Just my luck, positive fecal from Dilly.

[ZacharyLeesWife]

I'm going to change her name to Murphy. Looks like Coccidia, yay! Is trying to keep her enclosure clean worth it? I am thinking quarantine cage but she has so much happening already, stress is a huge factor! Also, the vet sent the dreaded Albon because it would take close to a week to get the gentler parasite med and she didn't want to wait. She certainly can survive a lack of appetite because she's so chunky and I have liquid calcium and liquid nutrition on hand. Force feedings aren't hard because she is such a gaper, but is nutrition the only risk with this med?

 

[Andee]

In my opinion coccidia is a very dangerous parasite, I don't know enough about Albon's effects to give a good review on whether to use it or not. But honestly if she has a bad enough infestation for a vet to easily notice it then I'd be worried about not treating it at all. Coccidia causes all sorts of nastiness to happen in the cham gut, including diarrhea, vomiting, severe dehydration, anorexia, inability to digest properly, etc. I would also get any other reptiles checked. I would also buy latex doctor gloves at home depot or something. It would make keeping things sterile easier. When you move between animals clean your hands really well... I would consider maybe even making up a watered down bleach solution? Bleach isn't the best at getting rid of coccidia but I wouldn't want to put the other possibility on my naked skin. I would really clean out her cage, I think ammonia is the cleaner of choice for coccidia, but might want to wait on that. I would also get rid of any wood or plants (real or fake) anything that can't be cleaned well in my opinion.

 

[ZacharyLeesWife]

In my opinion coccidia is a very dangerous parasite, I don't know enough about Albon's effects to give a good review on whether to use it or not. But honestly if she has a bad enough infestation for a vet to easily notice it then I'd be worried about not treating it at all. Coccidia causes all sorts of nastiness to happen in the cham gut, including diarrhea, vomiting, severe dehydration, anorexia, inability to digest properly, etc. I would also get any other reptiles checked. I would also buy latex doctor gloves at home depot or something. It would make keeping things sterile easier. When you move between animals clean your hands really well... I would consider maybe even making up a watered down bleach solution? Bleach isn't the best at getting rid of coccidia but I wouldn't want to put the other possibility on my naked skin. I would really clean out her cage, I think ammonia is the cleaner of choice for coccidia, but might want to wait on that. I would also get rid of any wood or plants (real or fake) anything that can't be cleaned well in my opinion.

I'm waiting for a poo from Little foot to be tested but I'm operating on the assumption that he has it because he's been exposed. He's asymptomatic so I might wait on the gentler med for him. Vet said strong peroxide was the way to go with Coccidia, but I'm going to get new branches and foliage so I can go ahead and do a full tear down of the enclosures.

 

[OldChamKeeper]

Too much text.

I've used Albon plenty of times on imported tree boas and imported chams. Make sure the animal stays hydrated (15-30 min showers 1X a day) and roll with it.

Nuke the cage now. Nuke it again in two weeks. Nuke it again after the last treatment.

Assume the other animal has been exposed and nuke his cage too.

 

[ZacharyLeesWife]

Too much text.

I've used Albon plenty of times on imported tree boas and imported chams. Make sure the animal stays hydrated (15-30 min showers 1X a day) and roll with it.

Nuke the cage now. Nuke it again in two weeks. Nuke it again after the last treatment.

Assume the other animal has been exposed and nuke his cage too.

Definitely will do, best way to sanitize? I was thinking a soak/bake. I can't replace everything now, and again in a few weeks. I have been told by the vet bleach is ineffective with Coccidia so peroxide was the preferred cleaner, is that what's worked for you?

 

[OldChamKeeper]

I've put everything in the freezer or used the microwave myself. Depends on what fits. I was told bleach can work, but that was years ago. Instead, I just used non chemical methods on imports if possible.

 

[Nursemaia]

I have one with coccidia but my vet declined to treat her because she has no symptoms. I also have one with giardia but we treated him. Then I have 2 that are negative for everything.

 

[ZacharyLeesWife]

I have one with coccidia but my vet declined to treat her because she has no symptoms. I also have one with giardia but we treated him. Then I have 2 that are negative for everything.

I'm wondering if treatment for Little foot is necessary. I think I'll wait until his fecal comes back to see what kind of parasite load he's carrying. I've been working on breaking cages down and scrubbing everything since 5am... I seriously considered tossing everything until I remembered that I would have to replace it all and I'm nearing 4 figures in vet bills this month alone, my husband would kill me if I spent a fortune on new lizard furniture!

 

[Nursemaia]

Is Dilly symptomatic? I wouldn't toss everything personally. In the medical world we don't toss out sheets and beds or IV pumps of a patient that has a superbug, it gets disinfected. Coccidia isn't horrible in my eyes. I'd get new branches, that should be easy enough. I get mine outside right off the ground. I don't clean them either. I pick ones that are freshly fallen and put them right in. There's also something known as "colonized" which is basically when someone has an bacteria living on or in them but it's not causing them a problem. There's a lot of medical professionals that are colonized with MRSA but because we're not I'll we don't treat the infection. My cham is currently colonized with the coccidia but because she's asymptomatic we're not treating it. However good infection control between handling her and the others must be maintained so I don't spread it.

 

[ZacharyLeesWife]

Is Dilly symptomatic? I wouldn't toss everything personally. In the medical world we don't toss out sheets and beds or IV pumps of a patient that has a superbug, it gets disinfected. Coccidia isn't horrible in my eyes. I'd get new branches, that should be easy enough. I get mine outside right off the ground. I don't clean them either. I pick ones that are freshly fallen and put them right in. There's also something known as "colonized" which is basically when someone has an bacteria living on or in them but it's not causing them a problem. There's a lot of medical professionals that are colonized with MRSA but because we're not I'll we don't treat the infection. My cham is currently colonized with the coccidia but because she's asymptomatic we're not treating it. However good infection control between handling her and the others must be maintained so I don't spread it.

The vet said that her load was really high. I haven't seen any parasite specific issues in her, but she's had SO much going on it's getting tough to tell what is a symptom of what anymore. I don't want to throw every treatment but the kitchen sink at her, because then we'll have even more symptoms to wonder about! I'm a terminal cancer survivor, so I am lucky enough to come down with everything I come in contact with but over the years I've found that even with immunodeficiency, most bugs don't require drugs. Patience and symptom control can go pretty far! I think we're going to finish her course of antibiotics and the parasite meds and then just do nutritional support for a while to see how she's doing. That hopefully should help differentiate symptoms from side effects.

 

[Nursemaia]

That sounds like a very appropriate course of treatment. I'd put her in a hospital setup while giving her the antiparasitic, clean her regular enclosure with an ammonia based cleaner, make sure it stays wet for 20-30 minutes, rinse, dispose of any porous decor, get new branches, repot live plants and then put her back in it once she's finished treatment

 

[jannb]

I am sorry to hear about Dilly having coccidia. Since she already has health issues I WOULD NOT use Albon on her. It may kill her. It's very hard even on healthy chameleons. Have your vet use Diamondback and they will do next day delivery to your door. 1-866-646-2223.

 

[ZacharyLeesWife]

I am sorry to hear about Dilly having coccidia. Since she already has health issues I WOULD NOT use Albon on her. It may kill her. It's very hard even on healthy chameleons. Have your vet use Diamondback and they will do next day delivery to your door. 1-866-646-2223.

I have a call in to her vet, I'm waiting for her to call back. With all that's been going on with her, I'm just not comfortable with the albon. The more research that I do, the less I am willing to give it to her. The vet said that she had a high load in her stool but without outward GI symptoms I think she'll be OK until I can get the gentler medicine.

 

[jannb]

Here's some good info about coccidia and the clean up.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/chameleons-and-coccidia-ponazuril-offers-new-hope.16409/
https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/parasite-eimeria-coccidia-cleaning-cage.22919/

 

[ZacharyLeesWife]

Ponazuril will be in from the compounding pharmacy on Thursday so we're holding off the Albon, and the vet would like to see at least 1.5 ml of water from a syringe daily. The levels are definitely too high to not be treated, but she did say that some Coccidia in a healthy cham isn't an emergency at all. Also said not to be too terribly worried about a feeding strike until about day 3 because we have the liquid calcium daily and my bean is pretty chunky still so her stores are sufficient for the time being. I stripped the cage completely, sanitized it and only put back in the plastic leaves and a new small vine. I'll get her some new cover when we get her fecals under control but right now everything has to be easy to sanitize after every poo!

 

[Andee]

You have this under control, she is a rock considering the things she's been through.

 

[ZacharyLeesWife]

You have this under control, she is a rock considering the things she's been through.

Right? She's tough as nails all things considered! She must feel terrible but everyday she finds the energy to fluff me and hiss... She's my little firecracker.