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Ocho has been fighting giardia off for a few weeks now. It wasn't getting any better so we took him in for another fecal before his follow up was due. Now, not only has the giardia NOT gotten any better, but he has coccidia too! Aggghh!

The vet upped his does of metranidazole and now has him on albon as well. Today I'm gonna clean out all his cage furniture to bare minimum and switch out his shelf liner to a new sheet.

Dispite all of this, he's still active, hydrated, and has a great appetite! His only symptom is the runny stool. I was reading the thread below and a lot of people mentioned probiotics with the treatment, but it was in the context of a dragon who wasn't eating. I'm wondering if it's neccessary with a dragon who is eating and staying hydrated.

I know I'm in for a lot of work fighting off these two parasites, so I will do anything I need to do to help the process. But I am low on money these days so I don't want to run out and buy something unless I know it's neccessary for helping this situation.

And if there are any other suggestions anyone has please let me know. Thanks!
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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)

A probiotic is an organism that contributes to the health and balance of the intestinal tract; also referred to as the "friendly", "beneficial", or "good" bacteria which when ingested acts to maintain a healthy intestinal tract and help fight illness and disease.

for more info:

about-probiotics.org

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Bennett

www.beardiedragon.com

That Albon will take all good and bad gut flora out of the beardies tummy. In a week of treatment that beardie might not be able to digest as well without the help of the good gut flora. Good gut flora also helps keep other things in check that if let accumulate during treatment could cause even worse prolonged health problems for the beardie. This medicine alone or the coccidia at high levels could cause the beardie to go off food, and by this time the only real suggestion is to give probiotics, supplemental feedings etc.to try and restart the cycle of feeding, digestion, and elimination.

As for the cleaning that has to be done daily. Maybe at this time paper towels might be the way to go so every time he poops it can be taken right out of the enclosure. I know when I dealt with coccidia I made hospital tanks which where just two large Rubbermaid's with only furniture that was easy to disinfect, and with a paper towel bottom. Everyday after it pooped I'd switch to the new disinfected bin, and disinfect the old one fully. A lot of work I know, but with coccidia seems sometimes the only way to get a hold on it as it lives for a while outside of the body, and can be ingested so easily by a cricket/worms running over a spot that was pooped on and not cleaned fully.
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Mystical Dragons webshots pictures
Mystical-Dragons Website

that there is good gut flora. Currently my dragon is being treated with Albon. Is there anything that can be given to the dragon to insure that good gut flora is present. Please explain more on this. After each Albon "shot" (actually giving orally) I give my dragon .25cc of water because I was told that was a good amount for the dragon to have daily for my size. Please correct me if im wrong in doing this. I want to make sure that my drgaon is well hydrated so that her kidneys arent affected. Thank you for all your help and advice!

PS I had made a post (just a few below this one) under the topic "sick dragon" if you want more details about my case.

I believe that's what the probiotics are for, to reintroduce good gut flora. Everyone seems to agree that this is important when giving a dragon albon, and I'm gonna buy some in the next day or two. They say it's available at Petsmart.
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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)

Hi
you use parazap???
i also got protozoan typ of parasites and it helpt me allot.
i got 2 types worms and flagelates and both go away after 14 days tea of parazap .
i also sugest giving probiotics after giving medicines.
medicines kill also the good bacterias .
beardies need bacterias to digest properly .
byeeeeeeeeeee

http://run.to/b22

My little dragon, Puff, also has coccidia, as I am sure you have seen my previous posts. Although he has only been under treatment for two days, I am noticing a difference. Yesterday, we had to take everything out of his cage, down to paper towels, a rock, his food/water dish, and his little sleeping hut. It isnt easy, I know, but if you love the little guy, you gotta do what you gotta do. We took our other dragon in for a fecal and they detected Giardia. But we are taking his fecal sample to another vet, as we were told by a vet tech that giardia is actually quite hard to detect. I was wondering if this were true?

I just finished cleaning out his cage and disinfecting his furniture. I put in fresh shelf-liner, and lined it with paper towels on top, then put back only his basking rock and hammock. He looks so pitiful and confused in there.

I guess I'll head to Petsmart in the next day or two to get some probiotics. I would today if I had the money. I wish I could get it now, but after dropping $86 in unexpected vet bills I have nothing left. Can anyone tell me how expensive it is?

B22, no I don't have any parazap, I wish I did. I just learned about it a week or so ago and haven't gotten any yet. Hopefully in a few days I'll have the probiotics and maybe a week or so after that I can buy some Parazap.

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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)

I know what you mean. My little dragon looks so confused in his empty, paper towel covered world, too. But I just keep reminding myself that it wont last forever. As for the unexpected vet bills, mine ran $111. So I feel your pain.....