Posted by:
sheshanaga
at Wed Dec 27 11:37:11 2006 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by sheshanaga ]
I took my adult corn to a herp vet last week for 2 reasons,
1.) I just got him, he’s my first adult corn, and I wanted him given the once over and
2.) after three feedings he had what looked like a partial regurge and I wanted to ask some questions.
The vet looked him over inside and out and said that he is a-ok. However, a subsequent stool specimen indicated that he had a fairly high pinworm count. The vet also noted that there is no way to know (without surgery—an extreme action) whether or not the worms are coming from the snake or from the mice he is being fed.
The guy I bought the snake from said that he was fed only f/t adult mice. I feed the same and my stock comes from Rodent Pro so I have no issues there. The vet gave me some medicine that I need to give orally to the snake via a needle injector. I’m to do this once a week for two weeks, and then bring in a stool specimen a week after that. The vet also indicated that I DO NOT have to strip down the tank, but that I should just be quick to change out his water if he should poop in it, so that he is not re-ingesting the same pinworms.
When I first was told all this news, I immediately wrote a friend of mine who is certifiably an expert in the field. Being new to the hobby, I am constantly shocked with how little information is available on any topic, let alone health issues. Sure enough, he was able to affirm some of what the vet said and contradict some of the other info. In addition, he sent me several links to forums, etc, where the topic of pinworms was being discussed. True to form, most of the info was hearsay, and other info was simply ridiculous.
I have all of the available books on cornsnakes (most (not all) of which are basically glorified pamphlets sold in pet stores filled with “How to keep your new pet happy!” pabulum. While some of them mention pinworms w/o any treatment info, others simply sidestep the issue entirely.
My friend the old timer said that herps are not like dogs and cats. People do not tend to rush their herps to the doctor once a month for check ups like they do with mammals. Because of this, many common procedures are never performed and all that data is never collected. It may very well be true that most or all CB herps have pinworms, but that no one knows about it because they just don’t get examined.
To take it a step further, I contacted Kathy Love and asked her about her dealings with pinworms and if she could help shed a little light on the subject. To my surprise, she told me that she has ever had to deal with pinworms on any of her animals. She did give me a contact to a DVM that she uses as a reference, and I will soon utilize that resource in my never-ending battle to find herp info.
My question to the Kingsnake forum is this: what is YOUR experience with Pinworms?
Are they common or uncommon?
Malignant or benign?
Do they require sterile conditions or can the tank stay as is?
Can you completely eradicate them with proper treatment, or are the a permanent affliction?
Do I give the meds on a full stomach or empty?
Any other data you may have is also greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Lenny B.
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 Pinworms in Cornsnakes – FORUM SURVEY - sheshanaga, Wed Dec 27 11:37:11 2006
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