Why do we check fecal samples?

We get asked constantly why we recommend different aspects of preventative care for your pets. This month we will focus on why it is important to check annual fecal samples.

Fecal samples are checked annually to prevent illness caused by parasites in your pet as well as to protect the pets and people around them.

• What if my pet never goes outside?
  Even indoor pets can get intestinal parasites. They can be brought in on your shoes, by other pets that do go outside, by fleas, or can be found in the soil of potted plants.
• Who should be checked?
  Every pet should be routinely checked every 6-12 months if on preventatives, or every 3-4 months if not on anything. Even if parasites are not visible to the naked eye, they may still be present and we can find them by looking for microscopic eggs in the stool. We ask that you please bring a stool sample to your annual exams for a preventative check. Pets with positive fecals need to have a fecal sample rechecked after treatment. We may recommend checking a fecal sample on sick pets even if they are up to date on their yearly check.
• How do we look for parasites?
  We start with a tootsie roll sized piece of stool and mix it with special liquid. Large particles are filtered out. The remaining liquid and stool are spun in a centrifuge to separate food by-products from the eggs. The eggs will then float to the top and are collected on a slide. A microscope is used to identify the type of egg/parasite found.
• What do we look for?
  1. Giardia - Survives several months in water and damp environments. Zoonotic, meaning humans can be infected (usually through contaminated water). Attaches to the intestinal wall and can cause diarrhea, vomiting, or weight loss in some animals. Common occurrence in dense populations such as kennels, pet stores, or animal shelters.
  2. Whipworms - Can cause inflammation and irritation in large intestine, leading to watery, bloody diarrhea and weight loss. Eggs stay viable in the environment for 7-10 years. NOT contagious to humans.
  3. Hookworms - Attach to the intestinal lining and feed on blood. Can cause severe anemia. Enter by mouth or skin, especially the feet. Larvae burrow into human skin (usually feet) and cause itching, but will not mature in to adults.
  4. Roundworms - Cause serious digestive upset and excessive gas formation. Zoonotic, meaning humans can be infected. The CDC recommends deworming pets monthly, keeping children out of contaminated yards, and washing hands often. Easily transmitted between pets through fecal material. Nothing can kill the eggs in the environment.
  5. Tapeworms - Requires an intermediate host such as fleas and small mammals. Humans can be infected by eating contaminated meat or fleas, but NOT directly from their pets. There are several different types that can cause digestive upset, stunted growth, and intestinal blockage.
  6. Coccidia - Many infected pets will show no symptoms. Can cause diarrhea, vomiting, or dehydration, especially in young or debilitated animals. One type carried by dogs and cats may be transmitted to immunosuppressed humans. Highly resistant, can survive for long periods on the ground.

Coccidia

Giardia

Perhaps one of the biggest lessons we want our clients to take away from this is the importance of monthly preventatives! Not only do these preventatives protect your pet from heartworms, they also work as dewormers for intestinal parasites! Giving your pet a monthly preventative year-round, not just in the warmer weather months, is the best way to protect them from heartworms and intestinal parasites that can survive for years, even in the cold temperatures. You can learn more about parasites and your pet from the Companion Animal Parasite Council.