Ewww, Must I bring a stool sample?

What Are Fecal Flotation and Giardia Tests?

Roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, and microscopic intestinal parasites(like coccidia and Giardia) are relatively common in pets, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t cause serious illness. Young, sick, or debilitated pets can even die if they are heavily infected with parasites. If your pet has parasites, accurate diagnosis, including identification of the parasite(s) present, is important to determine the best treatment and help ensure a full recovery. Fecal diagnostic tests, such as fecal flotation and Giardia testing, are an important part of this process.

Why Does My Pet Need Fecal Flotation and Giardia Testing?

Parasites can cause clinical signs such as diarrhea, vomiting, and weight loss. If your pet is showing any suspicious signs, your veterinarian may recommend performing fecal flotation and Giardia testing to determine if parasites are the cause. However, some pets don’t develop clinical signs, so periodic testing of “healthy” pets is also recommended. Your pet’s routine wellness examination is a convenient time to perform parasite testing. Even pets that regularly receive parasite preventive medication (e.g., daily or monthly medication) should be tested periodically because no single medication is effective against all possible parasites.

Any new pets that are being introduced into your home (whether adult pets or puppies/kittens) should be tested for parasites before meeting your other pets. Many parasites are transmitted through contact with fecal material, so if your new pet has worms, he/she can infect your other pets. Even if your new pet seems perfectly healthy, you should schedule an examination with your veterinarian as soon as possible. Parasites, viruses, and other medical problems aren’t always apparent, so your veterinarian may recommend a fecal flotation and Giardia test, along with some other diagnostic tests, to help ensure that your new pet is healthy before playing with your other pets and family members.

Some intestinal parasites, such as roundworms and hookworms, are zoonotic. This means that they can infect humans. Periodically testing your pets for parasites is a good way to help protect your other family members.