Common parasites, fecal tests and treatment?

[Baileywick]

Hi people. Recently my male Jackson's has been off his food. I've read they're notorious for hunger strikes but took him to the vets for a check up anyway. Vet did a blood test and X-ray which appeared normal. Unfortunately I had no fresh stools for him to do a fecal but the vet gave him a shot which he said would enhance his appetite. Unfortunately it didn't and I've resorted to hand feeding. This morning I found the dreaded smelly poo! The vets are closed today n I'm concerned the stool will be no good by tomorrow night when I get home from work? Can anyone advise further on this? Also if it is a parasitic infection, which is it likely to be? (i.e. the most common)? Thanks for reading, any advice or personal experiences appreciated)

 

[carol5208]

My vet wants poop from that day but I know other people who have refrigerated it in a baggie and brought it in over the next couple of days if they could not get it in right away. I just got through dealing with Coccidia, it is one the mist common and comes from feeders.

 

[jajeanpierre]

My vet wants poop from that day but I know other people who have refrigerated it in a baggie and brought it in over the next couple of days if they could not get it in right away. I just got through dealing with Coccidia, it is one the mist common and comes from feeders.

Lots of the single-celled parasites need to be really fresh to find.

 

[carol5208]

Lots of the single-celled parasites need to be really fresh to find.

I just know one of the members on here where she has shipped poop to her vet to do a fecal. It was a few hours away, so it probably only took a day or to get there.

 

[jajeanpierre]

I just know one of the members on here where she has shipped poop to her vet to do a fecal. It was a few hours away, so it probably only took a day or to get there.

You will be able to find the eggs and adult parasites with an old fecal, but I do not believe you can find amoebas if the fecal is more than a few hours old and not stored properly. Coccidia might be another organism that needs a very fresh fecal to detect, but I could be wrong. I know there are some things that need to be very fresh to find, I just can't remember which nasties they were.

 

[deerharvester]

The fresher the better, but next day will work. I've had wcs that I've taken stools from that were over a day old and amebas were detected. So, like i said that stool will probably work just bag it, tag it and put it in the fridge.

Scott