Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My daughter's dragon has had diarrhea for the last few days. It's really runny and it almost looks like mostly urine. I took "her" to the vet a couple of weeks ago and he said she had worms and gave her some meds. I'm supposed to go back and get more meds next week.

We've made some changes in the last few days could this be the reason or is she probably sick?
Changes: 1. went from a 10 gal. tank to a 55 gal. tank
2. started feeding her as many crickets as she can eat in 15 minutes (we used to just give her about 20 and that would be it) and for a couple of days we were just feeding her crickets at night but for the last few we've been feeding her as many as she will eat twice a day.
3. got a new batch of crickets
4. started cleaning her house with "simple green"
5. gave her more greens and left them in the tank all day.
6. increased the temp on her basking spot from 85-90 to 100

Someone please tell me if we are doing something wrong. My daughter would be devastated if anything happened to her. You can see a picture I took just yesterday further down. It's under "Sarah & Princess"

Someone please help me.

It's probably the crickets, everything else you did was good.
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1.0 Bearded Dragons Spike
2.1 Cats Bilbo, Bud, Cleo

Matt

It could also be the meds too. What are they giving her? Also, since she is losing alot of fluid I'd consider giving her diluted pedialite by the syringe at least once a day and soaking her in a luke warm bath at least once a day till this is put in check....I doubt the crix have done this too her.. What greens are you feeding?
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A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds,
adored by little statesmen, philosophers and divines.
Ralph Emerson

The greens yesterday were either collard or mustard greens and some spaghetti squash. The meds were Panacur 10% susp. The vet isn't a reptile specialist (we don't have one here) but they were recommended by the pet store).

cut the squash and the greens are fine.... I believe Panacure can actually cause diarhea... not positive though... did it start after you began meds or within a couple days?

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A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds,
adored by little statesmen, philosophers and divines.
Ralph Emerson

She got the meds on the 29th of November. The diarrhea started on the 9th or 10th (last week).

Panacur is a dewormer for roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms. It is used for dogs as well as reptiles. I have never heard of it causeing diarrhea.

What do you think it could be then?

Parasites, I would let my vet know what is going on. Live insects can carry many types. After haveing to deworm my beardie several times I swithched him to the canned insects and haven't had a problem since.

We feed all our dragons a variety of insects and we rarely have any parasite problems. I think the last time was 2 years ago of the permanent dragons here.

We raised the feeders here, so know they are clean and healthy.

Can I ask how old this girl is?

I agree with some others, it could be the rich diet she is getting now, we have seen dragons and iguana's we rescue go through a period of loose stools after a change in diet.

The reason I am asking her age as she does appear she may be gravid in those pictures
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www.reptilerooms.com

She should have had another dose of the panacur last week, she will have the parasites again. You need to do regular treatments until they are clear or controled, on treatment rarely solves the problem
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www.reptilerooms.com

My daughter brought her home in August. She went to Texas to visit her dad and her uncle bought it for her. So, I'm assuming it's about 4-5 months old.

I don't think so, we don't even know if it's a girl. It's never been in with another since we've had it. It was only about 8 inches long when my daughter brought it home in August.

8 inches would be approx 2-3 months old, add four more months and she would be 6-7 months old now. Where are you located, in the southern states that got with the hurricanes, many of us are seeing never breed females laying eggs as it appears the storms caused them to cycle early and very young.

I would get a fecal done and rule out that it is not parasites causing the enlarged lower tummy, specifically pinworms. If that is clear, than just watch her for wanting to dig and pacing. IF she starts that, come back and let the forum know, there are several that can help you know what to do for her.
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www.reptilerooms.com

I took her to the vet 2 weeks ago and he ran a fecal test and she did have worms. He gave her .10 Panacur 10% susp. and told me to come back in 3 weeks for another dose and then three weeks after that he'd run another fecal. But just since this last batch of crickets and feeding her more of them and having more greens in the cage all day she's been having really loose stools and a couple of times it was completely liquid.

Should I take her in to the vet or just wait to see if it hardens up?

Once every 3 weeks with panacur is not the recommended dosing... maybe she had them so slightly he felt she did not need the normal time factor. Discuss this with your vet
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www.reptilerooms.com

My daughter brought her home the first week in August.

The parasites might be from the crickets and that's probably why the poop is runny.
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1.0 Bearded Dragons Spike
2.1 Cats Bilbo, Bud, Cleo

Matt

It's not parasites thouigh its worms... I've never dealt with them... do they cause runny poop like parasites?

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A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds,
adored by little statesmen, philosophers and divines.
Ralph Emerson

Apparently, my guy has worms and his poop is pretty darn runny.
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1.0 Bearded Dragons Spike
2.1 Cats Bilbo, Bud, Cleo

Matt

Worms are parasites. Running stools is one sign of parasite/worm infection. Did the vet find any coccidia in the fecel? Make sure you keep his environment as clean as possible (the dragon's not the vets *grin*). Use just paper towel and clean every day till the parasites (worms) are gone. Wash everything that comes in contact with the dragon in disinfectant as well.
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PHLdyPayne

We just got the new crickets on Tuesday of last week. I ordered 250 and between the deaths and the amout she's eaten the last few days, they're gone.

How much and at what dilution?

50/50 pedialite and water or juice... like apple orsomething you think she'll like...
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A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds,
adored by little statesmen, philosophers and divines.
Ralph Emerson

Could we have gotten a bad batch of crickets or is she eating too many? (We did have ALOT of dead crickets this time)

I would say that with her being on meds it wouldn't be the parasites at this point... after two weeks? not likely.... Keep feeding her as much as she wants and do the peialite andsoaks and take a fecal to your vet and tell him what's up.... That's the best I can do.. anyone else?
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A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds,
adored by little statesmen, philosophers and divines.
Ralph Emerson

It sounds to me like another parasite like coccidia has risen out of control....

Cut the squash for now.....give the pedialyte....keep feeding the crickets, they don't cause diarrhea it would the parasites causing it or sometimes certain veggies/fruits if given too much....

Get a stool sample to the vet asap as well.....

Also, increase the basking temp a bit more if you can...100 should be the minimum basking temp, they should have a range of at least 100-105 to choose from, 100-110 is even better....

Let us know what the fecal shows....take care
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Tracey
Tracey's Beardies
www.beardiecrazy.com
"Whining is not only graceless, but can be dangerous.
It can alert a brute that a victim is in the neighborhood" ~Maya Angelou

It could just be the change in his diet. More crickets=more juicy guts=more water
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www.classylizard.com
Home of the Classy Lizard Hammock

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