Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a bearded dragon that likely has intestinal parasites (waiting for stool sample evaluation). I've heard people recommend the use of "probiotics" (Pet Authority has one called "Acidophiliz" along with - or immediately after - treating reptiles with antibiotics. The idea is that antibiotics kill off good gut flora along with the bad bacteria/parasites, and the probiotics will help the intestines replenish the good stuff. I did a quick websearch and didn't see any scientific research that shows evidence that probiotics help. I called Pet Authority in NY and they told me that studies were done at the Bronx Zoo Reptile House, but they couldn't give me a cite. Can anyone refer me to any veterinary studies that show probiotics are useful in reptiles? Thanks!

On the contrary, I was at a seminar discussing inflammatory bowel disease in canines of all things, when probiotics came up. The specialist was not happy with them at all saying that effectiveness, if given properly, was less than measureable in most cases. To add to that, no regulation exists (although this seminar was at least a year ago), and among the products tested, few had what the label said they did, and none had the quantities listed. Some were completely dead of viable bacteria, and others contained bacteria that were often more problematic than any good.

All in all, intestinal flora is obtained by what an animal eats. Bacteria lives on the bugs they eat, on the vegies, in their water, and in there mouths. This will replenish any lost flora, and is in my opinion, better than splashing the guts with whatever's in bottle #1.

Ian