Diagnosing Intestinal Parasites in Reptiles

Let's discuss diagnosing intestinal parasites in reptiles.

A reptile can come into contact with parasites through food, objects, and other reptiles. Reptile parasites can cause many other illnesses and in severe cases lead to death. After reading this article you will know symptoms of parasitic infections and early detection and treatment can mean the different between life and death for your pet reptile.

The most common type of parasites found in reptiles are roundworms, hookworms, and pinworms. A worm infection can sometimes be diagnosed if you see string or spaghetti-like worms in your reptile's feces or vomit. This is a clear sign of what the problem is.

However, sometime the parasites do not come out and some types of parasites are microscopic and not visible to a human unless they have a microscope. There are other symptoms to look for though. Intestinal parasites symptoms include diarrhea or other abnormal stool, lack of appetite and weight loss, and vomiting. Some of these symptoms could also show up if your reptile has other infections or illnesses. That is why taking your reptile to a veterinarian is the best way to get an accurate diagnosis.

A proper diagnosis is required in order to get the most effective treatment. A veterinarian will probably test a reptile's stool sample and look at it under a microscope. Both those things can lead to a clear diagnosis, including exactly what type of parasite is involved. Once a veterinarian has their diagnosis, they will prescribe treatments.

Typically treatments for parasites includes medications such as anthelmintics. Antihelmintics are de-wormers, the medication kills parasites and help expel them from a reptile's body. Sometimes antibiotics are also prescribed. With a prescription medication a reptile is likely to recover from an intestinal parasite infection. If untreated parasitic infections can be deadly and spread to other reptiles.

The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your veterinarian or other health care professional. You should not use the information on this site for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or for prescription of any medication or other treatment.