Reptile & Amphibian Forums

my dragon has giardia. Runny feces, smells awful. did a home fecal and it was positive. I know a vet will tell me the same thing.

What should my next step be?
-----
0.1 Crested Geckos
1.1 Bearded Dragon
1.1 Standings Day Gecko
1.1 Red Tailed Ackie
6.6.30 tinctorius

Take the dragon to the vet and explain that you have already run a home test and it came out positive for giardia and ask for the treatment. I cant remember off the top of my head which antibiotic/dewormer they use for it. I wouldnt advise trying to dose the medications at home...if you get the suspensions or the dosage wrong it could be really devastating to your beardie.

Just out of curiosity, how did you preform the test at home? do you have a snap test or was it just by floatation and microscope i.d?
-----
0.1 Bearded dragon
0.1 mexican Black kingsnake
1.1.2 Leopard Gecko's (normal:normal:tang:baldy hypo tang)
0.0.1 Tokay Gecko
1.0 Blue Tongue Skink
0.0.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn
0.1 Anerythristic Corn
0.0.1 Red Tegu
0.1 Bullmastiff
4.1 Cats

Do you mean coccidia? Never heard of giardia. But deffinite take your dragon and a fecal to a vet to get proper medications and dosage.
-----
PHLdyPayne

I've heard of giardia, we test for it in all are fecals at work. I know reptiles can get it, im not sure how prevelant it is but i have heard of a few cases. One reason it may not get diagnosed a lot is that im pretty sure its tough to near impossible to see under a microscope, which is why i asked if he had a snap test, that is how we have to test for them at work..
-----
0.1 Bearded dragon
0.1 mexican Black kingsnake
1.1.2 Leopard Gecko's (normal:normal:tang:baldy hypo tang)
0.0.1 Tokay Gecko
1.0 Blue Tongue Skink
0.0.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn
0.1 Anerythristic Corn
0.0.1 Red Tegu
0.1 Bullmastiff
4.1 Cats

Well, I learned something new today Have done alot of reading on bearded dragons and reptiles but still learn new things . Will look more into this parasite/bacteria just so I know what it is.
-----
PHLdyPayne

Did a bit of research, found some interesting facts that I felt I should relay here. This particular parasite can easily spread to humans and other animals if proper hygiene is not practised (ie washing hands after handling your dragon, keeping utensiles etc away from the sink where you wash dishes etc.) Though not fatal in humans it can cause bloating, gas, diarrhia and nausea. In animals, the symptoms are the same. Deffinitely treatable. Included the link with more details about this parasite for those interested.

www.stanford.edu/class/humbio103/ParaSites2003/Giardia/GIARDIA2.htm
-----
PHLdyPayne