Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've read that ivermectin is not safe for tortoises. Is there any injectable wormer that would be safe for my vet to use? I'm trying to deworm a couple recent imported Burmese Mountain tortoises. They are not thriving. I know they have parasites. The are not eating well, but sometimes will eat if I hold them and offer soaked Mazuri from a spoon. Only one vet here is interested in working (somewhat)with them. I asked him to deworm them for me and was told he couldn't do it. He said he would get me any meds that I wanted to use but he couldn't get their mouths open and didn't want to try unless I left them there for several days. Poor things are already stressed and I passed on that idea. I have given them Panacure on banana and at first they ate that well. But I still see worms. Need some suggestions from the worming experts, please. Thanks.

Hi passport,

Have you had a fecal done yet? Since they are recent imports, they could have protozoans which would need to be treated with Flagyl.

My vet uses panacur and flagyl and he administers in once and then again in two weeks. So, far this has worked well for my torts. He doses it at .1cc per 100 grams.

Hopefully someone else will also chime in, but I hope this helps a little bit.
-----
Kelly Wood

1.3 Cherry Head Redfoots

1.2 Brazillian Redfoots

1.1.4 Leopard tortoises

1.1.2 Sandfire Bearded Dragons

0.2 Dogs

1.3 Parakeets

If you can actually SEE the worms, what are they, tapeworms?
I think the things panacur works on are too small for the
naked eye. (I think it's just roundworm and tapeworm you can see.)

If they're white, segmented worms it's tapeworms.

Treatment is praziquantel (Droncit) at 5mg/kg orally or by
injection. A second dose should be given in two weeks.

That's 5mg/kg Five milligrams per kilogram
a very low ration.

I had to use this on a monitor lizard and we (vet and I)
used Feline (cat) Droncit, compounded down by a specialty
pharmacy (not something like Eckerds, but a REAL pharmacy).

Tapeworms will very quickly eat your animals up, I hope this
helps.

A had a fecal run on one of them when I found it. They only identified stronge.....something. The vet said Panacure. Well, Panacure is not working on the LITTLE REDWORMS. Ugh. They come out alive and wiggling. My vet did mention Droncit but also argued for Ivermectin. I knew enough to say no to that. He wants another sample with the red worms but it may be a while before I can obtain one. He indicated to me that he would be able to help me worming if he could inject and would provide any oral wormers that I requested along with the amounts. But they aren't eating on cue and are being difficult so getting the proper dosage in orally will prove difficult. Thanks for the info. I'll keep watching this post in case someone else may have something to contribute also.

don't go with the Ivermectin, I watched one of my animals die
a lingering death for 2 days after a vet doseage of that, thus
I became more aware. I it is Strongyloides then Panacur should
get them 25/mg/kg once every two weeks for 3 doses. Since
they have a direct life cycle, strict cleaning and hygiene is
required. I keep a box of rubber gloves around for things,
that's what I'd use.

Please go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Asian-Turtle-Crises and sign yourself up. Imported Asians need a really good vet that specializes in chelonians. The people on the Asian list have the experience, and a number of them have Burmese tortoise - they can likely help you.

Katrina

np