[Cazador]

Hi Marian,

There are plenty of other over-the-counter meds that also work against common parasites, but each have unique problems and aren't generally considered the drugs of choice. Sulfadimethoxine (Albon) works well, but it's not discussed often because coccidia have indirect life cycles and aren't often at pathological levels. Ivermectin treats worms, but the doseage is VERY small, and it has a narrow margin of safety. Enrofloxin, Amikacin, Chloramphenicol, Clindamycin, Gentocin, and others work well for different types of bacteria, but you need a prescription to get them. I'm sure this is for the best, given the opportunity to make "resistant" strains with improper administration.

The beautiful thing about Flagyl, Panacur, and Praziquantel is that they're very effective, can be given orally, have a wide margin of safety, and don't require a prescription. Flagyl even has anti-bacterial properties, though antibiotics have to be chosen to match the type of bacteria being treated. Moreover, using these drugs to remove common pathogens that tax the immune system can often allow the immune system to take care of other types of problems that it couldn't before, including many viruses. These may be repetative and boring, they've become the drugs of choice because they're so effective and easily available.

I agree that one would expect quicker acting drugs from a vet, but one doesn't always want to have to pay those large fees to treat common, recognizable problems. I'm of the mindset that any snake that is suspected of being wild caught should be treated for the most common pathogens with Flagyl & Panacur while in quarantine as a preventative measure. Any specific problems that arise, including tapeworms, should be given priority treatment.

Rick