ALBENDAZOLE
& IVERMECTIN - A WARNING IF YOU NEED TO WORM TORTOISES
By Nadine Gill
We recently received
an upsetting report from a member regarding the death of his two 2 1/2 year old
sulcatas after having been given an injection of the wormer Albendazole for the
treatment of round worms. Worms had been observed in one tortoise, and the decision was made to treat
both. After six hours they began vomiting and died.
This tragic case
underlines the need for owners to exercise extreme caution when using
veterinarians who may be totally unfamiliar with treating tortoises. In this
case, Albendazole may be used safely when given orally, but is not intended for
use via injection. We also regularly receive reports of fatalities where vets
have injected tortoises with Ivermectin (Ivomec). It is well-known that this
particular drug, which is widely used in many other animals with complete
safety, has an almost 100% fatality rate in chelonia; despite this being widely
publicized, some vets do not appear to be aware of this. Other drugs which can
be problematic include Piperazine (used in dog wormers) and Levamisole.
We urge all owners to
check carefully that your veterinarian is familiar with treating tortoises, and
if in doubt as to any proposed treatment, please do seek a second opinion. In
particular, be very cautious if a vet insists on using injectable wormers –
there is rarely any need for these. Oral worming solutions are the method of
choice in 99% of cases.
Although you may get
compensation if a vet uses a dangerous product or method, this will not bring
your tortoises back. As always, we recommend using vets who genuinely do have
specialist knowledge and experience when seeking veterinary treatment for
exotic animals.
We offer our
condolences to the member who lost their much-loved pets in this tragic and
unnecessary incident.
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