Worm Guard

[BLUESIRTALIS]

http://www.reptiledirect.com/ProductImages/783178593214.JPG

Has anyone tried this on garters before.

[BLUESIRTALIS]

Or this?

http://www.reptilesupply.com/images/99559-Bird-Bene-Bac-4Pk-125x125.jpg (http://www.reptilesupply.com/product.php?products_id=1795)

[BLUESIRTALIS]

These could be awesome products for our garter medical kits.

[Mrs N1ntndo]

I have never seen these. What are they for.

[RedSidedSPR]

Never heard of it, but if they work for garters, that would be awesome!

[d_virginiana]

Never heard of it. Have you used it on yours before?

[BlueGarterz]

Sounds intriguing. Worth a shot.

[BLUESIRTALIS]

No i have not tried these on garters yet but a friend of mine uses this on wildcaught mangrove snakes and has great results and he said it increases their appetite. That worm guard is all natural and works as a laxative so it may help with impaction too. It is cheap and could be sprinkled on some fish and then fed to the snakes.

[RedSidedSPR]

Hmmmm... me like.

[ssssnakeluvr]

I checked out the worm guard... it's a laxative that helps the worms get passed.... doesn't kill them. I have some, but haven't used it (have been using Panacur for deworming) May have to give it a try since I have it (was given to me by a friend)

[Mrs N1ntndo]

do you have a link for these items that we can check out or is it easy enough to find through google.

[RedSidedSPR]

Worm Guard (http://www.reptiledirect.com/wormguard.aspx)

[BLUESIRTALIS]

I checked out the worm guard... it's a laxative that helps the worms get passed.... doesn't kill them. I have some, but haven't used it (have been using Panacur for deworming) May have to give it a try since I have it (was given to me by a friend)

That's what i thought too but all the sites that have it for sale say that it kills worms and parasites.:rolleyes:

[RedSidedSPR]

So... it would get the worms out of it's system, but then the worms would be in the cage? So you would have to house the snake alone, do quick clean ups etc?

Ain't no panacur, but it could be good to have.

[chris-uk]

How well is it going to work if it doesn't kill the worms? Worms that live in the gut tend to have evolved mechanisms for hanging on as the crap flows past, if they aren't dead they aren't going to let go in a hurry. All a laxative would do is increase the rate of flow, which might dislodge some, but I'm skeptical that it would do a great job.

As for using it to help clear an impaction, I'm skeptical again. Imagine you snake's gut is blocked and you give it food and laxative, the laxative will increase the pressure pushing against the impaction, it's a bit like sticking a cork in a hosepipe and turning up the tap. If the cork isn't too tight it will pop out, if it's well stuck the weakest point in the pipe will burst.

Now as for it increasing a snake's appetite... You give it a laxative and it isn't absorbing the food efficiently so the poor bugger is going to be more hungry. There's no way I'd give any healthy animal a laxative to improve it's appetite.

I'm skeptical about herbal/natural remedies - yes, some herbal remedies work. We've taken what works, distilled it and purified it, and we now call that "medicine". The herbs that are left over are seasoning for a caserole and nice bowl of pot-pourri. Give me real drugs anytime.

[PINJOHN]

[ herbs that are left over are seasoning for a caserole and nice bowl of pot-pourri.! Give me real drugs anytime.![/QUOTE]

HEY this is a family site! bloody Brits coming on here trying to deal STUFF :eek:

[BLUESIRTALIS]

They are claiming that it kills parasites.

[chris-uk]

They are claiming that it kills parasites.

I wouldn't touch it for these reasons:


Some sites you can buy it from say "kill", but most sites say "control". So, inconsistancy in the claims, none of which have had to pass any scientific testing.
The company that produces it can't be arsed to put some proper information on their website (Nature Zone Catalog (http://www.naturezonepet.com/)) just a catalogue. If they aren't providing information about their product I'm not putting it in my pet.
In all the forums and reviews I've just scanned and the first 30 Google results for it, there isn't anyone coming back and answering the question "Has anyone used this stuff?" in a positive way that makes me think it might do any good.
The company that produces it also has a product called "Snake oil"... I'm not buying anything from snake oil salesmen.

I found a list of ingredients: Pumpkin seed, Black Walnut, Cloves, Wormwood, Black Cumin, Thyme, Kieselguhr, Papain

The pumpkin seed has been shown to have some worm elliminating properties. Black walnut is claimed to have many medicinal properties. Clove oil is cited as being a snake repellent, and so is dried wormwood. Black cumin has so many claimed medical properties (including curing pancreatic cancer) that it's too good to be true. Thyme is claimed to cure paracitic worms. Kieselguhr is a bulking agent. Papain is said to have some antiparsitic properties.
So there's a list of ingredients, many of them reported on herbal medicine sites as having antiparasitic properties. There may be something in this product, but I'd rather visit a vet and get a medically tested treatment.

[nekura]

Disregard post, question was answered in thread already. How do you delete these things?

[guidofatherof5]

Disregard post, question was answered in thread already. How do you delete these things?

You can't. You can edit its content for 30 minutes, after that you can't even do that.

"Disregard this post" works fine. Had to us it a few times myself.;)

[ConcinusMan]

I would think it's useless and probably just a gimmick. However, the Benepac is the probiotics I've been telling you about. I give it to snakes after deworming, antibiotics, and to newborns to establish/reestablish healthy gut flora. It's not something you want to use routinely but it probably wouldn't hurt to give a little to your snakes once a year or so after a long fast, before and/or after brumating. .

[BLUESIRTALIS]

A friend of mine swears by the worm guard. He said when he imports mangrove snakes they are full of parasites and he can't get them to do well in captivity until he treats them with worm guard and then they have an increase in appetite and pass solid stools. Like i said i have never tried it i always use panacur but was just curious about it.

[RedSidedSPR]

I don't doubt it works. But I doubt it is as great as it seems. Like said, more of a gimmick than anything.


I would think it's useless and probably just a gimmick. However, the Benepac is the probiotics I've been telling you about. I give it to snakes after deworming, antibiotics, and to newborns to establish/reestablish healthy gut flora. It's not something you want to use routinely but it probably wouldn't hurt to give a little to your snakes once a year or so after a long fast, before and/or after brumating. .

I can't read anything in the pic, can you get me a link Richard?

[ConcinusMan]

I just googled it and clicked links in order to find the claims they make.

google nature zone worm guard (http://lmgtfy.com/?q=Nature+zone+worm+guard)

bottom line is, it won't kill anything which to me, is useless. Real medicine is needed especially since many nematodes do not reside in the digestive system.

[RedSidedSPR]

I meant the Benepac.

[ConcinusMan]

"Bene-Bac provides 5 different species of beneficial bacteria to protect your reptile's fragile gastrointestinal system. Your reptile's digestion can be easily upset by changes, stress, and medication, and Bene-Bac replenishes the natural microorganisms that are disrupted under such conditions. Comes in 1/2 oz gel form in an easy-dose syringe or in a powder in an economical 10 oz jumbo jar."

"Gel Ingredients: Dried Lactobacillus Fermentum, Dried Lactobacillus casei (avian strain), Dried Streptococcus faecium, Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Products, Vegetable Oils, Sugar, Silicon Dioxide, Artificial Color, Polysorbate 80, Preserved with Tertiary Hydroquinone and Ethoxyquin. Powder Ingredients: Sucrose, Maltodextrin, Silicon Dioxide, Dried Lactobacillus Fermentation, Dried Lactobacillus casei (avain strain), Dried Streptococcus faecium, Dried Lactobacillus plantarum, and Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Products."

[RedSidedSPR]

I think ill get it sometime soon. Sounds like something good to have around.