Salamanders and Parasite testing

[Otterwoman]

Does anyone take their salamander/newts/axies to the vet for wellness checks, or have their stools tested regularly for parasites?

A group of my salamanders seemed sick so I brought them in today the vet diagnosed parasites, and we are treating them. He said salamanders should be brought in three times a year for parasite checks (or at least their poops).

Most of us have MANY salamanders and we can't bring them all in. How can we deal with that?

He said worms (nightcrawlers) like most of us feed can have parasites unless they're raised in a sterile environment. I don't think I've heard of any worms raised that way and I suppose it is impossible to raise nightcrawlers that way.

Any comments?

 

[Methos5K]

I've always wondered about the real safety of the standard nightcrawler bought at Walmart. Amphibian biology is more complex to then that of a fish I believe, so while these parasites might do great harm to them; but your standard game fish would not have any problems.

 

[jewett]

I, too, have wondered what medical prevention I should have completed routinely for my caudates, Dawn, especially when handouts from local exotic vets recommend parasite checks multiple times a year and I have 40+ amphibians. I toyed with the idea of at least taking in every newly acquired WC (or suspected WC - I get quite a few from my local classifieds from folks who longer can care for them and am provided with little to no history) for wellness checks but have never instituted this policy.

I have decided that as long as my animals are plump and eat well with normal behavior and I have no unexplained deaths then I will not take them to a vet. I am not completely comfortable with this decision, however, and worry that it will come back to haunt me some day. After all, my mammalian pets go in at least once a year for routine wellness and I do have guilt that I don't extend the same level of care to my amphibians. Perhaps I will institute the above mentioned plan for at least the WC.

Out of curiosity, what is the vet having you treat with and how? You said salamanders so I am guessing they are terrestrial, but how are you having to administer the anti parasitic and for how long?

And did the vet state the species of parasite? I would think that most wild amphibians (like most/ all wild animals) would have some level of parasite load but perhaps pathology only occurs if it is not normal gut flora for that particular amphibian species?

HJ

 

[JM29]

The diversity of potential parasites may be a problem.
This following (old) paper gives an idea (table page 2).
Host specificity, especially for those who have a lot of species, could be another problem.
I suppose more recent references exist now.

 

[Otterwoman]

He said that they are spread through the environment, among other things, so I was thinking that one from each tank might suffice for occasional testing. Or if you have a certain colony that is very important to you.

The tx we are starting with is broad spectrum. Panacur suspension 1 unit orally (that is a SMALL amount!) orally for 3 days to the yearlings, 9 units for the adults. It is hard to administer but I'm getting better. Then repeat in two weeks.
Also a flagyl dilution in sterile water that they have to bathe in for 24 hours. I have to watch them that they don't get bloated from the bath and if they do, I take them out till it goes down and then put them back in.

The species are tylos, so they are half water half land.
I was unable to find a stool sample so he went with the most probable diagnosis. He palpated them thoroughly and it wasn't just an off-the-cuff diagnosis. He is really an amazing vet and certified in amphibs and reptiles (there's some certificate on his wall) and he is my ferrets' vet, and really does great for them. He examined three animals but only charged for one and with the meds it was about 120, I was expecting a much higher bill.

 

[michael]

The species are tylos, so they are half water half land.
I was unable to find a stool sample so he went with the most probable diagnosis. He palpated them thoroughly and it wasn't just an off-the-cuff diagnosis. He is really an amazing vet and certified in amphibs and reptiles (there's some certificate on his wall) and he is my ferrets' vet, and really does great for them. He examined three animals but only charged for one and with the meds it was about 120, I was expecting a much higher bill.

It sounds to me like he guessed at a diagnoses. Without doing a fecal it would be tough to make an accurate diagnoses. Many amphibian hobbyists guess at a diagnoses and prophalactically treat with panacur and flagyl.