Parasites??

[RobinIsAround]

Hi again!

I’m back with more questions on Marshall’s health.

I think he might potentially have parasites but I wanted to grab someone else’s opinion:

He’s been eating his veg and a few bugs and today he pooed. My mum called me to ask if she should be worried because it looks like this (photos attached, plus some extra pics of him! My pretty boy)

She said it smelt quite bad which made me concerned that it might be parasites, but she is also super sensitive to the slightest bad smell and I didn’t think it was too bad when I got home to check. He’s been having a lot of baths recently because I was removing his clogged pores and he was covered in dirt when we got him, so he’s been drinking a lot, making me wonder if he’s just very over hydrated. He’s still got a bit of loose skin which is another thing that made me wonder if it was parasites, but he’s always been a bit wrinkly on one side since we got him. (plus the brownish urate (???)

i think it could be parasite related but I wanna hear some other people’s thoughts?? He’s still super alert and not lethargic at all, eating, running around e.t.c.. I just don’t want to miss anything.

 

[RobinIsAround]

I should note! He hasn’t had any more baths since yesterday because I didn’t want to dry his scales out or give him an RI no more baths for him for a while!

 

[Sadie]

I should note! He hasn’t had any more baths since yesterday because I didn’t want to dry his scales out or give him an RI no more baths for him for a while!

Make sure he stays hydrated by offering water on his nose once a week and rinse his salads before serving - his stools dont look bad - hes hydrated -the wrinkly skin is the way hes sitting - mine get the same thing when they sit that way - dragons poop does smell but if its to the point that its driving you out of the room then I would say there is parasites -

 

[Lee And Kaida]

You mentioned he’s been drinking a lot due to frequent baths? Overhydration can lead to watery or mucus-heavy stools. if he’s been eating more veggies than usual, that can also cause looser stools so keep an eeye on that..The brownish urate could indicate mild dehydration in some cases, but since he’s drinking a lot, it might just be dietary. The foul smell could be a sign of parasites, but some reptiles naturally have strong-smelling waste (like Kaida, my beardie). Loose skin could indicate weight loss, but you also mentioned he’s always been a bit wrinkly on one side.. A parasite infection would likely come with other symptoms like lack of appetite, lethargy, or weight loss.. (you didnt mention those) If the stool is very slimy, it could indicate irritation in his digestive tract. If you see any black or red in his poop (suggesting blood), that would be a bigger concern.

If he stays alert, active, and keeps eating, that’s a good sign!
If they continue looking like this, getting a fecal test from a vet might be a good idea.
Maybe slightly reduce baths to see if that changes stool consistency.

If he starts acting differently (lethargy, weight loss, refusing food), I’d recommend a vet visit just to be safe.

I hope this helps

 

[Musicmanslady]

You can pick up a cheap kitchen gram scale at walmart for about $20 and weigh him if you want. Kai is a little over a year and weighs 397.9 grams. Good weight for a young adult dragon is about 350 to 450 grams. Theu tend to get heavier as they get older too. Dont stress if he is a poind or two over or under that range...all dragons are different...itll just give you a good guideline and you can periodically watch how it is trending.