Coccidia Help! medication ok?

[gabzzy]

Hurray U saved his day

Hurray, u got the ponzeril med; i am wauting to hear back from my vet on KnoKnuttys feca from this morning, keeping fingers crossed its negative for coccodil. Because of infectious risk i am getting my baby from Jann around the 16th; so glad u waited for giving meds, the other stuff is so harsh .

 

[Dave Weldon]

just talked to the pharmacy -- vet actually ordered 3.5 mg per dose (which equals 1 ml of medicine) for 3 doses, each does to be administer 48 hrs apart.

Howdy Matt,

The usual dose of Ponazuril to fight Coccidia in a typical chameleon has been 30mg for each Kg of chameleon weight. So, for example, if your chameleon weighs ~116grams then you'd dose at 3.5mg (which is what is in your 1ml of liquid). Usually a vet will have the pharmacy make the customer a bottle with hundreds of doses diluted to 30 or 60mg/ml (maybe a 100ml bottle) since it still costs less than $30 shipped. 30 or 60mg/ml is a lot more concentrated than your 3.5mg/ml which means that the more concentrated version would be given at fractions of a ml per dose. It works ok either way but with your concentration, they'd be sending you half a pint of liquid for a few hundred doses . With the higher concentration (lower volume of fluid) it is easier to inject it in a feeder and have your chameleon eat the feeder right away than it is to squirt 1ml into his mouth. Each method has its own benefits but in the end, at least you've got the right drug .

Don't be discouraged if the Ponazuril doesn't knock the Coccidia completely out in the first round of treatments. It probably will but if it doesn't, the good news is that a 2nd or even a 3rd round of treatments is well tolerated compared to the alternative drugs . This is where having your own microscope is so handy. You can track every poop to see the progress .

 

[ChamOh]

Howdy Matt,

The usual dose of Ponazuril to fight Coccidia in a typical chameleon has been 30mg for each Kg of chameleon weight. So, for example, if your chameleon weighs ~116grams then you'd dose at 3.5mg (which is what is in your 1ml of liquid). Usually a vet will have the pharmacy make the customer a bottle with hundreds of doses diluted to 30 or 60mg/ml (maybe a 100ml bottle) since it still costs less than $30 shipped. 30 or 60mg/ml is a lot more concentrated than your 3.5mg/ml which means that the more concentrated version would be given at fractions of a ml per dose. It works ok either way but with your concentration, they'd be sending you half a pint of liquid for a few hundred doses . With the higher concentration (lower volume of fluid) it is easier to inject it in a feeder and have your chameleon eat the feeder right away than it is to squirt 1ml into his mouth. Each method has its own benefits but in the end, at least you've got the right drug .

Don't be discouraged if the Ponazuril doesn't knock the Coccidia completely out in the first round of treatments. It probably will but if it doesn't, the good news is that a 2nd or even a 3rd round of treatments is well tolerated compared to the alternative drugs . This is where having your own microscope is so handy. You can track every poop to see the progress .

Arrrgg, Now only if my vet were as knowledgeable as you, Dave! I have a cranky chameleon and dropping meds directly into his mouth is sure to be a challenging task -- I was really hoping the worm thing would work since he readily takes worms -- but yes, 1 ml is a lot of fluid to inject into a superworm -- or even a few superworms.

It looks like my vet also under dosed the Ponazuril, as my cham weighs 180 grams. Would you recommend I do the math and up his dosage to the 30mg for each Kg of chameleon weight? What the vet has him at now (meds should be in today!) is 3.5 mg every 48 hrs for three doses.. These have been my instructions.. after those three doses I bring in a fecal. Not sure what the plan is from there yet...

I really appreciate the input Dave!

 

[Dave Weldon]

...It looks like my vet also under dosed the Ponazuril, as my cham weighs 180 grams. Would you recommend I do the math and up his dosage to the 30mg for each Kg of chameleon weight? What the vet has him at now (meds should be in today!) is 3.5 mg every 48 hrs for three doses.. These have been my instructions.. after those three doses I bring in a fecal. Not sure what the plan is from there yet...

I really appreciate the input Dave!

Howdy Matt,

I think you'll be ok with the potential underdosing .

There are all sorts of creative ways to get a chameleon to open their mouth . Sometimes it is as easy as just tapping their nose to get them a little bit pissed.
Some of the other methods take a bit more description. I think medicine delivery methods would make a great YouTube video! Maybe we can get Chamelisa to do a video session at her next big Chameleon Workshop .

 

[ChamOh]

1st sample after 6 ponazuril treatments came back clean!! Yes!

 

[Elizadolots]

There are all sorts of creative ways to get a chameleon to open their mouth . Sometimes it is as easy as just tapping their nose to get them a little bit pissed.
Some of the other methods take a bit more description. I think medicine delivery methods would make a great YouTube video! Maybe we can get Chamelisa to do a video session at her next big Chameleon Workshop .

I think that would be extraordinarily helpful for many people.

 

[Dave Weldon]

Howdy Matt,

Great news! Keep-up the good work .

 

[ChamOh]

Howdy Matt,

Great news! Keep-up the good work .

Hi Dave! I really owe this great success to you! I can't thank you enough.