Reptile & Amphibian Forums

We took our other dragons fecal matter in to be tested. According to the vet, she has Giardia. It is a water born parasite, supposedly. Does anyone know what it is? If it needs treatment?
Thanks!

I don't know much about the parasite itself, other than it's intestinal, and dragons that get it once are likely to relasp when stressed. My dragon had it at 6 months old, we treated it, and now 2 years later when he brumated for the first time, it came back in full force. It isn't life threatening but it definately needs to be treated, and I'd be surprised if your vet didn't recommend something when they told you the results of the fecal.

We treat my dragon with metranidazole. He has an extreme case so he's taking 0.3ml once daily for a week and is scheduled for another fecal in two weeks to see how he's doing.

Good luck to you and your girl.
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1.0.1 bearded dragons (Ocho / Domo-kun)
0.1 kingsnake (Rio)
1.0 ferret (Playstation)
1.0 cat (Wally)
0.1 dog (Tima)

The only experience I have had with giardia was with breeding ferrets. 2 years ago during heavy rains in upper Jersey giardia was in the water supply in heavy concentrations. The flooding and places of stagnent water attributed the outbreak. Anyway... They were using tap water for all the ferrets (53) At that time one jill was pregnant and nearing her due date. 2 weeks later she delivered a litter of 7. All were born with serious birth defects. This coming for a very proven line. No other deformaties have ever been present in the line. 6 kits died within days and only one lived. He had serious abnormalities in his face. One eye lower than the rest, deformed upper and lower palate, and deformed limbs. After major testing lasting weeks and many neocropsies it was determined the cause was giardia. I now use for ALL of my animals bottled water. We tend to believe that it was harmless to the other ferrets. Only the pregnant jill was effected by the giardia. So I can say it causes major birth defects in ferrets, and personally would not take the chance on any animal pregnant or not.

Mike

Be careful to wash up after you handle your dragon, it may not affect dragons to much but if you get it you'll wish you were dead. We call it beaver feaver around here and it causes massive vomiting and diarea (sp?). An antibiotic regime should take care of it.