Be vigilent .. dont think it cant happen to you..

[sparkle]

I wanted to post this to share what happened today.

We have two rescue water dragons one had recently been in for a huge operation to remove abdominal cysts her name is Gee. We have been keeping a close eye on her feeding her carefully making sure there is no standing water so misting her much more and administering meds..

Ok great.. marvellous BUT

Usually I check all my animals weekly so I notice things, check their poo, check their tummies etc, but I have been so busy taking care of gee and then this week 3 emaciated leos were dumped on me, one euthanised emergency yesterday I havent been checking as normal.. I simply have been rushing , a quick clean and feed and thats it.

Today I found my OTHER water dragons water ( star) with worms in it.. Star is not housed with Gee or in the same room.

Now I think they have had to have been there for a while and I havent noticed when cleaning..I have been rushing feeding with the animals I thought were fine.. not checking poos, not checking for bloated tummies routinely, spending time with the poorly ones.


Now ok so I have a vet appointment for her tomorow, the first one I could get, but my point is we've had Star ( the WD with worms) now for nearly 2 years. She was a rescue, doing really well after her initially being egg bound etc. The last 2 weeks since gee had her operation and the new rescues arrived I wasnt being as careful as I should have, simple fact.. wasnt checking, wasnt thinking!!

You think if an animal is well, has been with you for a good long time and youre feeding and cleaning it will be fine?

WRONG! Worms and parasites can happen at any time, from stress, from general being under the weather etc, for many reasons. They occur naturally and are not the fault of the owner.. but dilligence and careful husbandry as wel as weekly checks in the poo and yearly or 6 monthly fecals as routine help a lot ot prevent bad attacks or multiplication to a level that can even possibly kill a reptile.

PLEASE do not think because your animal seems ok it is ok, reptiles survival instinct is not to show illness or weakness. Often we do not realise our reps need treatment until its fairly far advanced, hence why simple yearly fecals are so important as a matter of standard check ups, and weekly home checks too for anything visable, check the poos, feel for any swollen tummy etc... try to remember to do it weekly.



I feel terrible, there is no way the worms are just new, there were loads in her water, I have simple missed checking it properly until it was very very obvious. I wanted to post this to show how easy it can happen, and maybe help others to see why its so important to be on the look out for parasites and worms even when the animal has been with us a long time.

[SW-morelia]

How can worms/parasites occur through stress.... I thought they came from eggs???

[sparkle]

Originally Posted by SW-morelia

How can worms/parasites occur through stress.... I thought they came from eggs???

for example..

an animal has naturally occuring parasites in their body... IF the animal is stressed which is common with lizards... the parasites can multiply and take hold.. very like in humans.. when under stress we are subject to weaker immune systems etc...

it is when the parasites multiply they are no longer just naturally occuring in the guy but actually can take over and cause serious damage.. non eating.. bowel issues.. intestinal tract problems etc

hope that helps explain

Ps obviously there are a level of parasites that are ok... in all animals.. that occur naturally.. but also ones that dont occur and live naturally.. some issues such as virus or bateriums are transferred in different ways

[RedGex]

Originally Posted by SW-morelia

How can worms/parasites occur through stress.... I thought they came from eggs???

I think Sparkle is trying to say that stress can lower the immune system, so any 'base-level' parasites can take hold and become noticeable/a problem. Livefood can carry parasites which may not be noticed in a healthy reptile, but add stress from illness, laying, change in environment etc then the numbers will increase. Also reps can carry what may be helpful gut bacteria and flagellates which are fine maybe even useful for digestion in low numbers, but as before, if the levels are disrupted and they bloom it can lead to illness which needs treatment.

edit: Sparkle beat me lol!

[SW-morelia]

So when you worm them, doesn't that kill off all naturally occurring worms and parasites?????

[miss_rawr]

thanks for posting this Sparkle it really makes you stop and think!

[sparkle]

Originally Posted by SW-morelia

So when you worm them, doesn't that kill off all naturally occurring worms and parasites?????

hence why if you worm or treat a lizard for any parasites you then use probiotics to encourage natural gut bacteriums again... for example avi-pro probiotic treatment for reps

[sparkle]

Originally Posted by miss_rawr

thanks for posting this Sparkle it really makes you stop and think!

I was hoping it might, I just feel as if I have let her down. i check weekly and just havent recently.. so the issue has goen unnoticed.. i know its vile breaking open a poo.. and especially with a water dragon who poos in the water .. but if you avoid it till they are poorly or not eating its usually quite far advanced..

luckily shes still eating fine and hasnt lost weight yet... the fecal will let us know exactly what we are dealing with..

[robster84]

one of my beardies is at vet now for worms and other baby is going vets tomorrow. apparently they can catch them via the fruit, veg and livefood we feed them

[sparkle]

there are o many ways things can occur... i think all we can do is be super vigilent even if we have a long term healthy animal.. yearly fecals or 6 monthly some prefer dont cost much and can catch things quickly.. mine was due her 12 month one next month I may change it to every 6 months now