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Hello
Hello Beth,
I am already trying to do so. Dr. Jacobson as well as Dr. Wentz are both reptile specialists, or so they say. Most "reptile" specialists throw their names around because they are supposed to be the leading authority on it. So since I am virtually a no one when it comes to all of this, it is just going to take some time.
I have even thought about going to the CDC to see what type of action could be taken, etc.
I did the first step & that was to get the backing of the U. of Illinois as well as Lou Ann. It's not like that took me a day. I have had that in the works for well over a year.
Dr. Jacobson wont give too many people time of day, either so that is not real encouraging either. Alot of vets wont even return your phone calls, so it is painstakingly slow.
You are right though, most vets do not think it is bad. A major reason is because they don't know anything about it or have never seen a dragon with it. Most dragon owners don't even take their dragon to the vet when it is sick. There are alot of new owners that have their dragon die & never even bother to get a necropsy done. So they just died suddenly with no warning & you have no idea. Then we do have some, which I have been compiling now for awhile, owners that have had heartbreaking instances in which they have done lots for their dragons & they still passed. They go through with a necropsy, etc, only to find that they had enlarged livers, & that they were positive for adeno. That is not normal for a 1 or 2 year old to have an enlarged liver.
So there are some vets that are concerned, just not enough data from people in general & they don't see enough cases to be concerned. Vets that see alot of cases know how bad it is firsthand, but if they had never seen it firsthand they would not have the experience.
I am working on some ideas, but it takes time. As far as the grants go, I doubt I could get one, but maybe a vet could. The vet or the school or institution would have to get approved, not me.
There are a few websites that have listings of reptile vets. I also get names from people of the vets that they have used & if they were good, etc.
I was just hoping for a better initial response from some of the older breeders who have gone through the outbreak in the 1990's & most recently. They of all people should understand how real & how threatening it is. I don't know how many more cases we have to see or go through before people realize that it is a problem & can cause genetic problems for future offspring.
While yours at the moment, may not be at risk for Adeno, whether they are positive or negative we don't know, but if you bring another dragon into your colony from another breeder you could run the risk of infecting your colony without knowing it. You never know how they may react to it. All it takes is for them to get their coccidia levels way up for them to begin stressing & if they are positive they will quickly go downhill alot of times. I want your colony to be healthy & want your offspring to be healthy. I would personally just want to know if they were carriers or not, but, again, that is just me.
Thanks for the ideas & support, it does help & it does make a difference, to me, Beth.
Tracie
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