Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Pogo went in today to get his fecal because I have been unable to rid him of the coccidia. Actually what happened was I was underprescribing him with the Albon and it didn't fully work. Well to make a long story short Pogo tested positive again today and the vet said he didn't want to retreat him with the ALBON. Meanwhile Pogo has lost about 30 grams because the fecal was loaded with the coccidia and his appetite has dropped off dramatically. The vet said that the professor at some university he knows said most dragons are infected in some way or another with coccidia (NO CRAP!) and that he was working on some method on treating it without the ALBON! Is this possible? He said he'd call me when this professor was done with this so called treatment. In the meantime POGO is still not eating and I'm afraid he'll lose more weight and who knows what other effects. I don't have any other vet that treats dragons so I'm STUCK HERE. WHAT DO I DO? Is there any other way to rid the coccidia? Is there any distributor of ALBON that would sell to a regular hobbyist like myself??? DAMMIT I'm Really pissed here! Pogo weighed 298.5 grams today too!
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**KILL 'EM WITH KINDNESS**

>>Pogo went in today to get his fecal because I have been unable to rid him of the coccidia. Actually what happened was I was underprescribing him with the Albon and it didn't fully work. Well to make a long story short Pogo tested positive again today and the vet said he didn't want to retreat him with the ALBON. Meanwhile Pogo has lost about 30 grams because the fecal was loaded with the coccidia and his appetite has dropped off dramatically. The vet said that the professor at some university he knows said most dragons are infected in some way or another with coccidia (NO CRAP!) and that he was working on some method on treating it without the ALBON! Is this possible? He said he'd call me when this professor was done with this so called treatment. In the meantime POGO is still not eating and I'm afraid he'll lose more weight and who knows what other effects. I don't have any other vet that treats dragons so I'm STUCK HERE. WHAT DO I DO? Is there any other way to rid the coccidia? Is there any distributor of ALBON that would sell to a regular hobbyist like myself??? DAMMIT I'm Really pissed here! Pogo weighed 298.5 grams today too!
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>>**KILL 'EM WITH KINDNESS**

I can say 30 grams is not a huge amount of weight loss. I bet my beardie has taken a 30 gram dump before. I can tell you his weight has fluctuated as much as 30g before just due to fluids and food intake. Hopefully that will ease your mind a little.

I'd try to help on the coccidia but I just don't know enough about the treatment of it.

Good luck!!
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Rob Talkington

If I were you I would contact the local herpalogical society and ask for a referance to a VET that specializes in reptiles. Also you could tell us where you are located and someone might know a VET in your area. You might have to travel to the next town or whatever depending where you are in the Country. I got a great VET, I am in Tucson.

I usually don't get out of work till later and the closest vet that I have found and yes I have contacted members of the herp society is a hour and 15 minutes away from me now..I can't really do anything else now..That is why I am stuck. I wouldn't post here unless it was my last resort to find someone who might know how I can get ahold of some ALBON or another treatment! I do have vets in my area but only cat-dog types who won't prescribe me the albon because they don't treat reptiles....I'm in Ashtabula, Ohio which is 68 miles east of cleveland....If that helps!
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**KILL 'EM WITH KINDNESS**

The albon has done a good job getting rid of the good bacteria in your beardies gut. You need to replace it in order for him to get his appetite back. Also, Jump Start works well in stimulating appetite, or you can do what I do and get some liquid vitamin B complex. The B vitamins are the main ingredients in Jump Start. B vitamins play a major role in appetite. Get some baby food (papaya or squash work well) and add acidophilus (bought at the pet store or from a health food store), calcium, and liquid vitamin B to it. Give him some every day until he's eating on his own. You shouldn't have to force it down - he should lick it up if you place it on his lips. This works with about 90% of my dragons. Good luck!

I don't know much about treating coccidia with other drugs besides Albon. Let us know what you find out.
Veronica
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Beautiful Dragons

You can buy albon online at

http://www.calvetsupply.com/product.asp?0=214&1=228&3=8

Veronica
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Beautiful Dragons

I have a quick question about the strength on the solution. 5% is what I usually use. Most products online seem to be the 12.5%. So should we dilute the mixture to the 5% level? My supplier said only vets can get the 5% now because its a prescription drug. Evidently it hasn't always been that way.
Just curious.
Thanks and take care,
Karen

Not everyday but once a week I'd say...If I use it everyday will this be safe...This might give him back his apptetite slightly but it doesn't rid him of the coccidia which is the main dilemma!
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**KILL 'EM WITH KINDNESS**

I believe it has been considered quite important to be using the acidipholiz or similar probiotic every day during treatment and beyond for a few days as well. If I remember right there is a risk of yellow fungus disease without the probiotics. Also, I think it's important to keep your beardie well hydrated during the albon treatment as well to prevent kidney damage.

Have you looked at Cheri's website concerning the treatment of highly resistant coccidia, which is most likely the case at this point? I think the failure of getting rid of the coccidia has only made it more resistant to the albon by now. It seems tedius but I guess it's effective. Doing this while using Parazap may get you out of the woods. Three links below are for the info on these items.

Yellow Fungus

Treating Ciccidia

Parazap

Check out this information and I think it will help you out with the coccidia. Believe me I know how frustrating it is to not trust your vet. My vet thought my ball python needed UVB and told me not to give probiotics to my beardie during treatment with albon, only after treatment. Both of those statements according to all the people I trust with information on my animals are wrong (especially the python needing UVB, what the hell is that all about?).

Anyway, I hope you get this problem licked. You and your beardie have been dealing with it for a long time now.

Oh yeah, I would definitely get that stuff into him recommended by Veronica. It will help him feel better and will probably make things a little easier for the both of you.

Hope this helps a little.
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Rob Talkington