Crypto?

[Brandy]

Has anyone had a leo with Crypto? I've been looking online trying to figure out whats wrong with Trixy. I called the vet back yesterday and he started her on a med called sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim. For those who haven't read my previous post she regurgitated a cricket on the 29th and hasn't eaten since. I fed her gecko soup for 3 days and she defecated very little amounts twice. This morning I noticed runny stools though so now I'm worried about Crypto. She would not even take the slurry last night and is now down to 10g. I read symptoms of crypto. She doesn't have a swollen belly or blood in the stools. Any opinions are appreciated since the vet really doesn't have much experience with reptiles.

 

[JordanAng420]

Well, that's obvious, because any doctor in their right mind wouldn't give a gecko that isn't eating a strong antibiotic that has a side effect of...guess what...anorexia! Before we start throwing medications at a gecko that we don't know is even sick, let's evalute the situation first.

I read your husbandry on your other thread. Seems like you've got that part under control. If she's defecating she's not impacted. This gecko needs to be tested for parasites. She needs a fecal sample to be read by an experianced veterinary technician. Yes, veterinary nurses are generally much better at labwork than doctors are BECAUSE we spend more time doing that kind of stuff! I can almost guarantee she has parasites. That would explain the weight loss, no appetite, and regurgitation.

If she comes back clean for parasites, I wouldn't believe it for a second. I'd actually request to have the sample sent out to a lab, just to be sure, if I were you.

 

[Brandy]

Thats just wonderful, I already gave her a dose right when I got home. I've just called the vet and left a message and he is supposed to call me back. I searched for reptile vets online and it looks like there may be one about an hour from here. Problem with that is they are now closed until monday. How do they get the parasites and how long do they have them before showing symptoms? I clean the poop out everytime I see it (usually 2-3x a day). And I clean their tank with Wipe out every Saturday. Their repti carpet is also changed every Saturday.

 

[Brandy]

Thanks so much for your advise. The vet called and met with me this morning and did a fecal exam. You were right about the parasites and she's now being treated and will hopefully pull through.

 

[Brandy]

Well, I took fecal samples of 3 of my other leos today and 2 of the 3 also have the parasites. I guess I just really don't understand how. 1 of them is my newer leo and is still in quarantine so hasn't even been with the others. Has anyone else ever dealt with the parasites, and whats the chance of them surviving? I know I've asked 50 questions here lately but I'm really upset about it.

 

[Brandy]

Anyone dealt with this before? The parasite is coccidia. It is now 12 days since Trixy has eaten on her own. She is taking less than 1 ml of soup by dropper a day and is now down to 9g. Tomorrow is the last day of her meds and I'm just praying she will gain an appetite then.

 

[Gregg M]

Well, I took fecal samples of 3 of my other leos today and 2 of the 3 also have the parasites. I guess I just really don't understand how.

Thats because parasites are common and there is not a single collection that does not have parasites...

Has anyone else ever dealt with the parasites, and whats the chance of them surviving?

Many keepers have delt with parasites... Like I said, parasites are common place in reptiles and parasites are usually not a problem to healthy captive reptiles... A healthy, unstressed reptiles immune system will keep the parasite numbers down so low that they will have no effect on the reptile and can be almost unditectable...

When a reptile is being affected by parasites, this usually means the immune system was somehow compromised due to stress or a different sickness...

The truth is, parasites like coccidia will always be present... A month after treatment and your gecko will have it again... The thing you and your vet need to figure out is what is causing the coccidia or other parasite to be able to produce in numbers large enough to affect the health of your pet...

You need to consider the fact that parasites would not be successful if they killed their host... Their very survival depends on their host staying healthy... Most parasites are not supposed to kill their host... Parasitoids kill their host not parasites...

 

[Brandy]

Thanks for the info. The vet told me to medicate all of them after the fecal exams. Now of course one regurgitated and the others aren't eating. They were acting perfectly healthy until they started the meds. Should I stop giving it to them?