Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I weighed and measured POGO today and he's 17 3/4" long and 368 ozs. He was 7 months old March 5th. Does that sound average, below average, above for his age???? I was really surprised he is that size as he's been battling coccida for a long time now and he was underprescribed albon for the 3 treatments because of the wrong weight on my part. Anyway he's still got the coccidia and the vet won't treat him anymore with albon becauase some professor he knows said all US dragon have coccidia and is working on a better method to rid them of it. Anyway because of that he's no longer POGO's vet. Anyway back to the point I am happy to this point he is this big. Actually he packed on 60 grams the last 2 weeks so I was happy with that....Ttyl!!!!!!!
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**KILL 'EM WITH KINDNESS**

If I'm wrong with this please let me and pogo know.

Not trying to be rude but it seems to me you have a healthy dragon. I think he's big for his age.

I mentioned to you a while back it may be fine for your beardie to have low levels of coccidia and as long as he's not showing problems with health it shouldn't be a problem. You didn't seem to acknowledge that advice.

Now your vet has refused treatment stating the same thing. I can tell you others will advise the same and if you go to a different vet and start treating your dragon again you may be unnecessarily giving him albon, which is not good.

Anyone else have an opinion on this?
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Rob Talkington

The only thing I can add here is that I agree with you.
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Bill DiFabio
Garden State Herpetoculture...website to follow...
Email Me
"If you don't have enemies, you don't have character." - Paul Newman

I also agree with the above statements and your vet. I wish all vets kept up to date with these issues.
So many albon treatments are probably doing way more damage than good. Albon can really strip the system and the dragons can build up immunity to what it is supposed to be fighting for. Some coccidia is way better than kidney damage due to the treatment.
Something to think about...
Wildlife vets typically say for every antibiotic treatment that you do, it can often take 6 months for the reptile to build back up the positive and necessary gut flora. As much as we try to keep our dragons away from feces, many wildlife vets actually make a little poop soup to feed back to the animals to prep them for re-release.
I'm actually amazed that the dragon is doing so well battling the albon (rather than the coccidia!). I'd leave him be, he is a great length and size, and make sure to give him some nutribac or other beneficial bateria.

Dana

Nooooo I didn't not listen to your advice...I took it as it was. The problem was that the vet said his sample was "LOADED" with Coccidia...So to me that wasn't good...
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**KILL 'EM WITH KINDNESS**

Small amounts of coccidia is nothing to worry about as long as he is gaining wieght and appears healthy, he is fine. I wish I had the choice to just up and leave a seemingly good vet becuase i was upset that he would not give more albon. Just like everything in life too much of anything is always a problem.

I know it has taken me 6 long years to find a vet that was able to treat and diagnose the simplest of ailments. Two dead lizards later and a hour drive and i am finally happy about my choice in reptile vets.

I suggest before moving to a new vets office talk about your concerns with your vet and hear his side of the story, make yourself as knowledgable as possible about coccidia and anything else you are worried about and if he listens to you and validates your concerns stay with him. even if he DOES NOT give more albon!!

i would switch if after you researched on your own, made knowledgeable choices, and were still told you were wrong. IE. my wd had mouth rot .. i knew it, everyone that looked at her knew it but my vet and her colleagues told me no, it was just sores from stress... (DUH)... bad vet get a new one.

and for the record I adopted suzie who had mutliple problems including mouth rot and a URI. Even under strict quarantine she/he was able to get my very healthy male wd sick. He died in dec 2000, she/he lived for three more years and was euthanized in the beginning of feb 04 because of a severe eye infection and a failure to thrive.

JMO...take it or leave it... and btw.. i think that is a good wieght and legnth for a dragon his age

Alissa

My 2 dragons were on Albon for a week then my Vet changed the medication for 10 days. They worked and they're coccida free so far. I do agree that small amounts of coccidia in their syatem won't hurt. It's like the yeast in human bodies. Small amounts are ok but too much and you have all kinds of problems.
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0.0.2 Bearded Dragons(Ziggy and Stardust)

Over use of Albon is dangerous for your beardie. Low levels of Coccidia are natural. Be more afraid of a vet that thinks they aren't.
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