Trace

Pixie · 05-31-03, 09:47 AM

I've been dealing with the same exact problem. My vet prescribed a treatment of panacur also 5 days treatment, 10 off and then 5 more days of treatment.

My leo's did lose more of their appetite during and immediately after the treatments but are eating again now.

Pixie

rich_19 · 05-31-03, 01:28 PM

How many days after treatment did they start eating, Pixie?

eyespy · 05-31-03, 01:37 PM

A lot of the vets I know give a weaker dosage for a longer period of time to small animals like geckos, it's not that uncommon.

If the gecko had a heavy parasite load, the gases given off by the dead and dying parasites will temporarily make the gecko feel bloated and sick so appetite loss is very normal in the short term. Breeders who give Panacur to all new animals say "if he's still eating afterwards, he never needed it in the first place."

rich_19 · 05-31-03, 01:58 PM

If a reptile is still eating during treatment, should I worry if he regurgitates or is that just another side effect of the dead and dying worms?

eyespy · 05-31-03, 02:04 PM

Often another side effect if it just happens once or twice, but I'd worry a bit if it should continue.

drewlowe · 05-31-03, 02:27 PM

I have went through this problem 2 times in 2 years. With my experince with it you are supposed to give them one dose then give them another dose 2 weeks later and then one more dose after that 2 weeks later. a total of 3 doses 1 every 2 weeks. My geckos had Round worms. The fist time they had round worms (around 2 years ago) they were given a deworming medication that didn't work i don't remember the name. Then they were given panacur the way i described it up above then they successfully got rid of the worms. Then they got worms around 4 months ago they i took them to a vet and had a fecal exam done and they had round worms again. I asked the vet to prescribe panacur and he did. gave them the treatments again as prescribed and they have been completly dewormed again. And yes they do lose their appetite for a short amount of time but a couple days after treatment they should eat. IF they don't start eating again i would advise to take a fecal sample back to the vet to check to see if they have gotten rid of the worms after all 3 treatments. IF you have any more questions on deworming you can ask cause i have had experince with it. Also i have found out mine got the round worms from the live pinkies i had fed them. Which i will never feed live pinkies to my leos again only frozen/thawed pinkies.

Jamie