Medicine given to Redfoot for parasites

[crimson_lotus]

So I recently had my Redfoot's stool checked out for parasites or worms, and the vet comes back to me with a high concentration of the balantidium parasite in her stool.

She told me that all turtles have these in their digestive tracks, but because my tortoise has a respiratory infection and because it was on the high end, it was worth checking out and administering medicine.

She didn't really know the negative effects of balantidium on a tortoise and said she was going on theory, so I was just wondering if I should even be giving her the medicine? Does anyone know more about this protozoa?

 

[Yvonne G]

Here's a good article on the subject. You can print it out and ask your vet to read it:

http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/balantidium.htm