weird...

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Posted by Niki the worm lady on May 18, 2000 at 15:10:52:

In Reply to: alright ONE OF MY SULCATAS HAS FLUKES posted by rkgjr on May 17, 2000 at 17:58:58:

That's a bit odd for a sulcata, since Flukes are
rarely transmitted in captivity and having an
indirect life cycle they require an intermediate
host. In other words, your tortoise would HAVE
to ingested something (snails for example) that have
flukes. They are found in aquatic turtles that
eat frogs and fish. Somehow he may have picked
those up. Thing is they are diagnosed by finding
an adult fluke in the mouth,cloaca, or feces. Ova
(eggs) can be found in the feces, but less commonly.

If your vet diagnosis of this is correct then the
treatment is Droncit (praziquantel) at 5-8 mg/kg.

Eggs look very very similar even under a microscope
in some cases. Fluke eggs are relatively large
and yellow-brownish and one end of them is operculated
or narrower. Not similar looking like tapeworm eggs
or pinworms and all those fun things.

Not to be a smarta$$ or anything but if the vet
starts talking about Panacur or or Flagyl I'd
ask about that and why. Those are great dewormers
for many types of parasites but he did diagnose Flukes.
Under no circumstances
let any vet for any reason treat a turtle/tortoise
with Ivermectin. If the vet says that Droncit
isn't available for reptiles, just faint or something
cause it can be compounded from Feline Droncit
by a pharmacy specialist (not the Wal-Mart ones).
That would be Droncit - Praziquantel.

If this was my baby I'd be on that microscope,
like I am anyways. My vet's really good with me
and my reptiles, so as long as this isn't a FIDO
vet, it's possible. Make dang sure you have
an exact weight of your tortoise. Let me know
if you have any questions or anything. niki

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: That's a bit odd for a sulcata, since Flukes are : rarely transmitted in captivity and having an : indirect life cycle they require an intermediate : host. In other words, your tortoise would HAVE : to ingested something (snails for example) that have : flukes. They are found in aquatic turtles that : eat frogs and fish. Somehow he may have picked : those up. Thing is they are diagnosed by finding : an adult fluke in the mouth,cloaca, or feces. Ova : (eggs) can be found in the feces, but less commonly. : If your vet diagnosis of this is correct then the : treatment is Droncit (praziquantel) at 5-8 mg/kg. : Eggs look very very similar even under a microscope : in some cases. Fluke eggs are relatively large : and yellow-brownish and one end of them is operculated : or narrower. Not similar looking like tapeworm eggs : or pinworms and all those fun things. : Not to be a smarta$$ or anything but if the vet : starts talking about Panacur or or Flagyl I'd : ask about that and why. Those are great dewormers : for many types of parasites but he did diagnose Flukes. : Under no circumstances : let any vet for any reason treat a turtle/tortoise : with Ivermectin. If the vet says that Droncit : isn't available for reptiles, just faint or something : cause it can be compounded from Feline Droncit : by a pharmacy specialist (not the Wal-Mart ones). : That would be Droncit - Praziquantel. : If this was my baby I'd be on that microscope, : like I am anyways. My vet's really good with me : and my reptiles, so as long as this isn't a FIDO : vet, it's possible. Make dang sure you have : an exact weight of your tortoise. Let me know : if you have any questions or anything. niki

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