"Ask the Vet" - Dr. Susan Barrows

The Benefits of Bringing In A Fecal Sample

During the month of February AMC is offering fecal sample testing for $28 versus $40.  That’s a 30% discount.


Parasite screening is a very important part of a thorough health care program for our precious pets and for us and family members that live with them.  Internal parasites such as roundworms and tapeworms infect our dogs, cats, rabbits, birds and other animals, which then shed parasite eggs in the environment through the feces.  (Photo at right from wellsphere.com)

Humans can become infected by parasites by ingestion of infective eggs and by penetration through skin by larvae living in the soil. Children, elderly people, and people who are imunocompromised are at greatest risk of infection by parasites carried by pets.

Most cases of infection in humans can be prevented by washing hands after handling pets and their feces, keeping children out of uncovered sandboxes, and picking up pet feces on lawns.  In addition, regular deworming of outdoor dogs and cats is advised. 

Fresh fecal examinations help us determine if a pet harbors parasites.  Many animals appear normal yet are often infected by roundworms, tapeworms, coccidia, or giardia.  Infections usually result in parasite eggs being passed in the feces.  One female roundworm can produce 100,000 eggs per day which may remain infective in the environment for years to come.  We perform a specialized test on fecal samples that help us determine if parasites are present, what type they are, and the severity of the problem. 

When we request a fecal sample from your pet please make sure it is as fresh as possible and put a teaspoon or more in a closed container to keep it moist. If you cannot bring the sample in right away refrigeration is best.  Drying or freezing of a sample can destroy any eggs and invalidate the test.  Bird feces can be collected on saran wrap placed on the bottom of the cage and placed in a zip lock bag for transport.  If your bird is being seen by our veterinarian we can usually collect a fresh sample at the time of the visit.  If your pet has intermittent diarrhea, a sample of the loose stool is best for testing.  A fecal screening test for parasites may be done at your request without a doctor’s visit.  Samples should not be submitted on Saturdays.

Intestinal parasites can cause vomiting, diarrhea, poor hair coat, itching, weight loss and lethargy in pets.  Infections in humans may lead to serious health problems including gastrointestinal, visual and neurological disease.  Fecal testing and regular dewormings are recommended to prevent health problems in our animals and transmission of disease from pets to humans.

And remember this test checks for certain parasites (ie. coccidia), parasite eggs and giardia, as well, that the regular dewormers don’t eliminate.