cryogen
New Member
I checked my phone after class today and had a message from the vet saying that our male panther, Joker's fecal test came back positive for coccidia again. When we first received him we took his first poop in for a fecal since he came from the same place where we had bought our first panther who died from a severe parasite load, so we didn't want to take any chances. He tested positive for coccidia and another parasite (can't remember the name now but can look it up later). We decided after hearing about Dr. Alfonso on here to take him over to his office for treatment. We were able to get him in a week later and he had a fecal done there and it came back negative for anything. Dr. Alfonso said that since the results showed low levels in the first test that he could have just cleared it all out himself and to get him tested again in a week or so just to be sure. Well now he's positive again and I'm going to call the vet back first thing tomorrow to schedule an appointment for treatment. 
I was just wondering if anyone else has had this experience of them testing positive, then negative and then positive again all within a month? Is this normal for coccidia? I've searched on here some and it seems that Ponazuril (sp?)is the recommended treatment so I'll make sure to bring that up with our local vet (Dr. Alfonso is a bit too far and he said that our local vet would work out just fine). Is that correct? It seems some people have had bad experiences with Albon so I don't really want to try that. Joker is doing just fine, seems healthy as can be - eating, drinking, active all the time, only sleeping at night so I'm guessing his load is once again not very heavy with the coccidia so hopefully his treatment won't be so bad.
Another thing, most likely I'll have to take him to the vet alone and get him out of his cage by myself. Last time my husband got him out (after quite a long battle of wills!) and I'm a little nervous of being bitten, seeing as how Joker isn't exactly one of the nicer chameleons. He tolerates your hand being in his cage if your cleaning or putting feeders in but as soon as you go near him he puffs up and opens his mouth at you. He just bluffed with my husband and never bit him but I'm not sure if I'd be so lucky. Any suggestions on getting him out of his cage in the least stressful (for both us) way possible?
Sorry for the long post. I feel like I only ever post on here about sick chameleons. I'm not a horrible owner, promise! I've learned a lot on here and from Dr. Alfonso so I know my husbandry isn't bad. We just seem to have bad luck (and learning the hard way why you should buy from reputable breeders and not from pet stores).
I was just wondering if anyone else has had this experience of them testing positive, then negative and then positive again all within a month? Is this normal for coccidia? I've searched on here some and it seems that Ponazuril (sp?)is the recommended treatment so I'll make sure to bring that up with our local vet (Dr. Alfonso is a bit too far and he said that our local vet would work out just fine). Is that correct? It seems some people have had bad experiences with Albon so I don't really want to try that. Joker is doing just fine, seems healthy as can be - eating, drinking, active all the time, only sleeping at night so I'm guessing his load is once again not very heavy with the coccidia so hopefully his treatment won't be so bad.
Another thing, most likely I'll have to take him to the vet alone and get him out of his cage by myself. Last time my husband got him out (after quite a long battle of wills!) and I'm a little nervous of being bitten, seeing as how Joker isn't exactly one of the nicer chameleons. He tolerates your hand being in his cage if your cleaning or putting feeders in but as soon as you go near him he puffs up and opens his mouth at you. He just bluffed with my husband and never bit him but I'm not sure if I'd be so lucky. Any suggestions on getting him out of his cage in the least stressful (for both us) way possible?
Sorry for the long post. I feel like I only ever post on here about sick chameleons. I'm not a horrible owner, promise! I've learned a lot on here and from Dr. Alfonso so I know my husbandry isn't bad. We just seem to have bad luck (and learning the hard way why you should buy from reputable breeders and not from pet stores).
