Parasites - to treat or not to treat

[little leaf]

I want this book - Understanding Reptile Parasites - but just have not gotten around to buying it yet but, my question is.... do you treat EVERY cham - I know they come in w/ parasites, but is there any harm in treating them for the parasites- IF I had not been called into work on my ONLY day off - and missed her apt/ Olive ( my Jax) would have statred to be treated- ( if she has them- thank God tax season is almost over- I have given up on any part of life until tax season is over- and will take her in May as she is not sick) would that have hurt her unborn babies?
as of now, she is the picture of health I dont want to do ANYTHING that is going to change that ~ what should I do ? I am also wondering if she is cooking a 2nd batch of babies ?

 

[Olimpia]

I have heard, but have no direct experience in this, that it's better not to treat gravid females. Whether this is due to stress or due to any affect the medications have on developing eggs/embryos, I do not know. But it makes sense, even human females forgo lots of different medications because of the effect they have on developing little ones. This is a good question for Ferret or Dr. O if they come across this thread.

 

[little leaf]

that is what I was wondering - if she needs to be treated, is May going to be to late? her babies are now almost 3 weeks old- I do not know forsure IF she will have more- she was a wc - but if she were- I do not know when she would start her next clutch , but I would think treating her now VS a few mos would be better ???

* or just not treat her at all ? she is very stressed out of her cage- it took 5 mos for me to be able to just open the door and not have her go stress colors - this COULD be wrong, but I was told the wild ones are not as bothered by them due to the lack of stress - but I want to be sure I do the very best for her <3

 

[Carlton]

I want this book - Understanding Reptile Parasites - but just have not gotten around to buying it yet but, my question is.... do you treat EVERY cham - I know they come in w/ parasites, but is there any harm in treating them for the parasites- IF I had not been called into work on my ONLY day off - and missed her apt/ Olive ( my Jax) would have statred to be treated- ( if she has them- thank God tax season is almost over- I have given up on any part of life until tax season is over- and will take her in May as she is not sick) would that have hurt her unborn babies?
as of now, she is the picture of health I dont want to do ANYTHING that is going to change that ~ what should I do ? I am also wondering if she is cooking a 2nd batch of babies ?

So have you gotten any fecals done on her? What sorts of parasites showed up if any? If, as you say she's the picture of health we are not facing a crisis here. You could take a fresh fecal in for analysis when its convenient so you know what might be there. Chances are the load isn't heavy so you can wait until she seems to be done with the laying cycle before treating. Healthy chams can and do handle low parasite loads without too much trouble. You are never going to eradicate every one of them anyway. It is something to monitor over time really.

 

[ataraxia]

I have treated gravid females with no ill effect on the eggs but i can not say with live bearers. Personally, with my first encounter with this question it came down to this. Do i possibly allow one to perish so the offspring may have a chance or do i treat and take on possible problems with the clutch. You even have the possibility of viviparous species contaminating there young ones as they are born within the cage.

I would treat her.

 

[little leaf]

So have you gotten any fecals done on her?

not yet- I only had one day off , and they called me in - I work 6 days a week right now- about 9 hrs a day - in a Tax office lol but will be taking her in in about 2 weeks ( when tax season is over)

 

[little leaf]

I have treated gravid females with no ill effect on the eggs but i can not say with live bearers. Personally, with my first encounter with this question it came down to this. Do i possibly allow one to perish so the offspring may have a chance or do i treat and take on possible problems with the clutch. You even have the possibility of viviparous species contaminating there young ones as they are born within the cage.

I would treat her.

yes, I think you are right- I love the babies, but how can she have healthy babies, if she herslef is not - I would rather lose a batch of babies vs her. I will take her
thanks