Faecal testing is a great way to screen your pet for internal parasites such as worms and coccidia, which, left untreated, can be life-threatening to many species. It can also be beneficial if your pet has diarrhoea or other gastrointestinal signs (including weight loss), as faecal tests can help determine what may be causing your pet to be unwell.
What Is Involved in a Faecal Test?
Four types of faecal tests are commonly performed on exotic pets: a faecal gram stain, a faecal wet preparation, a faecal suspension, and a faecal float. At the Unusual Pet Vets, we will often perform these tests in combination to get a complete picture of what could be going on.
Faecal Gram Stain
This method allows us to broadly identify the general types of bacteria that are present in your pet’s faeces.
The test involves smearing a small faecal sample onto a microscope slide, drying it and then putting the slide through a series of stains. Once that process has been completed it can then be examined under the microscope.
Faecal Wet Preparation
This method allows us to identify parasites and some types of bacteria and fungi.
The test involves a small amount of a fresh faecal sample being placed on a microscope slide, often with some saline added and a cover slip on top. This is then examined under the microscope.
Faecal Suspension (Macrorhabdus Suspension Technique)
This method was developed by one of our specialist avian vets, Dr Hamish Baron, and has been shown as one of the most sensitive ways to diagnose macrorhabdus in our bird patients.
This involves a small faecal sample being thoroughly mixed with saline in a small test tube. The supernatant (top part of the mixture) is then pipetted off and analysed under the microscope.
Faecal Float
A faecal float is performed to identify the eggs of mature parasites that live inside the body.
The process of a faecal float involves a stool sample being placed inside a small container that is mixed with a specialised solution and allowed to settle. Once ready the sample is analysed under the microscope.
How Often Should Faecal Tests Be Done?
For birds and reptiles, a faecal test is recommended as part of their preventative health care plan, and for this reason, we have included this service in our FlyStart, ScaleStart and SlitherStart packages.
Faecal tests are also important to consider when introducing a new pet into your home, and they are often performed if a pet is unwell.
Although many of the species we see do not require regular worming unless they are exposed to new parasites, faecal tests are a good way to see if your pet needs to be wormed rather than just treating your pet for parasites that it may not have.
In most cases, we perform faecal testing on the spot, and you will have the results within 10-15 minutes of the sample being taken.
Early detection and intervention are essential for your exotic pet’s health. Faecal testing can provide a lot of information about the status of your pet’s gastrointestinal health.
