Sticky for Sending Fecals for Examination

[Rich Frye]

It has been suggested to me by a couple froggers in the last couple days that there should be a sticky about the preperation for sending fecals to be examined. I think this would be a huge benefit to the hobby and a great idea. Maybe one of the mods with a science/medical background could work this up for people sending fecals to anyvet, clinic, lab , or whatever.
Thoughts?

Rich

[sports_doc]

It's a consideration.

In the meantime, I think anyone sending fecals needs to prearrange with whomever they are sending to, and get their preferred techniques before shipping.

More often then not, whomever is doing fecals will want a heads up that something is coming.... Their web site should have their preferred shipping/prep technique..one would hope.

S

*added
Also, anyone can prepare a care sheet on any subject for DB Mod consideration. Just join the care sheet creation team and start typing. Authorship is noted if/once the care sheet is posted.

[Rich Frye]

Yes , many want a heads up , and in this busy day and age it is not always a simple thing to get people to work on websites.
A nice sticky would at the very least draw attention to the fact that fecals can be and are preformed. Testing and information, no down-side. Big big up-side.

Rich

[divingne1]

I definately think a sticky would be great. Not too long ago I read about getting fecals done on my frogs. I worked at a veterinary hospital for a time and remembered getting many fecal samples on dogs and cats...imagine my thoughts when I read I needed to get fecals done on my frogs. I broke out into a sweat thinking OMG!!! I don't even see anywhere big enough to get a fecal stick inserted. I searched for days and called many local vets (and got quite a few laughs from the receptionists when I asked if they did fecals on frogs) trying to find out how to do this. Even after reading this forum. Finally someone on this forum gave me a call to explain it because I was lost.

One more suggestion..I realize this may sound crazy but noting what the poop looks like is a huge help. I had no idea what was poop and what was a "soil" pile(this was before I saw the frogs do their business for the first time) . I sent in 4 piles and just hoped some were poop.

Candy

[sports_doc]

Originally Posted by Rich Frye

....and in this busy day and age it is not always a simple thing to get people to work on websites....
Rich

perhaps, but someone will have to take the time to construct an agreed upon fecal protocol for a DB sticky....so

Since you are interested , I'm giving you my blessing...

I look forward to reviewing your draft!

[Rich Frye]

It's being worked on as we speak. But by someone with a bit more medical knowledge than I.
And it is a good point that we should have fecal info on the site. I guess my brother does not mind sending out his standard chain letter for those in need of the info for his proceedure. As soon as I get in my new frogs the site is going to be updated a bit and that info will be added.


Rich

[Rich Frye]

Here is what my brother came up with. Please use it if it is up to care sheet standards.


Collecting feces for a dart frog fecal exam should be fairly simple to accomplish. First you have to recognize what frog poop looks like. Some are nice semi-firm tiny sausage shaped masses (this is ideal.) They can range in color from red to brown to black. Dark brown is ideal. Some frogs pass very loose stool that may be watery. Fecal material that is repeatedly misted will obviously begin to soften and run.



When collecting a sample for testing, you should try to collect about 3 of the freshest looking feces in each vivarium that you want tested. If the vivarium has one frog or 5 frogs, it doesn’t really mater. Just collect 3-5 fresh looking “turds.” Frogs housed together will eventually carry the same parasites. If you just mixed a bunch of frogs together from different sources, be certain to test again at a later date – after all the frogs have had enough time to contract the various parasites that they may have been exposed to. It can take up to 2 months for certain parasites to show up in feces, but most appear with 4-6 weeks after exposure (remember that I am just speaking of dart frogs here.)



To collect the feces, I recommend using a clean plastic spoon or knife. Try to pick the “turd” off of a leaf or paper towel or rock or whatever without getting too much of any other debris. Place three or so feces from each tank into a SMALL, AIRTIGHT container. Film canisters work great as do tiny zip-lock type baggies. A small amount (1 inch square) of moist paper towel should be added to the container to keep the feces from drying out.



Once you have your specimens collected and contained, label the individual containers, and ship them out ASAP to the vet running the fecals. Ideally you should ship next-day delivery. I find that 2nd day gives decent results as well, but anything longer than that is much more difficult to diagnose species of worms.



Thank you,

David M. Frye, DVM

Milan Area Animal Hospital

517 West Main St

Milan, MI 48160

734-439-2273

[melissa68]

I haven't been to your web site in a long time, but that would be some excellent information to include there as well. Who knows, it might already be there.

Just a thought.

[melissa68]

Duh....missed that part. Definitely good into to add. Sorry about that.

Originally Posted by Rich Frye

It's being worked on as we speak. But by someone with a bit more medical knowledge than I.
And it is a good point that we should have fecal info on the site. I guess my brother does not mind sending out his standard chain letter for those in need of the info for his proceedure. As soon as I get in my new frogs the site is going to be updated a bit and that info will be added.


Rich

[kyle1745]

Im open to the idea of fecal collection procedures care sheet.

We can get it in the care sheet creation section and build from the start here. Maybe get some pics to go along with it.