Today, I wanted to talk about bringing a fecal sample to your veterinarian. At least once a year, your veterinarian most likely wants to check your dog's stool. Why? Well, you dog's doctor will run simple tests on your dog's stool to check for worm eggs that can commonly be found in dog poop.
How do you collect a stool sample for your veterinarian?
There are definitely quite a few do's and don'ts of bringing a fecal sample to your vet. Poop is messy and no one likes getting dog poop on them. Here are a few do's and don'ts of bringing your dog's fecal sample to the vet:
- DO bring a stool sample in a container that is sealed well. Many vets can provide you with a special vial to put your dog's poop inside of. Tupperware also works well if you have any to spare.
- DO double bag your sample if you are using a baggie. It wouldn't be good if the poop leaked in your car or the receptionist's desk.
- DO write your dog's information on the container. This could help avoid any confusion at the vet's office.
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| These are common fecal sample collection containers. |
- DON'T bring in a humongous sized sample. The stool sample container does not need to be brimming to the top with dog poop. It really only takes a little bit of poop. Usually, one gram of stool is plenty.
- DON'T bring in a sample that is old and all dried up.
- DO bring a fresh sample when you can. If you can't bring the sample to the doctor's office immediately, keep it in your refrigerator. (Another reason double bagging is nice.)
I think I've covered the basic stool sample collection rules here for dogs. If you have any further tips, please share them with us in the comments!
Bawahwhahhwhaa hope you got lots of treats Shiner for that pose BOL xxoxxx
ReplyDeleteMollie and Alfie
Hehe :)
DeleteSoon Sugar needs to take a sample of her poop to the vet. Love that container with a mini scooper. Golden Thanks for the tips and joining #ScoopThatPoop hop. Golden Woofs
ReplyDeleteThose are the containers we used to use at the vet clinic. They really aren't as helpful as the look though lol.
DeleteThat container with the mini scooper, is a lot better than the plastic bag my mom always uses. Sniff and wags from Laika and Vaks.
ReplyDeleteHmmm, I've never brought a stool sample to the vet...they just go in there and get some (OUCH!). BOL
ReplyDeleteTell your moms that if she brings a sample ahead of time she could save you from the embarassment! But yes, we did do a lot of manual sample collections...
DeleteQuick question, how long is this hop open for?
ReplyDeleteGreat tips BTW! I have brought a sample in to the vet before,. when I was concerned about worms. I used a small dip container with a lid......and of course through it out after! ICK!
ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!
It says right below the hop "4 days" as of right now. It's been a long day, so I guess that might be Thursday? Or Friday?
DeleteThe vet here always gives us those sample containers but they probably charge us somewhere in the bill I bet. Well modelled Shiner. Have a marvellous Monday.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes Molly
Yea, I'm sure the charge is included with the test fee. We use those containers to run the actual test too so it's not just for holding the poop. We fill them with a special liquid solution to "float" the poop in, let it sit for 10 mins with a microscope slide on top and then take it off and check it out under the microscope for eggs!
DeleteOh yes, leaking in the car would not be good!
ReplyDeleteGood points. Mom collects ours in poop bags and then puts them in a ziplock. Not a fun job, but it is what pet parents do!
ReplyDeleteThat works good!
DeleteWe use drinking straws and throw them into ziplock bags. Straws will slide down into the poop easily to get a small sample and keep it fresher since air can't get to most of it. Then all the tech has to do is squeeze the straw above where she sees the end of the sample and push/slide it out to get as much as she needs.
ReplyDeleteI have never seen anyone do that before, but that is a brilliant idea! Thank you for sharing this!
DeleteI like the texture thru the straw;; kinda like a thick chocolate shake.
DeleteOh my gosh, poor Shiner! You violated her ma! Shame on you for posted that pic. ;)
ReplyDeleteShiner is such a good sport xx
ReplyDeleteI was so happy we had Sage's poop checked during her physical a couple of weeks ago. She had somehow picked up a fluke--one found in snails/tadpoles/field mice and more commonly found in outdoor cats, not dogs. I can't imagine her eating a snail or tadpole/frog but she dug up (and ate) a vole a couple of times several months ago. I quickly stopped that practice, but apparently not before the damage was done. Fortunately the treatment went well and hopefully we'll have no more of that!
ReplyDeleteSo, yes, fecal checking is really important.
Oh my goodness! I have never seen any dog with a fluke before. Maybe they are less common around here.
Deletethese are good tips! i probably have been bringing in waaaay too much poop for a sample ha. never really thought about how little they really need. thanks for sharing poop advice :)
ReplyDeleteWell, I say that because sometimes people will bring in huge trashbags filled with their 150 lb rottweilers sample of diarrhea or something...
DeleteGreat tips, oh how I hate it when they bring me a gigantic pile or ones that have been roasting in the car for a while.
ReplyDeleteI always use the double baggie style. My vet usually just gets the sample from the boys when we get there with a little tool. I've seen owners bring an entire pile with them though. Haha!
ReplyDeleteYea, it's pretty easy to go in and get it :)
DeleteI have to admit no one has ever told us how to do it the right way. Thanks! Love Dolly
ReplyDeleteHope it helps Dolly!
DeleteI can never get a specimen the day of one of my dogs' appointments. I watch them like a hawk, but all three seem to know when it is their turn to go to the vet, and hold it in. We have no signs of worms or GI problems, so my vet is ok with it.
ReplyDeleteWell that's good. Funny that they hold it in when it's time to go to the vet.
DeleteHaha, does Shiner know what kind of ptotos you're posting of her online?! ;)
ReplyDeleteIf she did I might be in trouble! Lol!
DeleteI know this post is old and might not be active any more but my pup picked up giardia at doggy daycare and its time for her repeat fecal. However, it is well below freezing and snowing here and she will only poop at night. I really don't want to bring the sample inside because giardia is SO contagious and she's pretty sneaky so there's a decent chance she will get into it. And of course since giardia can pass on to humans I'm too paranoid to store it in the fridge no matter how many bags I use! Is a fresh(ish- less than 12 hours old) but frozen sample okay? I've been told giardia have quite the temperature survival range so if that's all I'm screening for would the sample still work?
ReplyDeleteThat is a good question! I can understand your concern for not wanting to bring Giardia poop into the house. Usually, if you cannot get a fresh sample for the vet they will tell you to refrigerate it until it can be brought in. I've never worked with a frozen sample before, and I do not know that one would actually work... I assume that since the recommendation is refrigerated, frozen would not be sufficient. It's probably best to ask your vet though. We obviously do not come across this problem much in Texas! ;) Good luck and hope you get the Giardia sorted out for your pup.
DeleteThanks. I'm just reading this before bringing my own stool sample to my GP and find your tips helpful. I've got the same container as the one shown on your picture :D
ReplyDelete