Marc gave a really good breakdown on the dosages of various anti-parasitics, and I am in agreement with most of them based on current information. I am not certain of his sources, however I would take caution with a couple of the recommendations.

Fenbendazole is usually limited to 50 mg/kg in reptiles and dosages as high as 100mg/kg are usually discouraged as you are approaching toxic levels in some reptiles at around 200 mg/kg. The 50 mg/kg dosage has proven to be very effective when administered at one week intervals for three dosages.

Metronidazole is very effective for flagellate protozoan or pathogenic amoeba. However dosages over 100 mg/kg are not recommended due to toxicity and possible carcinogenic issues. Mammalian treatment regimes with smaller species have shown neurotoxicity at dosages as low as 75 mg/kg. While reptiles may tolerate metronidazole more effectively with widely spaced treatments, it is still something to think about. Marc is absolutely correct in that ratsnakes need the lower stated dosages as confirmed by both Kolmstetter (2001) and Bodri (2006). Actually no species of colubrid or crotalid should ever be dosed at over 50 mg/kg, and the 100 mg/kg dosage is probably the upper safe limit for boid species. All dosages should be spaced at two week intervals.

Levamisole at 10 mg/kg via intracoelomic, and injection up to 40 mg/kg IM, or SC, and 200 mg/kg PO have been used effectively for lungworm in reptiles. However, caution needs to be exercised as levamisole is quite toxic and there is a very narrow margin of safety with its use. Thanks again Marc,

Kelly

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