Vet just told us our hatchling has pinworms, but says not too bad and suggests leaving it be unless develops diahrhea - anyone else run across this? Are their any treatments, and if so what are they? Should I look for a new vet? I noticed on a diff site (for diff type tortoise) someone mentioned that pumpkin would purge most of the worms (don't know exactly what type) - any experience with this? Thanks for any help.
I will defer to someone else for advice to actually follow.
How old and what are the measurements and weight on your little one?
Is he eating?
Does he have runny stools?
My initial thought is that you need to be careful with a hatchling. The treatment could cause more problems than a load of pinworms that is not "critical" in number.
The pumpkin only immobilizes some worms so they can be expelled.
Did the vet comment on the load of worms? At what point he would consider treating etc?
I bet Crazy1, Hermanni Chris, or Anja could offer more specifics.
He seems pretty young, about 68 grams, can move around in my hand. Vet said treatment would be more stressful than worms; has slowed on eating, but that may be because we're now giving him hay instead of grass for the most part (w/ some greens, etc.) Stools look fine, not runny at all. Would pumpkin be too much for a little guy?
I will defer to someone else for advice to actually follow.
How old and what are the measurements and weight on your little one?
Is he eating?
Does he have runny stools?
My initial thought is that you need to be careful with a hatchling. The treatment could cause more problems than a load of pinworms that is not "critical" in number.
The pumpkin only immobilizes some worms so they can be expelled.
Did the vet comment on the load of worms? At what point he would consider treating etc?
I bet Crazy1, Hermanni Chris, or Anja could offer more specifics.
I would not give a hatchling pumpkin. I have discussed this before on another thread regarding my own hatchlings. A couple of us felt that the pumpkin may be too much for a hatchling and cause dehydration. I am not an expert but that is my feelings.
He seems pretty young, about 68 grams, can move around in my hand. Vet said treatment would be more stressful than worms; has slowed on eating, but that may be because we're now giving him hay instead of grass for the most part (w/ some greens, etc.) Stools look fine, not runny at all.
With our FTGecko, she had worms as a little one, but was eating fine etc. We waited an entire year before treating her. She never had the load go up or went off food, so for her it was best to leave her alone.
Whatever the vet suggests to treat the pins in the future (most likely Panacur (fenbendazole))...if he/she suggests Ivermectin...go find another vet. Ivermectin is a big fat nono for torts and turtles.
Can you find some fresh greens?
Do you have the calcium powder?
If you are feeding hay, I think the alfalfa hay is too high in protein, so just do a quick chech for what you have.
I think the hay might be hard for the little guy to digest (anyone know who has hatchlings in the past)
We found dandylion greens at the local organic grocery store...
If you search tortoise food here there a several great threads on what people suggest and where to find it.
No iceberg lettuce (too much water and too little nutrition...)
Book suggestion
I have found
"Understanding Reptile Parasites" by Roger J. Klingenberg, DVM
2nd edition
To be VERY helpful. It was only $15.oo and includes HOW different meds work on different types of parasites. It is only 200 pages but is full of easy to understand information. A good reference so you can ask your vet educated questions
I don't have a Sulcata but I do have hatchlings. I have 4 yearling DT and a 3 week old Greek hatchling. The yearling DT are in the weight range you discussed.
I know that pinworms sound yucky and what we have always been taught is to get rid of them ASAP. In hatchlings stressing them by giving them meds as little as they are is not always a good thing. A lot of torts carry worms all their lives yes, captive pets and most have some amount of parasites. I would at this time take the advice of your vet, leave them alone. Practice good hand washing techniques to keep any one or anything else from getting them.
Pumpkin does not kill but stun (immobilize) so that they can be expelled, but not all will leave. So your little one would still have worms and Pumpkin can be iffy, dehydration etc. I would not give mine pumpkin.
I feel the best you could do for your little one at this moment is leave things as they are, keep an eye on his stools and eating habits. If you are feeding hay (check which type) you may want to grind it and sprinkle it onto his food sort of like an additive.
This is strictly my take on things. I am sure you may want more than one persons input so hopefully more tort parents with hatchlings will chime in here.
PS how did your vet discover the worms?
We just got him and decided to have him checked by a vet even tho he seemed quite healthy. He's got a lot of personality. The vet checked his stool sample. On the food issue, I've looked over a lot of sites. We were giving him mostly grass, with dandelion greens when we can find them, some curly mustard, geranium flowers, carrot greens, wheat grass. The vet recommended the alfalfa hay, said to switch to timothy when he gets older, but he doesn't eat it like the greens. We cut it up pretty small. He at some nopales cactus bits yesterday for a treat. I think we'll wait on the pumpkin and just keep an eye on him for now.
I don't have a Sulcata but I do have hatchlings. I have 4 yearling DT and a 3 week old Greek hatchling. The yearling DT are in the weight range you discussed.
I know that pinworms sound yucky and what we have always been taught is to get rid of them ASAP. In hatchlings stressing them by giving them meds as little as they are is not always a good thing. A lot of torts carry worms all their lives yes, captive pets and most have some amount of parasites. I would at this time take the advice of your vet, leave them alone. Practice good hand washing techniques to keep any one or anything else from getting them.
Pumpkin does not kill but stun (immobilize) so that they can be expelled, but not all will leave. So your little one would still have worms and Pumpkin can be iffy, dehydration etc. I would not give mine pumpkin.
I feel the best you could do for your little one at this moment is leave things as they are, keep an eye on his stools and eating habits. If you are feeding hay (check which type) you may want to grind it and sprinkle it onto his food sort of like an additive.
This is strictly my take on things. I am sure you may want more than one persons input so hopefully more tort parents with hatchlings will chime in here.
PS how did your vet discover the worms?
Thank you, and thank all of you, for your responses. I am making a list of questions for the vet.
Any thoughts on the best substrate? We are using fir chips, but thinking of CareFresh (?) but Im concerned how well sanitized it is since it's recycled paper, I believe.
Not to question your vet (ok maybe I am
) but Alfalfa Hay???
I am surprised the vet opted for Alfalfa hay when he is young as it is high in protein and phosphorous much more so than Timothy, Orchard or Bermuda and most of what I have read said stay away from Alfalfa .
Regardless of the hay you may need to grind it-a coffee grinder works fine-or you can buy it ground at
http://www.carolinapetsupply.com/catalog/
(look under Hay)
Here is a site that shows the nutritional analysis of hay (it is on a Russian site but the nutritional values are the same)
http://russiantortoise.org/hay.htm
I am glad to hear you are planning on waiting on the pumpkin
Here are some sites for casual reading regarding Sulcata care. I never get tired of reading about torts any torts.
http://www.chelonia.org/articles/sulcatacare.htm
http://animal-world.com/encyclo/reptiles...rtoise.php
http://www.tortoisetrust.org/care/csulcata.html
http://www.sdturtle.org/AFRICAN%20SPURRE...0SHEET.htm
I am not a Sulcata owner, and hopefully some Sulcata owners may answer and let us both know if there is any benefit to feeding Alfalfa hay when Sulcatas are young ?