I recently purchased a Greek tortoise from a pet store, 5 days ago, and he is very sick. He is very dehydrated and has a bad case of pneumonia. Apparently he is very under weight and has bad coloring. I have been caring day and night for him with all the proper food and medication. We finally got him to poop (yea!). When we took it in to be tested it was positive for hookworm? There is no doctor in until Monday so we cannot find out what this means. Does anyone have any information? Am I exposing my other animals and myself to something harmful? It would break my heart to take him back or loose him. What should I do until Monday? Any suggestions.
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Information on Hookworms
cd_armstrong1
Dec 12, 2003 02:58 PM
Replies (1)
Niki
Dec 12, 2003 09:21 PM
Yes, this is not something you want to get. Keep your hands
washed, better yet, buy a box of disposable gloves and use then
for everything involving that tortoise until he's clear of them.
Can be transmitted via water, soiled bedding, contaminated food,
and you can get it through your skin even. Keep the bedding
changed frequently, I would suggest putting him on paper towel
bedding and replacing it often for now, it's a quarantine
situation ideally. Treatment is Panacur (fenbendazole) at a
dossage of 25 mg/kg once weekly for at least two of three
treatments. Repeat fecals should be checked at least twice.
This is a bug that can build up a tremendous load quickly in
captivity. Worms are not visible to the naked eye.
