Worming Resistance

[andy1]

There is a study going on at the momment by 2 vets speaking at the conference

http://www.shelledwarriors.co.uk/for...084#post622084

They gave preliminary results at wednesday meeting of Norfolk Tortoise club.

The results so far appear to back up the theory that indeed there is resistance in some chelonia .

I am contributing to this study and some of my tortoises still have a high worm count despite 5 treatments with panacur.

To find out more book a place at the conference. This is looking likely to change the way we worm and with what.

Rgds Andy

[Levi]

Doesn't surprise me.

I've never wormed my tortoise, never had any need to, 35 years now.

[sandy]

Originally Posted by Levi

Doesn't surprise me.

I've never wormed my tortoise, never had any need to, 35 years now.

Around fifteen to twenty years ago, they used sheep wormer for tortoises:0)
Tube fed.
I don't worm my tortoises either, too many keepers panic and molly coddle tortoises too much:0(

[Suze65]

In 40 years of keeping tortoise I had never wormed my tortoises untill last year, when one of my young juveniles was losing weight and she had a high worm count. Once she was treated the worms came out and she was fine. She might have come to me with them, though she came from a good breeder.

[Catwoman63]

Nothing wrong with a bit of mollycoddling if you love your animals

I'm not saying I agree or disagree with to worm or not to worm.

I have read on various sources much conflicting advice to "don't worm even though they have a high worm count" to "if your tort is not eating, lethargic check it for worms and treat and don't put a tort into hibernation full of worms"

If you was to have seen the 5" inch long thick worm that came out of one my males when I wormed him it would make you squirm, surely it's not the best thing to leave something like that in their gut? I don't worry if the count is low but if its high I will treat it x

[Levi]

Nothing wrong with worming a tortoise if it needs to be wormed.

But far better to keep everything in balance and avoid unnecessary worming, it upsets essential gut fauna and will lead to drug resistance overtime. To avoid resistance building up worming would have to be 100% effective and it isn't.
Good hygiene, husbandry, diet, smaller groups etc will obviously help a tortoises immune system and should hopefully give it a chance to keep worms under control and I certainly wouldn't recommend worming a tortoise just before hibernation. (overwinter them instead).

[Catwoman63]

I agree with unnecessary worming with all animals, and the balance of the gut,

vets do advise worming before hibernation however if worming then worm at least a few months before, I have tested all my hibernated torts last year and they were clear anyway x

[clevency]

It's high levels of worms in the gut which can be dangerous, but this is easily tested with a poo sample to any vet. However this close to hibernation I would not want to put a torts body under any more stress before hibernation. I tend to look at height of summer. : )

[clevency]

btw if anyone was considering the conference I am now doing a report on 'helping the British Tortoise' - hospital reports, working with other groups to improve welfare and projects for the future' www.tortoisewelfare.co.uk