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Collecting and sending fecals for examination:
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 for collection) They can range in color from red to brown to black. Dark brown is most common. Some frogs pass very loose stool that may be watery. Fecal material that is repeatedly misted will obviously begin to soften and run. Fecal material that is runny can be a sign of disease, but may be normal in some instances. Runny material is more difficult to collect and package.
Darts in quarantine can have their samples collected and examined individually if housed individually. Transporting an animal overnight to a QT container should allow easy retrieval of fresh fecal matter if obtaining such in their usual quarters has proven to be a challenge.
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 fecal matter. Frogs housed together will eventually carry the same parasites [if parasites are present].
To collect the feces, it is recommended one use a clean plastic spoon or knife. Try to pick the fecal matter 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 or 2nd day. Try and collect the samples the day of, or the day prior to shipping.
It is recommended that you make prearrangement's with the examining Vet prior to sending the samples, so that they can be prepared for them when they arrive. You should also ask the examining Vet if she/he has any specific instructions for their preferred manner of shipping, collecting ect.
There is usually a nominal fee associated with any qualified examination.
For additional information regarding when to test, if one should test, how often to test, and recommendations from ASN see these links below. Additional information can be obtained using the search feature of this forum browser.
[add links here. Need to search, and select]
Contributors:
Rich Frye
David Frye, DVM
Shawn Harrington, MD
Jason Smith
*if you have any additional information to add please contact the DB staff or post here.
Good pics and write up from Jason
http://www.dendroboard.com/forum/ge...ent/36069-collecting-fecal-samples-101-a.html
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 for collection) They can range in color from red to brown to black. Dark brown is most common. Some frogs pass very loose stool that may be watery. Fecal material that is repeatedly misted will obviously begin to soften and run. Fecal material that is runny can be a sign of disease, but may be normal in some instances. Runny material is more difficult to collect and package.
Darts in quarantine can have their samples collected and examined individually if housed individually. Transporting an animal overnight to a QT container should allow easy retrieval of fresh fecal matter if obtaining such in their usual quarters has proven to be a challenge.
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 fecal matter. Frogs housed together will eventually carry the same parasites [if parasites are present].
To collect the feces, it is recommended one use a clean plastic spoon or knife. Try to pick the fecal matter 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 or 2nd day. Try and collect the samples the day of, or the day prior to shipping.
It is recommended that you make prearrangement's with the examining Vet prior to sending the samples, so that they can be prepared for them when they arrive. You should also ask the examining Vet if she/he has any specific instructions for their preferred manner of shipping, collecting ect.
There is usually a nominal fee associated with any qualified examination.
For additional information regarding when to test, if one should test, how often to test, and recommendations from ASN see these links below. Additional information can be obtained using the search feature of this forum browser.
[add links here. Need to search, and select]
Contributors:
Rich Frye
David Frye, DVM
Shawn Harrington, MD
Jason Smith
*if you have any additional information to add please contact the DB staff or post here.
Good pics and write up from Jason
http://www.dendroboard.com/forum/ge...ent/36069-collecting-fecal-samples-101-a.html
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