Worms of the unwelcome kind

[chris-uk]

So, today Nobby (our WC parietalis) finally provided me with a faeces sample that was fresh, not in her water, and on a day when I could take it to the vet for a faecal float. Surprise, she's got a high load of worms which need treating before she leave quarantine and we put the big girls together.

The vets we used was really good, they offered to do the float straight away so that we didn't need to drive back for medication if it was positive (they're about a 35 minute drive from home. And they didn't cost a fortune, the fecal float and 5g of Panacur only cost £12.

So, I'll be worming my first snake over the next couple of weeks. The treatment prescribed is 0.15g of Panacur each day for 3 days, then repeat after 2 weeks, then a week later take in another faecal sample for testing. Does that sound about right?

[gregmonsta]

Sounds about right ;). You need two blasts to catch the eggs that will be hatching later. What type of worm did they identify?

[guidofatherof5]

Good catch Chris. The treatment sounds like what my Vet. has prescribed.
I'm sure Nobby will feel better after her guests are evicted.

[chris-uk]

There were some live round worms, and some round worm eggs.

Any tips for getting the panacur in into the snake? I should have asked while I was there. But the plan I have is to inject the 0.15ml into a piece of food (either a pinky head or piece of salmon) as I don't rate my chances of prying her mouth open and squirting the panacur down her throat.

[katach]

That will work, as long as she eats the piece of food...

[chris-uk]

That will work, as long as she eats the piece of food...

She'll eat the food. Never refused food yet, Nobby is our most consistent eater - she has to be to keep all the worms happy with the free banquet.

[ssssnakeluvr]

I have a 1 cc syringe with an IV catheter on the end.... I just suck up the panacur, hold the snake by the neck, and with the catheter part I push it sideways into the mouth then slide it around so the end is in the mouth. I gently push it down the throat a little and squirt the panacur in. works good for me. the IV catheter is a little flexible so it works well and doesn't hurt the snake.

[Dan72]

Chris, because Nobby is W/C, is the cause of the worms what the snakes diet had been in the wild? Frogs or fish, something like that? With my radix as young and as small as she was when I found her in March, I don't think her diet could have been anything more than earthworms and thats all she's had since moving inside. Could worms give her worms? Or could she pick them up from wherever she was getting her water...:(. Should I have her checked for worms being W/C???

[Invisible Snake]

Chris have you noticed any sub-cutaneous worms on Nobby?

[guidofatherof5]

If Nobby is a pinky eater I would inject it into said pinky.
Problem solved an no waste.

[chris-uk]

Chris, because Nobby is W/C, is the cause of the worms what the snakes diet had been in the wild? Frogs or fish, something like that? With my radix as young and as small as she was when I found her in March, I don't think her diet could have been anything more than earthworms and thats all she's had since moving inside. Could worms give her worms? Or could she pick them up from wherever she was getting her water...:(. Should I have her checked for worms being W/C???

Most likely to have been her wild diet. Almost every wild snake is going to have a parasite load, some people worry about it others don't. I think in Europe, where the majority of snakes are CB and therefore clear of parasites, I'd always advise testing and de-worming if necessary. If you have a WC snake (possibly with worms) would you then put it anywhere near a snake that you bought as CB animal and paid £50, £100, or £150 for? I've got two other snakes quarantined at the moment, and as soon as they poo on a day that I can take it to the vet they'll be tested as well.


Chris have you noticed any sub-cutaneous worms on Nobby?

No, there's no sign of anything sub-cutaneous. I'll be checking again carefully though.


If Nobby is a pinky eater I would inject it into said pinky.
Problem solved an no waste.

I love it when a plan comes together.

[EasternGirl]

You know I never have gotten Cee Cee and Seeley checked for worms. They have already been around some of my other CB snakes...not with them but I have switched tanks and so forth with Possum and Hermes and things like that. They were both at the vet but as far as I know he didn't do a fecal test. I have had both of them for a year now. Do you think I should get one?

[guidofatherof5]

I would say yes.
When finances allow, it will give you some peace of mind.

[Didymus20X6]

5270

[chris-uk]

Update on Nobby. She pooed today, not in her water bowl, and on a day I could take the deposit to the vet to get her rechecked.

Well the fecal float today is completely clear, so the course of Panacur did the job and she's no longer quarantined. :) She's going to be joining Lacci and Adora Belle to get her out of the plastic tub (albeit a large one) that she's be living in for far too long.

[Invisible Snake]

That's great news! Glad to hear Nobby is worm-free.

[guidofatherof5]

Glad to here she's clear and now living with some buddies.

A very good example of why a quarantine period is important.

[ProXimuS]

Round of applause for Nobby:)

[guidofatherof5]

Round of applause for Nobby:)

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//744/Clapping.gif

[EasternGirl]

Great news!!

[SilasBannook]

Guys, how much does it normally cost you to have your snake's scat checked by a Vet? I admit I haven't done that with mine yet but I respect the advice given here quite a bit. I plan to ask my vet tomorrow but would appreciate having a feel for what it should be upfront. Thanks.

[EasternGirl]

Yeah...I have never had it done either. But I have some WCs that really should be checked too.

[chris-uk]

I'm obviously in the UK, but here's what it cost me - £9.50 for each fecal float. With the first test, the Panacurto treat the worms, and a second test to confirm treatment had worked, all cost me less than £25. I'm aware of a lab in the UK that you can mail samples to and they charge £30 for a test. My vet will do the test themselves and if they aren't too busy will do it while I wait.

Some of our US members will no doubt chip in with the sort of costs they find.

[SilasBannook]

Arrgghhh. My primary vet won't do it and when I checked the nearby exotic vet who will treat reptiles, they said they would do the check for $45 per snake. I am enjoying unemployment right now so I don't have the cash to spend on something that isn't an immediate problem.

Does anyone have cheaper suggestions? Perhaps pictures of what to look for under a microscope ourselves? Place where we can order any required medicine on-line? Please let me know. I do want to do the best I can for my little team of snakes but I am definitely on a tight budget at the moment.

[guidofatherof5]

Do you have a local college that might do it for you as teaching for their students.
Just an idea.

[SilasBannook]

excellent thought. Being in Denver there are several universities nearby. I will check. Thanks.