I need help

[dodolah]

Hi guys,
This is an update on my veiled that is infected by nematodes and coccidia.
I am a bit down.

He has stopped eating for 11 days, ever since the Albon and Panacur treatment are given.

Panacur and Albon first round has been given per my vet instructions.
And The second round will commence shortly (Feb 21 for Panacur and Feb 25 for Albon).

I Force fed him 2 days ago and He clench his jaw tight and refuse eating the fluker repta aid.
I pry his mouth open and manage to feed him half dose of repta aid.

He get shower everyday now since he's also dehydrated (although he kept drinking).
Today is a better day since he start eating 3 hornworms..
He pooped a day ago, and the fecal still has worms in it (dead).

Should I go ahead and continue the treatment?
Also, If any of you guys have medium size green hornworms to spare, I would love to buy it from you please...
Mulberry and coastal only has hatchling size... and he only wants to eat hornworms... i can't seem to purchase the med size anywhere..

Thanks guys.

 

[chamlover]

I wish only the best for your guy. I am going through a force feeding of my own. Look at my thread," I need some advice". In my case it is a gravid female who started laying eggs over 12 days ago and still has some she can't seem to lay. I started using a bug juice recipe that i found in chameleon news online. You squish the bugs, mix pedialyte and ensure plus, just enough to make it liquid, and i have been giving it to herwith an eye dropper. I just lift up her side lip and drip some liquid in. It seems to be just enough to make her lick her lips which is when i squeeze a little more in. Once i did open her mouth and put some in but that seemed to really bother her and she turned black and got really stressed so i don't do that anymore, but this bug juice thing gets her to open and lick her lips. You might want to give it a shot. It can't hurt, i don't think. I will try to find the link for you and post it. That way you don't have to hurt your guy by forcing the mouth open. Did you call your vet and talk to him about it? How knowledgeable is your vet with chams?

 

[chamlover]

While i was looking for the bug juice recipe i also found this on Emaciation (Starvation) Protocol for reptiles. If you want the entire paper send me a pm and i will email it to you, it is like 3-4 pages long. It is written by Melissa Kaplan's Herp Care Collection Last updated April 19, 2007. It talks about how you have to be careful about force feeding a reptile if they haven't eaten in a while because of the beneficial gut bacteria could be way off and force feeding them can actually kill them if not done correctly. I know in your case he has eaten but again you might want to try this. I will still look for where i hid the other paper..
Slurry FormulasSlurries are administered at the rate of 2% of body weight per 24-48 hoursCarnivore Hill's a/d thinned with Pedialyte, 1:1 solution of Gatorade and water, or plain water.

 

[chamlover]

I was wrong, it was from adcham and i forgot to tell you about the egg yolk. Here it is and good luck...

Feeding: Bug Juice
created by Susan James and Ken Lopéz, DVM
Bug Juice Recipe
This recipe is the soley owned by the creators, Susan James and Ken Lopez, Crushed or blended insects Add only enough of the below ingredients to liquefy the crushed insects enough to draw into a syringe:Ensure Plus,Pedialyte,Raw egg yolk, Refrigerate remaining bug juice fior no more than 48 hours. Discard if not used within two days.

 

[Dave Weldon]

...Should I go ahead and continue the treatment?...

Howdy,

I'd defer back to your vet. It does sound like he's not doing well with the treatment. It may be the Albon or it may be the overall stress of the treatment as well as the Albon. My Veiled didn't do well with Albon. A supposedly less effective (2nd choice) drug is Trimethoprim Sulfa. I'm using it right now and he isn't having any visible side-effects. It hard to tell just how effective it is but fecals are showing the coccidia numbers are dropping.

The whole "feeding thing" while suffering from the side effects of the drugs is something to worry about. I've had various levels of success with tube feeding and other forms of force feeding. Ask your vet about that too.

 

[lele]

for what it is worth, here is a link to an article on SUPPORTIVE CARE DURING TREATMENT for COCCIDIA and OTHER INTESTINAL PARASITES . it is written for bearded dragons, but can be applied to any herp. It is well written and informative. It might of some help while your cham is going thru this. I hope all works out well.

lele

 

[dodolah]

thanks everybody.
I will purchase the probiotics soon.
I have contacted my vet and haven't yet get a response.
I'll update you guys again about this..

 

[CammieNLeno]

hang in there dodolah im really rooting for ya and your cham. I am terribly sorry you have to go through with all this mess, and I admire how much effort you are putting in for your little friend.

 

[dodolah]

thanks CammieNLeno,

BTW, does anybody have hornworms that are not hatchling size?
I need it desperately since that's the only thing he will eat. i will buy it from you and pay the shipping as well.
I only have 12 very small size hornworms..
Mulberry and coastal doesn't have them either.

 

[dodolah]

Another Update

Last 2 days, he finally eating on his own.
He only wants to eat green hornworms and nothing else.
He is still skinny as ever. I cannot feed him hornworms bigger than hatchling size since i don't have any and cannot purchase them anywhere.

I know he wants more than 4, 1/4 inch hornworms.. but, unfortunately, that's the only thing he could get.
I already ran out of the hornworms since the company only gave you 12 per pod.

But, good thing is he started eating.
Bad thing is what he wants to eat is not available in great number.
and unsure thing is he's about to start his deworming regimen again.

I talk to my vet and he insist on continuing the treatment.
I decided to purge his panacur and albon treatment at the same time (The vet said it's okay) to reduce the stress.
So, instead of regimenting the meds 6 times daily.. it would be 5 times in a row.

 

[Chamero]

Hey Dod... have you tried Reptile Island in Yorba Linda? Its right of Imperial for sure...left of Prospect (i think thats the name) Right after the LA Fitness. Anyway, they usually have some Horn worms.
Anyway, good luck on your quest and best of luck to your chamy.

 

[joefarah]

I'm glad to hear things are looking better. Best of luck - I really hope he pulls through ok.

 

[dodolah]

thanks all. i'll try that reptile store.
Never been there...
need to buy lotsa hornworms.

 

[PEMEX]

Radical Reptiles on Katella/Knott in Stanton had some the other day, give them a call.

 

[dodolah]

thanks Pemex.
I called the store and unfortunately they don't have any right now.
Good news guys.. he has slowly regain his appetite regardless 2nd round of panacur.
A bit good thing that hornworms have higher fat content than the rest of healthy staples. So, he slowly getting his fullness again.

Tomorrow will be his albon therapy.. this is what scares me the most..
My vet does say that the 2nd Albon therapy is for just in case.
I'll call him tomorrow to see if this 2nd therapy is really necessary.

wish me luck.

 

[dodolah]

Update!

After months of months battling coccidia, he finally regained his strength last month.
This is him sunning outside in his outdoor cage.

 

[Cainschams]

Thats great to hear! He is looking healthy and also is a very nice looking veiled.