Parasite transmision

Dom · 01-04-04, 07:02 PM

Two monitors living together .. if one has internal parasites.. the other will eventually have em aswell right?

Basically .. If i deworm one .. deworm both .. I am asking as i had a possitive fecal done and I am gonna treat him but the other seemed ok ..

Would u treat both?

Susan Murphy · 01-04-04, 07:08 PM

I have what appears to be mites on my ball python. I have tried a commercial spray from the pet store, cleaned and sprayed the enclosure and changed the substrate It has helped somewhat. Any other suggestions?

Susan Murphy · 01-04-04, 07:08 PM

I have what appears to be mites on my ball python. I have tried a commercial spray from the pet store, cleaned and sprayed the enclosure and changed the substrate It has helped somewhat. Any other suggestions?

skinheaddave · 01-04-04, 07:30 PM

Dom,

It depends on the parasite. Some require an intermediate host, such as gastropods, to complete their life cycle. Others can be transmitted directly.

Cheers,
Dave

asphyxia · 01-04-04, 07:32 PM

I'm not sure how your answer reflects Dom's question Suzan.

Dom, Personally I would treat both for what its worth.

Good Luck B
Brian

mbayless · 01-04-04, 07:42 PM

Try talcom powder on the mites - the powder plugs up their airways and they suffocate....you could call East Bay Vivarium in Berkeley CA and ask them - they know good remedies for it that are good common sensical stuff...(510-841-1400, California).
Good luck,
markb

C.m.pyrrhus · 01-04-04, 07:46 PM

Dom, I would go ahead and treat both monitors as well. This way you know that you covered all your bases. One thing to realize also. Just because a fecal comes up negative, does not mean they are not parasite free. This just means that the bit of fecal that was tested came up negative. Again, I would go ahead and deworm both.

Steeve B · 01-04-04, 08:42 PM

2 monitors living together, funny thers often a subordinat animal that cant perform normaly, the dominant gets more food better basking and hiding, the other stresses out feeds less until one day you end up with a sick monitor, do you relly think treating him will solve anything?
I whod just seperat them, I bet you 2 months from now fecals will be negative. sure there will always be newbies or someone to advise you about deworming, most of them dont even understand monitor behaviour much less parasitism, the truth is treating is futile if you dont solve the problem at the base, your monitor will become sick again, with the same parasit problem, how is that posible youv just treated him? well you havent treated his food surce! and you have no control on all the little criters hanging in your monitors cage.
sorry Dom but iv seen way to many pepoles killing there monitors with the assitence of a vet, to advise you in that direction.

a very well known exotic vet, was desperate lossing animals after animals to a strange IBD virus, it took me a week to realise he was washing and killing his colection with javel, yet this guy had a TV show?!?!

skinheaddave · 01-05-04, 06:50 AM

Once again, Steve, I am forced to agree with most of what you say but still disagree with how far you are taking it. Certainly it is true that stress can leave an animal succeptable to infections, parasites etc. Certainly it is true that if the stressful factors are removed, some problems will take care of themselves. Others, however, require medical attention.

Never treating any animals for anything is just about as silly as always treating everything with the harshest medication. The same thing holds true for people. A lot of people have taken a lot of antibiotics for infections they could clear up themselves with some basic care. That being said, antibiotics have cured a lot of people who would have died otherwise.

The lesson to learn is to take the advice of vets, as well as self-proclaimed experts, with a grain of salt.

Cheers,
Dave

Steeve B · 01-05-04, 07:54 AM

25+ years of dealing with 10.000s reptiles, I stop treating them only 6 years ago, I started treating the problem that caused them to fail, never had better results.
Aim not telling peoples to not treat a sick animal, all aim saying is, do what needs to be don first, your vet won’t tell you how to keep your animal, heck he probably doesn’t know anyways.
Maybe I am taking it to far for your understanding! However I can’t count the number of parasite infested, skin and bones! Snakes and monitors that leaves my facility in perfect health, and the only treatment was basic husbandry. Only one dead liver damage from parasites. Can you say as much?
The lesson to be learn, not taking my advice will often lead to one more animal in your freezer.
I gain nothing from sharing my experience ( except insults)

skinheaddave · 01-05-04, 08:13 AM

Forget it. It is becomming clear you are another FR. Same attitude, same arguments.

Cheers,
Dave

EDIT: Perhaps that is unfair. My point is basically that 25+ years experience does not completely invalidate the combined experience of everyone else out there as well as the entire body of knowledge of the scientific and hobbyist community.

Steeve B · 01-05-04, 08:42 AM

right aim still leaurning every day, and take anyone view into consideration, something my arizonian friend dose not.

its clear to me that you have much knowledg about animals, but pleas stop rubbing my sholders befor an insult.

what you call attitude and arguments, is in fact experience!
Iv never argued FR simply because you cant argue with experienc, those that do, obviously dont have it.
Dave chill out my friend, you dont have to agree with me to be my friend, and I dont need to agree with you to apreciate you, heck I dont agree with half what Bayless says, still hes my best varanid body and the person I most respect.

Dom · 01-05-04, 08:51 AM

Tz fopr all the oppinions guys .. I apreciate it .. Nice little debate as well .. both prooved very good points..

Steeve B · 01-05-04, 08:56 AM

May I point out, aim the only one on this thread who addressed the real problem and solution, this alone shows a higher level of expertise.

Now anyone can debate on rather you shod treat or not, the facts remains the same!
The information I give you, is to help your monitors, not to be a smart guy, not to be arrogant, not to be a know it all, and surly not to make you feel bad about husbandry faults. You know I respect you Dom and will only help.

skinheaddave · 01-05-04, 09:33 AM

Steve,

I have met people with life-long experience in their respective fields who are still modest. And yes, you can argue with experience. You said that you only stopped treating within the last 6 years. that means that 6 years ago (still 19+ years of experience and many thousands of animals) you would have been saying something different and using your experience to validate it.

It is one thing to come forth and say "listen, I've done this before, these were my results, this is my theory" and quite another to come forth and say "look at all these fools who know nothing, whereas I know the whole truth." What, for example, is the point of your last post?

I can't argue with you that husbandry is the most important thing by far. Even my modest 5 years experience and a couple dozen vertebrate animals will attest to that. I am also not going to argue that husbandry will get some very sick animals well again, as my few years experience can also attest to that. I also know, however, that some parasites are not going to be overcome by husbandry alone and that some medication has proven effective in their treatment.

Like you, I am saying what I say to help out the monitors. People should be aware of the value of vetrenarian care, just as they should be aware of proper husbandry. I don't want people to dismiss a potentially valuable tool.

Cheers,
Dave