Treating for pinworms

[Susann]

There's been lots of people asking about fecal exams, so I thought I would write about my experience.
My skinks have had runny feces off and on for the last few months, and I decided to send RetileKing (Brad) some poop for him to run tests on. Both my "old" skinks (2 juvenile Meraukes) and my new skinks (3 adult Meraukes) have pinworms!!! One of them was LOADED with them!

Brad has been amazing and knowledgeable through all this; he has helped and guided me along the whole way.

First, I had to clean out all 5 cages. Scoop out all the substrate and throw it away. Spray the cages down and clean them thoroughly with bleach solution and then rinse them well. All hides and decorations made of wood or cork had to be baked for hours in the oven, and now they are sitting in a clean tub, awaiting the day when any surviving eggs are dead for sure (I think it’s 3 weeks. It’s a bit overboard, but that’s me!). All bowls and silk plants got washed in the dishwasher with bleach on the hot sanitizing cycle, and put in a tub as well.
Now all there is in the cages are paper towels, and a water bowl.

Every day I clean up any poop and pee immediately. Throw away dirty paper and wipe up. Every night I throw away all the paper and wipe down the cage, lay down clean paper, give them clean water. For 3 days I had to give them medicine. In 10 days I have to have new fecal tests run. If there are still eggs in the poop, we have to do the 3 day treatment again, and wait for fecals to come back clean.

I don’t want to scare anybody with all the work and pain involved in the treatment. If a parasite infestation gets out of control, it can be just as dangerous as an infection; it can kill.
ReptileKing does free fecal exams; all you need to do is collect a fresh sample, stick it in the fridge, and PM him. With the cost of a stamp and an envelope, you can know if you need to treat your BTS. Unless it’s a serious infestation, you can be back to normal life in 10 days.

Today was the last day of medication, and here are some pictures of the guys:

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[WanderingChai]

Good luck!! <3

[Coomassie]

I read your post a couple of times but I don't think you ever mentioned what medication you gave them. Did you use panacur?

[lemon1]

What are signs of pinworms ?

[Susann]

Yes, I treated them with Panacur.
The common signs of pinworms are:
•Poor appetite
•Weight loss
•Vomiting or regurgitation
•Abnormal appearing stools
•Diarrhea
Pinworms are very common in lizards, and a mild case can be harmless. But where we keep them in captivity, in relatively small confinements where they live in close proximity to their own poop, the infestation CAN escalate to dangerous levels. Where pinworms have a direct life cycle, they can live out their entire lives, from egg through reproducing adults, in one host, and a mild case can easily become a serious case.

Since ReptileKing kindly offers free fecals, I figured I would err on the safe side and have it checked. I DON'T want to needlessly scare people, but I saw no other signs or symptoms than diarrhea--and even that was off and on. The new skinks have had very poor appetite, but I just attributed it to the move and the season. J.J. is the only one who has eaten well, and he is the one who was LOADED with the worms!
Both sets of my skinks have come from reputable people who care for their animals, and even the ones I've had for a year had pinworms. I've had the new skinks quarantined, and there is NO way either group gave it to the other.
Again, I'm not into scaring anybody; just relating my experience, and hoping it can inspire others to have their skink's poop checked.
I go a little bit overboard with cleaning out the whole cage every day, it's probably plenty to just remove any feces as soon as you see it, so the treatment really isn't a big deal. Wash everything, give the medication, keep it clean for a while, and all is good and worry-free!

[Fatal_S]

I've treated my skinks many times before. Best part is after the treatment is done and the change I could see in the skinks

[Bird_Brain]

Excellent post! Im sure you can treat with leaving everything in the cage, but IMO, I would rather have to just do one treatment (obviously you may have several intervals of medication during treatment) and be done with it. Same with external parasites such as mites. If I am going to have to do a treatment, I am going to play it safe and do it right the first time than have to go through everything multiple times.

[El Lobo]

It is worth noting that there is some research into the negative effects on blood plasma and immune systems caused by fenbendazole, the active ingredient in Panacur. There have been cases of deaths associated with its use. It is a powerful drug and administration should not necessarily be undertaken without full consideration of possible detrimental side effects.

Hematological and Plasma Biochemical Changed Associated with Fenbendazole Administration

http://www.jstor.org/pss/20096522

Effects of Fenbendazole on the Murine Humoral Immune System

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2696826/

[Bird_Brain]

It is worth noting that there is some research into the negative effects on blood plasma and immune systems caused by fenbendazole, the active ingredient in Panacur. There have been cases of deaths associated with its use. It is a powerful drug and administration should not necessarily be undertaken without full consideration of possible detrimental side effects.

Hematological and Plasma Biochemical Changed Associated with Fenbendazole Administration

http://www.jstor.org/pss/20096522

Effects of Fenbendazole on the Murine Humoral Immune System

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2696826/

What drug does not have potential side effects? IMO and experience, Panacur is a very safe drug when properly dosed (just like every drug should be).

[El Lobo]

It's only so people can make an informed decision.

[Fatal_S]

Do you know of any safer parasite medications, Lobo? I was under the impression Panacur was considered very safe.

[El Lobo]

Do you know of any safer parasite medications, Lobo? I was under the impression Panacur was considered very safe.

I became aware of the reservations of some vets over the use of fenbendazole about a year ago in a forum discussion for treating rabbits with encephalitozoon cuniculi which is caused by a protozoan parasite. At the time I thought the serious side effects were exclusive to mammals but evidence now suggests they can also affect many other species. Currently, those still treating for clinically diagnosed encephalitozoon cuniculi are using fenbendazole in the absence of an alternative.

It's only my personal view, but when one of my pets is prescribed a drug I make myself aware of potential side effects because I am then informed as to possible symptoms.

I don't necessarily subscribe to the view that there is risk with all drugs. I have used the inert pediatric drug simethicone to good effect for treating stomach bloat in rabbits.