how can you tell if your snake has worms?

nessy · 04-19-2007, 01:10 PM

i've never fed my snake anything that didn't come out of a freezer. it stopped eating during shedding - as usual, but hasn't eaten since (a week later). It is as active as before the shedding and the shed itself was complete and had no problems.

i have noticed that it defocated smaller amounts each time, but with more frequency than before. and the dried faeces had small fleshy things like dried fish eggs (which was what i thought it was - undigested). the faeces is otherwise the usual consistency - no blood or lumps.

are these signs of intestinal worms? if so how serious is it (i'd imagine that wild snakes would be rife with it)?

adamanteus · 04-19-2007, 01:21 PM

Hi Nessy, It does sound rather suspect. I would recommend taking a faecal sample to your vet. He can perform a faecal floatation, in which parasites and their eggs are separated from the other matter for identification.

Cazador · 04-19-2007, 05:14 PM

Ditto. Could be the reproductive stage of tapeworms (proglottids) that you noticed. It will probably resume eating, but anything unusual about the feces is cause for concern.

Rick

Thamnophis · 04-21-2007, 07:32 PM

And do not assume that what comes out of a freezer cannot contain wormeggs. This is very well possible.

Cazador · 04-22-2007, 01:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thamnophis

And do not assume that what comes out of a freezer cannot contain wormeggs. This is very well possible.

This is very true. It just reduces the number of many types of parasites, but does not eliminate them all.

nessy · 04-24-2007, 12:43 PM

these fish were bought fit for human consumption, not caught and frozen. I've had the garter for over a year now, i cant imagine it getting worms from the food i gave it. I soaked one of the things in water, and it definitely does look like eggs. could it have got the worms a year ago!? surely human food wouldn't contain worms?
how do i get rid of them?
thanks

drache · 04-24-2007, 02:55 PM

actually
there is a high incidence of parasites in fish for human consumption
it's not much of an issue with processed (cooked, pickled, smoked, etc) fish, but they do tell pregnant women and immune deficient persons to stay away from sushi for that reason

adamanteus · 04-24-2007, 03:49 PM

Nessy, if you suspect your snake has worms, the best course of action is to visit the vet,

nessy · 04-29-2007, 05:14 AM

cheers guys, defo will do.

04-19-2007, 01:10 PM	#1 (permalink)
nessy "Preparing For First shed" Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 51 Country:	how can you tell if your snake has worms? i've never fed my snake anything that didn't come out of a freezer. it stopped eating during shedding - as usual, but hasn't eaten since (a week later). It is as active as before the shedding and the shed itself was complete and had no problems. i have noticed that it defocated smaller amounts each time, but with more frequency than before. and the dried faeces had small fleshy things like dried fish eggs (which was what i thought it was - undigested). the faeces is otherwise the usual consistency - no blood or lumps. are these signs of intestinal worms? if so how serious is it (i'd imagine that wild snakes would be rife with it)?

04-19-2007, 01:21 PM	#2 (permalink)
adamanteus Moderator Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Cheshire. (Near Manchester). Posts: 6,676 Country:	Re: how can you tell if your snake has worms? Hi Nessy, It does sound rather suspect. I would recommend taking a faecal sample to your vet. He can perform a faecal floatation, in which parasites and their eggs are separated from the other matter for identification. __________________ James.

04-19-2007, 05:14 PM	#3 (permalink)
Cazador Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Alaska, USA Posts: 1,608 Country:	Re: how can you tell if your snake has worms? Ditto. Could be the reproductive stage of tapeworms (proglottids) that you noticed. It will probably resume eating, but anything unusual about the feces is cause for concern. Rick

04-21-2007, 07:32 PM	#4 (permalink)
Thamnophis Moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Netherlands Posts: 1,284 Country:	Re: how can you tell if your snake has worms? And do not assume that what comes out of a freezer cannot contain wormeggs. This is very well possible. __________________ Kousebandslangen.nl - Member of the EGSA It is always advisable to be a loser if you cannot become a winner. Frank Zappa

04-24-2007, 12:43 PM	#6 (permalink)
nessy "Preparing For First shed" Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 51 Country:	Re: how can you tell if your snake has worms? these fish were bought fit for human consumption, not caught and frozen. I've had the garter for over a year now, i cant imagine it getting worms from the food i gave it. I soaked one of the things in water, and it definitely does look like eggs. could it have got the worms a year ago!? surely human food wouldn't contain worms? how do i get rid of them? thanks

04-24-2007, 02:55 PM	#7 (permalink)
drache Ophiuchus rhea Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Brooklyn, New York Posts: 3,423 Country:	Re: how can you tell if your snake has worms? actually there is a high incidence of parasites in fish for human consumption it's not much of an issue with processed (cooked, pickled, smoked, etc) fish, but they do tell pregnant women and immune deficient persons to stay away from sushi for that reason __________________ rhea "Life is just one damn thing after another" - Mark Twain this place is one damn beautiful snake after another - me Last edited by drache : 04-24-2007 at 02:55 PM. Reason: typo

04-24-2007, 03:49 PM	#8 (permalink)
adamanteus Moderator Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Cheshire. (Near Manchester). Posts: 6,676 Country:	Re: how can you tell if your snake has worms? Nessy, if you suspect your snake has worms, the best course of action is to visit the vet, __________________ James.

04-29-2007, 05:14 AM	#9 (permalink)
nessy "Preparing For First shed" Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 51 Country:	Re: how can you tell if your snake has worms? cheers guys, defo will do.

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