Fecal Sample Question...

jbd123 · #1 (**permalink**) 10-23-2008, 10:53 PM

Hey guys,

Nothing serious going on, but one of my rosy boas is having very loose/very moist poo. I wanted to take in a fecal sample to the vet on Saturday.

He just pooed today so I got it and immediately put it in a sealed bag and put it in the fridge. Is that the best way to store poo? I dont think he will poo between now and Saturday.

Also, how much does it normally cost to just drop off a fecal sample to a vet and get it examined? I know every vet is different, but I just wanted your opinion/knowledge on that.

Like I said, it's just runny and I want to make sure that it's nothing serious. I think it's probably just the fact that he hasn't switched to anything with alot of fur on it yet, but better safe then sorry.

John_White · #2 (**permalink**) 10-23-2008, 11:07 PM

Storing the fecal sample in the refrigerator is fine, just don't freeze it. I always take the vet a good size sample. Figure from the vet's perspective it's better to have too much than not enough.

jbd123 · #3 (**permalink**) 10-23-2008, 11:13 PM

Yeah, I figured the freezer might ruin the sample. If there were parasites in it or something they might become unrecognizable if frozen I figured...thanks.

Let's hope it's not a parasite situation, but I'm just sticking to the safe side. Anyone else got info on how much it normally costs to get one done?

John_White · #4 (**permalink**) 10-23-2008, 11:37 PM

A wellness check and fecal exam for a single snake in my area ranges from $70 - $120.

jvillereptile · #5 (**permalink**) 10-23-2008, 11:49 PM

you can always check it yourself if you had a microscope. thats what i do whichs save me from haveing to take the sample or the animal to the vet. the vet i deal with sell me just medication i treat them myself

jbd123 · #6 (**permalink**) 10-24-2008, 12:11 AM

Wish I had one! But a good microscope costs quite a bit of $$. I will eventually invest in one. Didn't even think of that.

But then again, who says that the vet would just give me the medication? I'm sure that some vets would prefer to do an exam themselves before they just give you a prescription like that. Or am I wrong? Will most reptile vets just prescribe it to you if you ask?

Either way, I'm taking one this time, just incase. I could ask the vet if I could do something like that while I'm there as well. Thanks everyone for your advice.

jvillereptile · #7 (**permalink**) 10-24-2008, 01:18 AM

you could use a cheap compound microscope. you can buy at walmart. thats what i use.

jbd123 · #8 (**permalink**) 10-24-2008, 01:40 AM

What exactly am I looking for under the 'scope? I might go out and buy one... Since I've never examined poo under microscope, would I look for something in particular?

jvillereptile · #9 (**permalink**) 10-24-2008, 02:13 AM

you would look for any movement in it. you can look up online the different types of parasites and you should be able to identify. you could probley find a list of parasite in most reptile books

jbd123 · #10 (**permalink**) 10-24-2008, 04:42 PM

Thanks again for all of the info. My college actually has an institute of Arthropodology and Parasitology on campus (along with the Smithsonian National Tick collection) so I contacted one of the professors over there. Perhaps they will be willing to help me view the snake poo under a sophisticated microscope.

Yes, I am part of a college that has the world's largest tick. Something to be proud of. lol

-----also------
I have done my research and found that DEPENDING on what I find I will have to get a different medicine. Also, if I find something I should take the snake to a vet to get weighed so that the proper dosage can be administered. Do you think that the vet is going to want to do his own fecal exam even if I got a PHD professor who studies parasites to confirm the type it is?

VexalUntil · #11 (**permalink**) 10-24-2008, 05:17 PM

Well the issue with doing a fecal yourself is that you CAN'T just look for anything moving!! What you're looking for are eggs, and to look for the eggs you need to mix a small amount of feces with a solution that will cause the eggs to rise to the top of the container.

My vet would charge me about $15 for a fecal.

jbd123 · #12 (**permalink**) 10-24-2008, 10:51 PM

Good news everyone!

The Professor I emailed this morning was actually...excited about me doing the fecal.

lol

But he gave me a few emails to a professor and a graduate student on campus that JUST HAPPEN to be studying parasites of reptiles as their concentration.

Works for me! They're going to help me with the fecals because they will probably know what to look for (even egg separation, etc).

This is great for my snakes, because I wont have to stress them out on a 1 hour drive to the vets.

I can just walk them right to campus!

BlackLava · #13 (**permalink**) 10-24-2008, 11:28 PM

i know here just for a fecal,it runs between $25-40 if you drop it off at the vets, and they will tell you if anything is wrong with it or not. but if something is wrong, they will have to see the animal to give you meds for it.

jbd123 · #14 (**permalink**) 10-25-2008, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackLava

i know here just for a fecal,it runs between $25-40 if you drop it off at the vets, and they will tell you if anything is wrong with it or not. but if something is wrong, they will have to see the animal to give you meds for it.

Yeah, if we see anything abnormal in the poo, then it's straight to the vet! But to save me money and them potential stress, I think this is the better option at the moment.

BlackLava · #15 (**permalink**) 10-25-2008, 01:23 AM

it would be cool if you could take pics somehow, i wouldnt mind trying to look at my snake's poo under the scope

VexalUntil · #16 (**permalink**) 10-25-2008, 10:57 PM

Here's a good thread by the illustrious JuliusSqeezer

Make your Own Poop Float

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