Bein' a worried parent...

[davthevieled]

So I took my little guy to the vet and had a stool sample brought in, everything was fine and healthy until today. I just got a phone call and was told he has a parasite called Isospora? Just kinda curious if anyone has had to do the treatment for this, and if they have, how aggressive of a treatment is it?

 

[kinyonga]

Its a form of coccidia...so it will need a sulfa drug to treat it....and good hygiene with the chameleon's cage, yourself, etc.

 

[davthevieled]

Thank you for that... any recommendation on cleaning vines and such from it without using peroxide? I don't want to kill the plants he has or have anything linger from anything that could soak it in... I get worried quick, and from what I have read from chams having parasites I am even more worried for him. Luckily, he is still acting healthy and still has an appatite. For his cage I have been going with soap and water every week about twice a week, he seems to enjoy the time outside it. I used to be in the military so hygenic is an understatement.

 

[kinyonga]

There's some info in this site...
http://chamworld.blogspot.com/2008/01/parasites-warning-this-health-chapter.html

 

[davthevieled]

Thank you kinyonga, that puts me at a bit of ease at least. I plan on moving him out to a different room and doing a complete and thurough cleaning of the terrarium (luckily he has a new one that should be on its way shortly). The meds, at least according to the blog seem to be a bit harsh... Would you happen to know anything of both of the treatments posted there? (Albon and Ponazuril) I have only had him for two months and as it is, when I got him he was impacted from the pet store he came from. I'm just really really kinda nervous about it all.

 

[kinyonga]

Never used either....Trimethoprim-sulfa (I think this is the right name/sp) was used.

 

[davthevieled]

Alright, thank you again lol.

Just called, he is going to be on Ponazuril for 4 weeks and we decided on waiting a week after he starts treatment to move him to the new terrarium.

Again, thank you.

 

[OrangeCrush]

Just wondering was was the reason why u chose to take him to the vet? Things like this worry my to so I would like to know what to look out for? Thanks I am a worried parent too hahahaha

 

[davthevieled]

Just to check and see if there was anything to be worried about. Like I said before, Dav (the chameleon) has been healthy since day one so it has kinda come as a shock to find out. Hopefully though, after the four week treatment he will be fine.

 

[seanUTD]

Just wondering was was the reason why u chose to take him to the vet? Things like this worry my to so I would like to know what to look out for? Thanks I am a worried parent too hahahaha[/QUOTE

It's always a good idea to run a check every now and again, getting a fecal done, overall check up because chams, like other prey animals such as rabbits, and such, are only going to shows signs of weakness and health problems, when they become very serious... Thats why usually you'll hear horror stories of "we tried everything but it was too late"... Awesome job to the OP for checking up before it became a problem

 

[davthevieled]

Thank you sean!

Just to show a bit of Dav, atm he is lacking a lot of foliage that WAS there seeing as the live plants are pretty much bust now and will be working slowly on cleaning bit by bit so he still has room to run around and hide.

 

[OrangeCrush]

So u just decided one day that u were going to take him for a check up? About how old is he and how long have you had him? I was thinking about taking Rangoon I. For a check up but wanted to wait a little longer and he gets a little bit older.

 

[davthevieled]

He is about 3-4 months old. I had already decided to go and bring him in when I bought him. I gave him about a month to acclimate and then made the appt. I've had dav for about two months now, closer to three.