Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Im getting 4 wc baby tokay geckos.I need to know what to tell the vet if the fecal comes back positive for parasites.I live WAY out in the country and the only vet treats mostly livestock but she is very good and willing to learn.She was very willing to learn about my ferrets when necessary.
I Just need a basic idea of what medicines are used and Im sure she can find the amounts to use but if you know that as well Id love to know...
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Ask your vet if she has a subscription to VIN, the Veterinary Information Network (www.vin.com). It contains up-to-date information and message boards for vets to consult each other. Similarly, there exists VSPN, the Veterinary Support Personnel Network for techs, assistants and receptionists (www.vspn.org).

The type of medications would depend on the type of parasites found. The most common gastrointestinal parasites found on a fecal exam are nematodes (the group of "round worms", often ascarids or oxyurids. I'm not too familiar with what is common in Tokay Geckos. Nematodes are treated with febendazole (most popular brand is Panacur), which is also used to deworm livestock.

The dose varies, however, and I'm pretty certain that whatever febendazole your vet has in stock is way too concentrated for little Tokays. The correct dosage is very important, and is based on the weight of each animal. Too little and you won't be taking care of parasites, too much and it's a strain on the animal.

Also consider that the presence of parasites is not necessarily disease causing. Some vets and owners prefer preventive de-worming, others will only do it when it's suggestive of a problem. In WC juveniles, I think I would opt to de-worm because of stress of capture and shipping can give the parasites a chance to take advantage. Stress is usually the factor that makes herps go wrong. However, if they were long-term captives with a history of no health problems and a small load of parasites was found, I would not bother deworming.

Keep us posted!

Christina
www.herptiles.net

Wow, wild caught tokays. If there is anything funner then looking for parasites on wild caught exotic reptiles I'd like to know about it. A blood sample would be cool to see all the floating microfilaria too Lungwashes, biopsy's, I love this stuff!
The reality is though, that these Malaysian parasites probably won't be identifiable, yet as Christina mentioned, the vet will likely be able to tell what family they are from. This will be good enough to decide what drug to use. Christina also was kind enough to point out that while parasites usually arn't the end of the world, these fresh imports will be stressed and succeptable to parasitic invasion. Therefore the most important thing you can do, even moreso than the actual deworming itself, is to provide the best quarantine habitat right off the bat. I'd fill the cage with plastic plants(easy to clean) or discardable potted plants and perches. Mist the cage frequently and have lots of fresh water available as imports are usually quite dehydrated. In about a month, when you're certain every lizard is happy and healthy, they can be moved into their permanent enclosure.

Good luck!

Ian

Oh yeah, I love parasitology I'm the TA for the Exotic Animal Care course at Vanier College this semester, I'm aching to do something more than just fecals. The students were so excited to find oxyurids on a leopard gecko float, since most of the college's dog and cat clients are up-to-date on parasite control.

We have some animals in-house that are boarding and being hospitalized, and I'm bringing in a bunch of my herps for the lab at the end of February. I'm planning bloods on a bunch, fecals on whoever, and perhaps colonic washes on a few animals that I'm pretty sure we won't get stool samples from. I'd love to do a lung wash on my WC Acanthosaura capra's (eggs are incubating!), something funky could certainly show up there

Have you heard that the IHS in June will be in Toronto? I'm already making arrangements to stay with some relatives for the week!

Christina
www.herptiles.net

Thanks for the info.Im definitely not into parasites...But to each his own.Im glad someone does it or we would all be in trouble.I will give the vet the heads up on the website and Ive already got the temp. enclosure set up away from the rest my reps..So Im good to go, I hope those little buggers are okay..
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If your vet is a livestock vet, then tell her to look up the doseage for Ivermectin. I know she has that if she works on cattle.
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Passion, Enthusiasm, Conservation
ReptileGuy99

... I'm so pouting right now, I had both the ARAV and IHS planned, but things have come up and I'll need a financial miracle to make them now
I'd shrug it off and say there's always next year, but with the IHS I was really looking forward to the TO Zoo tour.

Ian