Possible parasites, maybe pinworms, maybe not

[Sonya610]

Okay so I brought his/her (ch 08) first available poop into the local exotic vet (two vets at this practice, they see a lot of exotic animals and supposedly know what they are doing). Stool sample came back “possibly pinworms, possibly nothing”. The receptionist called me back (she was not the brightest of folks) and said if he “seems okay” then don’t worry, if he starts acting ill or seems lethargic bring him in. Apparently what they "saw" looked like it maybe pinworms, or it may be fauna of some type, or as she put it "it maybe just how he is". Hmph.

Acting lethargic? He is a baby bp, he spends his days in one of his hides. He eats well, does not look to skinny, I have not weighed him because I don't have a scale but he seems to be growing like a weed.

I don’t want to bring him in and have him dewormed if they can’t find anything, I was just a bit surprised at the answer. I know with dogs/cats a stool sample may “miss” diagnosing worms if the particular poop sample shows nothing, but with a snake, seeing as how they poop so rarely anyway, it seems as if it would be more obvious.

Any ideas? Should I just assume he is fine? Should I bring another sample in? Does this vet hospital know what they are doing?

[starmom]

I don't understand how they can fail to identify something that they are seeing?!?! Hmmm....
I would get a scale and keep weekly weights on your snake and also weights of prey. I would take the next fecal sample to a different vet and have the float performed again!
I just don't get why they can't identify what they are seeing....

[Sonya610]

I just don't get why they can't identify what they are seeing....

Yeah my thoughts exactly. Plus i called for the results and they said the vet would call me back, but instead the receptionist girl called. I did not pay much for the fecal (like $14 or so) but i am a bit annoyed...i will call on monday and ask for a vet call back. If they want me as a client they will explain things a bit more clearly.

It is not rocket science. We are talking worms here.

[starmom]

...It is not rocket science. We are talking worms here.

[rabernet]

I'd take in another sample next time she defecates. But if she's not regurging, and she's eating and gaining weight, she should be fine. I'd definitely want to know for sure, though.

[Malekhant]

Well I guess you'll have to try looking through a microscope to find the little eggs to really know why they can't be that sure of it.

It takes a lot of skill and experience to be able to be good at stool analysis. Guess you'll have to find a lab with a better tech.

[SatanicIntention]

Yep, a friend of mine couldn't tell the difference between eggs and air bubbles in fecals. It takes a trained eye to find things like coccidia/crypto and giardia. Pinworm eggs are pretty easy to see though, they're fairly good sized.

I've found digested pinworm eggs in some of my snakes' fecals. I'm guessing it's from the mice. The snakes have never come up positive for anything.

[littleindiangirl]

I think I read this in VPI's book that snakes dont actually get infected with either pinworms or roundworms. (I dont remember which, if it actually was either one I just mentioned.) They can certainly carry the eggs and pass them, but they will not hatch until they are put back into the host animal which is almost always the prey item like rats and mice. But in order to continue the life cycle they must be passed onto an intermidiate host (snake) before they can complete their life cycle and reinfect the prey animals.