Just got back fecal test

[jretton1]

Hey everyone! The vet called me a few days ago with the results from my normal's fecal test. They found pinworms (which was treated today with a sub-cutanious injection) and coccidia. The vet explained to me that coccidia can be contracted by its food (mice, rats). The vet wanted to schedule appointments for injections to treat the coccidia(which would cost a little more than $100) but my rationale is that it will likely get coccidia again from its prey in the future, so what is the use to treat it. I just want to know if anyone has evver had this problem or if you think I should follow-up on the treatment of coccidia.

[shadi11]

Do you know what they used as an injection?
As for the coccidia I havent had that experience in my snakes. I know most reptiles can carry low numbers of coccidia natrually. I assume snakes would as well. although I havent ran across a concerning count in my collection upon fecals. Mice could carry it. as with any animal. Do you get your feeders from a regular supplier?
Typically signs of high levels of coccidiosis is runny, stinky poop. and lack of appitite. It can be deadly at high levels. You could suggest to the vet showing you how to inject and doing it yourself. I know with a snake we rescued and treated an absess, the vet gave us 2 weeks of injections and we did it ourselves.

[jretton1]

They used Ivermectin. I get my rat pups from a local exotics store. Other than what the vet found, my ball is in great health; good muscle tone, eating regularly (never has refused a meal). The only concern is a couple bad sheds that she has had recently, and I'm afraid that these protozoans may be causing this. I jsut dont want to treat the coccidia when she is normally going to have low doses of it anyway.

May I add that the vet I go to is in no way a herp specialist, but she is the best available in my area.

[shadi11]

http://www.anapsid.org/resources/rxdose.html
heres a site with common meds.. ivermec is not recommended in reptiles.
heres a quote from the above on the side effects.

Ivermectin is administered in near-toxic doses to be effective, and must be repeated often 3 times to be as effective as the far less toxic fenbendazole. Merck, the maker of ivermectin, does not recommend its use in reptiles. Often fatal or nearly so to small, debilitated reptiles. May cause paralysis, blindness, etc. in larger reptiles. Its use is not recommended for lizards and snakes; it is nearly always fatal when used in turtles and tortoises. Ivermectin toxicity includes paralysis and blindness

I have seen this do some damage with dragons. I usually recommend against treating with this drug due to all the bad info out there. I would make sure to keep that snake hydrated. look for any type of odd behavior or side effects.
and it would be best to find a herp vet around you. Have you tried looking?

[jretton1]

WOW! Now you have me scared...and yes I have tried looking. Called every place in town and this is the only one that will see reptiles. I don't know what to do now after reading that. Do you think she will be okay? I'm supposed to go back in two weeks for another injection.

[shadi11]

Try a search on here see if you come up with a vet.
https://www.arav.org/ECOMARAV/timssn...t_mdsearch.cfm
or here
http://www.anapsid.org/vets/index.html#vetlist
Its better to have one that specializes than not. I would keep an eye on the snake for a couple days. try to see if you can find a specialty vet in the area instead of this one. I'm sorry my intention was not to scare you. Actually I was hoping you werent going to tell me the vet gave that.
If you want you can toss me a pm with your city or a nearby larger city and I will talk to some of my friends and see if i can find you a closer vet that has recommendations as well. I think I saw in a prev post your from WV? I have some friends in that state maybe they could give me some addresses and names.
I dont know if I would want to go back to the guy your seeing now with being that he used this drug on a small animal when every warning says not to be used on small animals. The best help I can give is making sure theres water in the cage so the snake can drink. and observe. and hopefully tomorrow we can find you a more knowledgable vet. I havent delt with a toxic possibility like this in a snake. My hope is being maybe is not knowledgable enough to dose properly and underdosed your snake.

[SatanicIntention]

Why use ivermectin on a PROTOZOAN!?!? Tell your vet he's a twit and walk away... Quickly. We use Albon for coccidia. It's oral and very inexpensive.

DO NOT use the Ivermectin. Your snake doesn't need it and the coccidia will still be there, because wow, they don't have a nervous system..

Go to another vet, ask for some Albon since your animal was diagnosed with coccidia. Tell them the weight. Mix the albon with water in a syringe and tube it down. No biggie. Red rubber feeding tubes work well as do cat catheters.

Shouldn't cost you more than $20... I'd recommend bleaching everything regularly until you get another fecal done and the snake is clear.

[jretton1]

The Ivermectin was used to treat the pinworms. I now realize that I def. need to find a new vet. I just thought I could trust them to treat my snake properly, but I guess not.

[shadi11]

you should have been able to trust them but amazingly theres alot of vets that you cant trust. Let me know how the one I sent you works out.

[MKHerps]

I was a vet tech for seven years, up till about two years ago. At all the clinics i have worked for albon was the main txt for coccidia. Coccidia can be difficult to treat. Ivermectin is a one time dosage, but can be very dangerous if dosed incorrect. Albon is a relativly harmful drug even when overdosed. The worst an animal might get is some diarrhea from an over dose of albon.