Hmm...

[KnECritters]

Hey guys. I recently picked up two new leos, a male and female. They were housed on sand, the female is a lot bigger than the male, both were thin, ESPECIALLY the male, and their heating wasn't correct at all. Of course they have been separated, and their husbandry is correct now.

The female is doing fine. Eating, defecates fine, etc. Gaining weight, and all that. The male though, his poo smells pretty bad, and is a LITTLE runny. Not too much, but is noticable. He eats, and is gaining weight fast though. Very active, alert, etc.

Do I have anything to worry about right now? He's obviously diggesting his food, as the feces has no full or parts of the food he's eating, and he's gaining weight. I was considering maybe getting some over the counter parasite meds just in case, to see if it would help.

 

[snared99]

hi katie,
I would get a fecal checked by a vet, before you decide to shotgun meds. You could kill the leo with the meds alone, which is done way to often nowadays from wana be at home vets...lol But if they were kept on sand, there is a good possibility they could have parasites, because sand is a great place to harbor parasites. As a licensed vet tech i have to discourage you from shotgunning meds, because the outcomes could be devistating.

 

[Gregg M]

hi katie,
I would get a fecal checked by a vet, before you decide to shotgun meds. You could kill the leo with the meds alone, which is done way to often nowadays from wana be at home vets...lol But if they were kept on sand, there is a good possibility they could have parasites, because sand is a great place to harbor parasites. As a licensed vet tech i have to discourage you from shotgunning meds, because the outcomes could be devistating.

Great advice as usual Pat...

 

[KnECritters]

Thanks! I'll try to find a good vet to get a fecal done. All the vets around here (reptile vets) seem to be, well...pretty darn ignorent to what needs to be done.

 

[KnECritters]

Thought I would ask this...is there anyone here I could send a sample to for a fecal, so I can get the CORRECT information. Like I said, the vets around here apparently don't know what they are talking about.

 

[JordanAng420]

Katie, check out this link...it lists herp veterinarians...not just the one's that SAY they see "exotics"...scroll down to the list of states...
http://www.herpvetconnection.com/

 

[KnECritters]

Thanks, I know that site and have seen several of those vets. One in particular who wanted to perform an unnecessary, very expensive, surgery on one of my tegus.

 

[KnECritters]

Weird...the feces isn't too runny any more, and it doesn't smell. AND, since I got him Valentines Day, he's gained 5 grams!!!

I've added pedialite (however you spell that...) to his water, which I believe helped a LOT.