Went to the vet for a fecal examination

Hi guys, I'm currently at the vets office for a fecal exam for my 15 month old guy. He didn't seem like he has been eating much, so I thought I'd get hIs poo checked. Maybe he just needs more variety In his diet.

He goes to the bottom of his enclosure well before (up to 5 hours) lights out at 730 pm. Other than these two things, Alby seems to look healthy. I didn't want to have to stress him out and bring him into the vets, but do you guys think other testing should be done? Is a blood test necessary?
 
He has coccidia. When I measure his temp with heat gun under the lamps its 90 at the hottest spot. I've changed the height of the bulbs and such. I should note tha the goes down and usually stays down there after the 230 misting every day
 
Unfortunately the best treatment is a total scrap of plants and sticks in the enclosure, along with albon for the chameleon. The lifecycle is direct. The protozoa infects the cells lining the GI tract and multiply. They produce oocysts (eggs) that are excreted with feces. The oocysts will hatch in about 3-4 days in the right environment and can re-infect the chameleon. Failure to clean the environment will result in a high treatment failure rate. Giardia is similar in environmental contamination.
 
I heard ponazuril is the way to go. I didn't bring my cham in because I didn't have time today but I will get him checked on Wednesday. What's the best way to transport a cham to a location 15 min or so away?

I wonder how long my guy has had it :/ I've had him for almost a year and have never gotten a fecal done until now. Well, scrap the plants, wash the cage down with hot water and ammonia, and start again right?

How do I know the plants I get wont already be infested? Also, where do I keep my guy in the meantime while I am getting his cage cleaned? I have another cage but that could be infected too. I suppose I'll have to clean that one up first and keep him in it a couple days.
 
Sorry to hear that your little one has coccidia. It will sure stop them from growing. I have a few helpful links for you below.

Joe us old timers haven't used Albon in years. It can make a chameleon sick and they stop eating.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/chameleons-coccidia-ponazuril-offers-new-hope-16409/
https://www.chameleonforums.com/coccidia-cleaning-need-advice-tips-please-42444/

Thanks for the reminder. Yes it seems ponazuril is the new drug of choice and has been used safely in reptiles including chameleons. Been a long time since I dispensed meds. My main point was cleaning the environment.
 
Chances are, if you have live plants, you have coccidia. 99%. If want a great explanation, just ask Ed Kammer. The two go hand in hand, like blue and sky, wet and water, dog and hungry.... :(
 
So how do I keep my chameleons from getting sick if it's in the plants?

Lots of people repot their new plants. Completely shaking off the old dirt, washing plant with dawn soap, etc... from what I am told and have experienced myself, the only way to be safe is fake plants or hydroponics, quarantine new animals, washing your hands, etc... you can bring it into your house by visiting a pet store or playing in the grass. I had about an hour long conversation w/ Ed Kammer years ago on the subject. He said he was only able to rid himself of infestations with fake plants. Being convinced myself and wanting to sell babies to people, I followed suit. I do have to mist a lot, but luckily I live in a state with decent RH year round. I am a fan of the live plants though. Chameleons are built for an amount of parasites, just not when they accumilate in high numbers. That's when you have problems. Keeping chameleons: yes to live plants! Giving babies to someone who may want to breed them: no! I prefer to let the new owner pick their lifestyle, plus I don't want to mail someone a box of parasites.
 
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Lots of people repot their new plants. Completely shaking off the old dirt, washing plant with dawn soap, etc... from what I am told and have experienced myself, the only way to be safe is fake plants or hydroponics, quarantine new animals, washing your hands, etc... you can bring it into your house by visiting a pet store or playing in the grass. I had about an hour long conversation w/ Ed Kammer years ago on the subject. He said he was only able to rid himself of infestations with fake plants. Being convinced myself and wanting to sell babies to people, I followed suit. I do have to mist a lot, but luckily I live in a state with decent RH year round. I am a fan of the live plants though. Chameleons are built for an amount of parasites, just not when they accumilate in high numbers. That's when you have problems. Keeping chameleons: yes to live plants! Giving babies to someone who may want to breed them: no! I prefer to let the new owner pick their lifestyle, plus I don't want to mail someone a box of parasites.

Junglefries: if what you say is true about 99% of plants having coccidia.... Do I really have to throw mine out? What if I wash them well and repot them? What if the ponazuril Does the trick and my cham is fine in the future as a result.
It just seems to me that if there are already parasites on the plants that we buy (Assuming this is a true statement), Why would one throw them all out? Why would we not wash them like how we do with any plant?

I've seen some senior members comment on this thread; I'm sure somebody has been in the same shoes and thought it might be easier if you wee to just repot and clean all the plants and cage? I'm 100% fine with buying new plants, but if there is any way that ponazuril will help to fight parasites in the long term future, it would save me a lot of work. I don't mean to sound lazy, but I only have 3 days until I'm out of town for 2 weeks, and this is sounding like a lot of work. I guess my point is that I only want to buy new plants and spend the time cleaning the cage and the whole lot of plants, IF it's absolutely certain that it's necessary.

What are your guys's experience with this? Thanks again, I really appreciate any further comments.
 
I gave you an excellent link above on cleaning. Did you check it out? It give you all needed information evn on plants.
 
There is always a chance. It is a personal opinion to keeping. Before breeding, I used live plants. I just don't want to sell someone a cham with parasites, if I can avoid it. Medications are so harsh on cham's kidneys and livers, I prefer to avoid it, if at all possible. Lots of keepers and breeders do use live plants. Usually, when people notice they have a parasite problem, it is pretty far progressed. Factor in vet costs and health costs, I personally choose to avoid it. It seems like every other sentence in any chameleon reference material mentions 'stress'.
 
Update after Alby's FIRST vet visit

Yesterday I brought my guy into the vet so he could be weighed and be given the proper amount of meds. The vet at first waned to prescribe albon but i insisted and asked about ponazuril (good thing I asked you guys first). I'm at work right now but I believe he is to be given ponazuril 3 days in a row, and then in another 2 weeks be given it 3 more consecutive days. After another 2 weeks pass, he will get another fecal.

For now, since I'll be going out of town for the next few weeks, we decided to buy some fake plants and we cleaned out his old cage with peroxide to make it his quarantine cage for the next few weeks. Yesterday was a LONG day. In the meanwhile, when I get back, we will clean his old cage up, and most likely go back to live plants (making sure to clean them up as best as possible). Just wanted to give an update, thanks everyone!
 
I have never heard of live plants carrying coccidia would very much like to see some evidence on this. If you have anything in a cage with an infected animal plants, decor, screen,vines and the like then infestation can occur on these items especially in soil. It thrives on warm wet humid conditions. But would be very surprised if new live plants carry it.
 
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