Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have posted a few messages about a week back now, I bought a very sickly collared lizard from a shop i think where mistreating there animals! but i coudnt help myself and had to save this little guy. The problem is i got him last saturday and he never ate for about 2 days unless i was force feeding him but i didnt want to keep doing this as this can only put more stress on a already stressed on lizard so on monday i took him to the vet hwo gave him .06ml of panacure paste as he supected his dramatic weight loss to be worms or parasites.Since then he has pooed a few times but still refuses to eat or drink anything unless its veg/beef baby food through a syringe but even thats no easy task "why wont he start eating"? he aslo sits in the same spot with his eyes closed for ages until you disturb him.

Has anyone else had a similar experiance, and what did you do?

Very stressed out owner!!!!

Hi, I think sometimes with panacur, they can lose their appetite for a bit ! You can check with your Vet about that.

When they continually sit with eyes closed, not moving, they are not feeling well. Could be the medicine.

The fact that hes not eating , but has had several bowel movements, seems to be a good sign, that the panacur is ridding him of worms, through him going to the bathroom.

Personally if I spent the money to take him to the vet and got medicine and everything, I would call him, and ask if this is NORMAL, after he has been treated.
Probably takes some time to spring back,

But if hes really skinny, then you may want to keep up the baby food feeding for awhile. I would, and plenty of water, to keep him hydrated too.

Sorry, I can't give you a better answer, but I have never used Panacur, so I dont know the initial effects, only what I have heard.

Let us know how he does,

Eve

Thanx for the reply, i have just given his last feeding of baby food for the night and just noticed he had just had a bowl movevment on his log. It looks realy big compared to the rest hes done and had a lot of dark patches in it and some urates also, is this a good sign? oh another question how often should i give him calcium? and should i just mix it with baby food?

Sorry to nother you again with all these Q's

Kind Regards Darren

Again, I would think if hes going to the bathroom, its good, the worm medicine, is probably getting rid of the worms, which is what ya want.

Hopefully after the worms are gone you will have a healthy lizard that WANTS to eat again.

As far as the calcuim, I don't know how old or big your guy is Darren. If hes real young, I give my young guys, calcuim dusted crickets everyday !

The older ones, 2 -3 times a week. And yes, you can sprinkle some in the baby food.

I sure hope he feels better soon ! If not call that Vet back.

Let us know!

Eve

First, did the vet do a fecal exam? Panacur is a pretty broad dewormer, the dosage (.06 ml) seems kind of high, but it may be a lower concentration than what I have used. If no fecal was done perhaps ask your vet about treating with Flagyl as it is for protozoans and can stimulate appetite. Make sure your little guy is well hydrated because giving dewormers to dehydrated animals can put stress on the liver.

In my admittedly limited experience I have found that bumping your tank temps up maybe 5 degrees (keep your cool end just as cool as before)can help. Also, leave him alone as much as possible and if the room is busy maybe cover the sides so that he can't see activity and get more stressed out.

Good luck, Keep us posted

Laura
DISCLAIMER: I am not a vet (although in a few years I should be! ). My experience is limited and and medical treatment I have given has been under the supervision of a certified veterinarian.