Possibly Parasites?

[Crazy4Herps]

My BP girl Cu has a lot of mucous around her mouth and has been wheezing a bit. She also hadn't eaten in 4mo. I took her to the vet, and vet agreed with me that it was probably an RI. Vet checked my husbandry and said that I was doing everything right. Vet says that there is a new RI treatment that involves one injection every 2 weeks, rather than oral medication. It was a bit pricey, but I was all for not having to force-feed her meds. She got the injection, and two weeks later, I took her back in for another dose. We had planned on that being the last one, but apparently she wasn't recovering as fast as the vet had guessed, so she's scheduled for a third injection on Thursday (2 weeks after the last one). (The vet mentioned above is a qualified reptile vet and is very knowledgeable. I trust her completely.)

So, now, after a month on meds, Cu still has lots of mucous around her mouth; the RI hasn't cleared up.

She ate last Wednesday, but it was a small mouse, and I doubt she will excrete for quite a while; if she does, I will take it in to test for parasites.

I don't know much about internal parasites. I'm wondering if it could possibly be parasites that have weakened her immune system and prevented her from recovering.

How are parasites spread? Cu hasn't been in contact with any other reptile. I acquired a bearded dragon four months ago, but I am careful to wash my hands between handlings, and they have virtually no contact.

Budo (the beardie) hasn't been nearly as ravenous as usual. The fact that neither of the reptiles are eating as much as usual makes me a bit suspicious. I know it is the breeding season, and that may very well be the case, but I'm not going to rule out parasites.

If one of them has parasites, what are the chances of the other catching them? If I took in one of Budo's fecal samples and it came back positive for parasites, what are the chances that Cu also has parasites?




Sorry this is so long. Thanks for reading! I'd appreciate any opinions and information.

[blushingball419]

Yes, internal parasites can sometimes weaken the immune system.

Internal parasites are usually spread by ingestion, or when the animal eats or drinks something with the parasite in it. So if your snake has internal parasites they're most likely from the mice that it has eaten. And the only way that both your beardie and your snake have the same parasite is if you're feeding them mice from the same source or if one ate the other's fecal material (which I'm guessing is highly unlikely )

There is also another protozoan caused disease, amebiasis, that comes from infected water and pythons/boas are particularly susceptible.

There's no way to know for sure until you get a fecal sample tested. However, the fact that she's eating anything for you is great and it sounds like she'll be okay It could be she just needs a few more doses of antibiotics to completely recover...every individual animal is different

Hope this helps and good luck