Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am looking for info on using Panacur on some various hots. In particular, looking for anyone with info on using Panacur on Bothriechis schleglii and what the possible side effects are, and dosing. Any info would be greatly appreciated...

While answering this type of question it is so easy to say that it is best done by getting a veterinary prescription. While this being true in ALL cases certain individuals do take deworming into their own hands at minimal risk. Perhaps sharing your herpetological and educational background will give people a better idea on how to respond to your request.

My extent of knowledge on the subject of treating internal parasites is none. That is why I posted, to get info on the subject from people who already know what is good and bad. Also, no vet around here wants hots in their clinics and can't prescribe anything because they can't look at the animal. So, to either help prevent internal parasites or kill the ones that might be there, I'll just have to be one of the people who medicate their animals, otherwise no one will. I can however get them tested at the vet, but as far as treating them it will have to be me. Believe me, I'd much rather have a vet do it but doesn't look like that is an option. So, to cut out all the b.s. do you have any helpful info on the subject??? Otherwise thanks for your time...

I'll ignore that last sentence and assume you're having a bad day.

Deworming medications are not meant for prevention but rather, they kill parasites as they work there way through the body. If your snake ingests more parasitic eggs post treatment it will again have parasites.

Are your vipers wild-caught? How long have you had them? If they are long term captives or captive bred, happy and healthy, and in a clean environment, then the need to deworm them is next to none. Consider bringing in fresh fecal samples to your vet clinic (less than 1-2hours old, from a clean substrate as opposed to a dirt substrate). If time is a factor, then a refridgerated sample is second best. It is quite likely that they will find something, but unless it appears in significant numbers action is not necessary. Several sequential samples should ideally be taken, as a single sample is more likely to be falsely negative.

When it comes to actually deworming your snakes, discuss with several vets on there opinion about deworming hots that they will not see. Perhaps a photo of the snake on a gram scale will be sufficient. Again, they would need to feel confident that this is a healthy animal. The reason for this is that all drugs can have side effects as they make there way through the body. Panacur is very safe and has a wide safety margin, however in the wrong patient it can be devestating.
Do you feed prekilled prey? If so then hiding the drug in the prey (tablets fit nicely in the oral cavity) is the easiest method of administering.

Hope this helps, I don't give dosages over the internet, esp. with people I don't know; whichever vet that you end up working with will help you with that.

Also please consider looking for a "hot" vet prior to needing one for other reasons. Great sites include www.arav.com and herpvetconnect. The vet's that you discuss your fecal with may also have someone to refer you too. Traveling an hour or two may be necessary.

Good luck

Sorry, didn't mean to come across like that, I'm just consise and to the point (very "frank" if you will). It would be too much of a pain to talk about my entire situation here. I just want to know if anyone out there has any info that they would like to share. Thanks for the vet help but I already know the vets around here and they don't want to give me much help. What I am looking for is personal accounts using different medications, like I don't want to give a medication to an animal if it has a reputation of killing certain snakes. Makes sense, so I ask people in here... I appreciate your time anyway...

Something that might be interesting is if you write to Dr. Mader at REPTILES magazine with your questions (I'm again assuming that time is not a pressing issue here), photos, and health description ect and see how he responds. Perhaps mention what we've discussed here (so he doesn't have the same questions I initially did). It would be doubly awesome if it were printed in the magazine so everyone would get the advice of a top notch DVM

im a vet tech, and while im still learning about hots, if you have a vet whos willing to run fecals and diagnose parasites, then s/he can find the right dose of what med you need for whatever you are treating, and if they dont whant the hot in the office then you get the fun task of giving it, for my boas i have often injected that panacure into the food then fed it. this will depend on what antiparasitic you need if this can be done, panacure (fenbendazol is the drug name SP?) is good for lots of worms, but wont get things like giardia and some of the other things hots get. Id get the diagnosis and dosage from a vet and then you can adminester it at home, because with some animals things are safe and wonderful, and it can kill another in a heartbeat!
goodluck!

Nice to see a fellow herp'n tech

I think the obstacle here is getting a vet to prescribe a medication without actually examining the animal. I asked the vets here what they would do if in this situation and a signed waiver was brought up (stating that the client is knowledgeable about the risks of giving a medication without proper examination).

NRI, if you can't get local vet clinics to cooperate what about the nearest zoo? They will most definately have a vet who is familiar with reptiles and the problems associated with them.

Good luck

I hope the information I sent you helps, and my little disclaimer at the end is just another reminder that it is safest for your animals to not bi-pass the usage of a veterinarian when seeking medical advice.

Ian Kanda, AHT