Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Cheri -

As you know from a recent e-mail I sent you, Ojay and Lizzy haven't been acting normal for a long time now. I took them both to the vet and had a mouth swab done for a culture. This was done about 3 days ago. The vet just called me with the worst news possible. Now it looks like Lizzy and Ojay have a type of Candida yeast. It's internal though - no noticable exterior signs of the fungus have appeared - yet.

I can't believe this happened! I feel like such a bad mommy! We washed our hands in between handling them and giving meds. They all have separate everything. I just don't know where I went wrong. My biggest fear is spreading it to any other beardies in my household. (Like my new male dragon from Joel R.!!!) Is there something that I should be doing that I've possibly missed?

I have a few questions ... Does Nolvasan kill the Candida yeast? Nolvasan has been my primary sanitizing agent. I use it to clean their cages, their food dishes, and the bath bins. I use a 10% bleach solution to clean their cage carpets and cage furnishings. I have also been using Purell Instant Hand Sanitizer in addition to handwashing.

Also, Lizzy and Ojay have been on Albon several times in the past (without probiotics). Could this be the cause for the Candida? Maybe I'm just being hard on myself. I guess I will never know where or how they got it. I can just guess.

I guess I just don't know what else to do but to get some meds from the vet. The vet wants to wait another day or so to find out what specific strain of yeast we are dealing with. He has a pretty good idea what meds will fight it but he's also the one that prescribed Ketoconazole for Mo. IMO he should've prescribed something that wasn't so harsh on her kidneys. What oral med would you recommend for treatment of Candida?

Thanks for all your help Cheri. I'm sure I'll be in contact with you again.

Veronica

know it not surprising to me they have candida, and yes, IMO, I do think that the treatments in the past without probiotics have contributed if not caused the yeast infection. We've only been promoting adding the probiotic with treatments, especially Albon for the last 6 months. Time will tell if it makes a difference in the amount of yeast based fungal infections we have seen inthe past.

I would really like to see a commercial product produced that has bifidus in it along with the lactobacillus, but we can always add it to what we are using now, like acidophiliz.

The nolvasan is a great product and should surface clean and kill candida. I don't think you passed this to them from something or eash other, I think the meds are a big factor in it.

I was looking back at our old emails and we discusses candida possibly being a problem back in July!

That certainly explains the stomactitis and the eating/eye watering and nose problems.

Itraconazole and fluconazole are not as harsh I don't think as the ketoconazole is on the liver and kidneys, none are a great thing as they are just not used that much in reptiles and you ahve to watch them close, flush their system with fluids.

Someday hopefully we will have more solid scientific information on these yeast and mold fungal infections... for now we've learned what we think are patterns of them coming down with it and possible treaments, not perfect, but the best we have so far.

These were rescues, so you don't really know what went on prior to you getting them, don't think your a bad mommy....... this can and has showed up in dragons that have had excellent husbandry..... we just do not know all the answers yet.

Sorry, I wish I could help you more... maybe someday soon we will have better answers

My beardie was just placed on Albon today because of Coccidia. What is the best way to ensure a speedy recovery without the threat of yellow fungus. Also, about cleaning and disinfecting surfaces...is Nolvasan better than using dilute clorox 1:30 ratio? Where can Nolvasan be purchased?

I'll keep you posted on what the vet finds out from the results of the tests. I should know later on today. The vet already told me that Lizzy came back positive for both Candida and Pseudomonas and two other bacterias. Yuck. Nothing confirmed yet on Ojay's.

Strange thing is that Baytril is supposed to help with Pseudomonas. Lizzy has been on Baytril for 10 days recently, I guess it didn't work. I know Pseudomonas is a pretty resistant bacteria, we'll just have to try a different drug to wipe it out.

I'll keep the liquids and acidophilus up in both of them. What meds we treat Lizzy and Ojay for their Candida, I will probably give to Mo too. She hasn't made much progress on just the surfact treatments of Lamasil. I think the vet wants to prescribe Itraconazole or Fluconazole orally. We'll see and I'll keep you in the loop.

Veronica