The truth about internal parasites?

[Mindibun]

I don't have a tractor supply store or anything like that around here. Can I get the otc meds from my vet without being charged for a visit?

I just looked at my snake's records and he's being treated with .15cc of Panacur, so whomever said that was right. I was looking through everything else that's in the records and apparently he only weighs 267g. She also noted that he had humidity issues. There are most certainly NOT humidity issues. I don't know where she got that from... *rollseyes* She also made a big to-do on here that says he's not getting any UV light, and that it's in a 32q tub rather than a big tank. She makes me sound like the worst snake person ever. >_<

[butters!]

I don't have a tractor supply store or anything like that around here. Can I get the otc meds from my vet without being charged for a visit?

I just looked at my snake's records and he's being treated with .15cc of Panacur, so whomever said that was right. I was looking through everything else that's in the records and apparently he only weighs 267g. She also noted that he had humidity issues. There are most certainly NOT humidity issues. I don't know where she got that from... *rollseyes* She also made a big to-do on here that says he's not getting any UV light, and that it's in a 32q tub rather than a big tank. She makes me sound like the worst snake person ever. >_<

possibly,if you tell them you had it treated befor.im sure they have it on record and they might give you another treatment.id start by calling local exotic pet store.like i said in a prior post they could possibly load the mouse with panacur.

[TimmyG]

To be honest I think your vet does know what shes talking about and you may just be miss interpreting, maybe im wrong but it helps to have an open mind.

"The vet explained that these are common and that most people wouldn't even bother treating them. Is this true?"

Perhaps she meant that irresponsible owners (probably most) don't do the required treatment of infections. I imagine she would be right if thats what she meant.

"While I was there I asked if I should worry about my other snakes getting the parasites from him. She said, "Well yeah. They probably already have them." Is this true? How are parasites spread? I had thought that in order for one animal to contract the parasites of another that they had to be in contact with the waste of the carrier animal. Do parasites travel? Are they air-borne?"

you right with this one but unless she explicitly said they can be airborn than she's not wrong, also health professionals ofte feel they have to dumb things down for lay people to explain perhaps she was doing that, I know I do and i only deal in exercise!

"The vet told me that the snake probably got the parasites from the mice it had been eating. If this is the case, then why treat the parasites if he's just going to get more every time he eats? If parasites originate in the food, how can you ever have a parasite-free snake?"

She's def right and explaining it fairly simple which is good for most people. you can have try your best to keep your snake parasite free by doing what your doing and feeding from a reputable source, you'll never totally eliminate the chance but you can be reasonably sure most of what your feeding is good. hey even human food has its risks (lysteria)

i hope this helps, I atleast want to try to defend your vet a lil maybe the other side of the story, also Becky is the resident expert with this on the forum, just wanted to throw that out there!

[icygirl]

To be honest I think your vet does know what shes talking about and you may just be miss interpreting, maybe im wrong but it helps to have an open mind.

"The vet explained that these are common and that most people wouldn't even bother treating them. Is this true?"

Perhaps she meant that irresponsible owners (probably most) don't do the required treatment of infections. I imagine she would be right if thats what she meant.

"While I was there I asked if I should worry about my other snakes getting the parasites from him. She said, "Well yeah. They probably already have them." Is this true? How are parasites spread? I had thought that in order for one animal to contract the parasites of another that they had to be in contact with the waste of the carrier animal. Do parasites travel? Are they air-borne?"

you right with this one but unless she explicitly said they can be airborn than she's not wrong, also health professionals ofte feel they have to dumb things down for lay people to explain perhaps she was doing that, I know I do and i only deal in exercise!

"The vet told me that the snake probably got the parasites from the mice it had been eating. If this is the case, then why treat the parasites if he's just going to get more every time he eats? If parasites originate in the food, how can you ever have a parasite-free snake?"

She's def right and explaining it fairly simple which is good for most people. you can have try your best to keep your snake parasite free by doing what your doing and feeding from a reputable source, you'll never totally eliminate the chance but you can be reasonably sure most of what your feeding is good. hey even human food has its risks (lysteria)

i hope this helps, I atleast want to try to defend your vet a lil maybe the other side of the story, also Becky is the resident expert with this on the forum, just wanted to throw that out there!

IMO, a vet should not be treating reptiles if they give bad information about husbandry and especially things like tapeworms. Unlike dog and cat vets, there aren't too many reptile vets out there and NOT all of them are knowledgeable about herps, despite the label. I have seen vets who are primarily small animal vets but tack on the label "exotics vet", apparently for extra business. Truly good herp vets will know their stuff about herps - especially about common pet herps such as BP's, and especially something as downright basic as the fact that ball pythons do not need UV lighting or huge tanks.