Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My Corucia zebrata's fecal just came back positive for tapeworm. The vet says she is unconcerned and doesn't think treatment is necessary because the feces are firm.

I would like to treat the tapeworm, mostly because this skink is about to be introduced to a mate (once quarantine is over) and would prefer not to have 2 infected animals. I also follow the rather nasty practice of washing lizard, cat and people dishes in the same sink (not usually at the same time though!) and don't need an unexpected diet for me or the cats.

I've read that treating tapeworm in reptiles can be rather difficult. Is this true? Do others have positive or negative experiences using praziquantel for tapeworm? Is there a better choice?

A vet will be doing the treating, but I have no idea how competent she is with reptiles. I've just moved to a small town and am going to the vet that treats the most herps, but to my mind that doesn't exactly make her an expert.

I'd like to go in armed with as much info as possible, so all comments and suggestions are welcome.

Thanks!

-Z

Dr Klingenberg in his Understanding Reptile Parasites book states that tapeworms can cause secondary malnutrition, inflammation and enteritis due to mechanical irritation, and actual mechanical obstruction, although few symptoms are associated with tapeworms. They are treated with praziquantel at 5mg/kg. They have an indirect lifestyle so I would imagine after a lengthy quarantine that there is little risk of spreading to others. To prevent further infection, you can try freezing any live food items for at least 30 days.
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...the oldest task in human history: to live on a piece of land without spoiling it."
Aldo Leopold (1938)

"Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us."
Calvin and Hobbes

Thanks for the info. Is there a standard dilution for the praziquantel?

-Z

The container will say how much is in each milliliter. If you plan on treating the lizard yourself, you are asking for trouble. Your skink will suffer from any mistakes that you make.
I know you are competent, confident and sincere. I went through the same stage in my herping history.
Roger