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Intestinal parasites
Gastrointestinal worms, coccidia, giardia, toxoplasma: fecal analysis detects these organisms or their eggs in your pet's stool.
Home-care guide · Dog and cat
Collecting a stool sample, right the first time
Your veterinarian asked for a fecal sample. Two things matter for a reliable result: that it is fresh and that it is clean. Here is how to collect it correctly and safely, at home.
This guide supports your veterinarian's advice, it does not replace it. A question about the procedure? Call us at 514 223-1197.
Understanding the test
Why your veterinarian needs a fecal sample
Microscopic evaluation of a stool sample is a non-invasive test with high diagnostic value. It rapidly identifies the cause of many gastrointestinal disorders.
Digestive health
The test gives information about digestion and the balance of the intestinal flora, and can reveal imbalances responsible for chronic diarrhea.
Pathogenic bacteria
Certain bacteria cause significant digestive disorders. Fecal analysis identifies them and guides the appropriate treatment.
A simple but essential test
Fecal analysis is the baseline test for evaluating intestinal symptoms. If results stay negative despite persistent symptoms, your veterinarian may recommend further tests: abdominal ultrasound, blood work, or intestinal biopsy.
Materials
Get your materials ready before collection
Having everything ready in advance makes the procedure faster and safer. All items are available at pharmacies.
🧤Disposable latex or nitrile medical gloves
🫙Airtight container: zip-lock bag or small jar with a lid
🥄Single-use plastic spoon
🏷️Label or marker to identify the sample
Practical tip
Our clinic can provide a purpose-made collection container, airtight and pre-labeled. Feel free to request one during your next call or visit.
Hygiene and safety
Essential precautions before you start
Animal stool can contain infectious agents transmissible to humans. Strict hygiene is essential throughout the procedure.
Infectious agents of concern
🪱
GI worms
Several types of intestinal worms potentially transmissible to humans.
🔬
Giardia
Intestinal parasite transmissible to humans through fecal-oral contact.
🦠
Coccidia
Unicellular parasites causing digestive disorders, especially in young animals.
⚠️
Toxoplasmosis
Particularly concerning for pregnant women and immunocompromised individuals.
Hygiene rules to follow
- Gloves required: wear disposable gloves during collection and any handling of the sample.
- Immediate handwashing: after collection, before touching your face, clothing, or other surfaces.
- Keep the spoon flat: avoid bending it to prevent splashing or contamination.
- Hold the container open: when inserting the sample, to avoid contaminating the edges or lid.
At-risk individuals: delegate the collection
Pregnant women and immunocompromised individuals should not collect the sample themselves. Ask someone else to do it and make sure they follow the hygiene rules described above.
Preparation
Before you start: a few checks
Good preparation prevents common mistakes and ensures a reliable result.
- Veterinarian's instructions: re-read the instructions given during your last call or visit (quantity, timing, special technique).
- Labeled container: prepare the container in advance with your pet's name and the collection date.
- Normal diet: do not change your pet's food before collection; abnormal stools caused by a dietary change could skew results.
- Materials at hand: set out gloves, container, and spoon before going outside or approaching the litter box.
- Best timing: morning stools are generally the freshest and most representative.
Collection
Technique by species
The method differs slightly between dogs and cats. Follow the steps for your pet.
Collecting from a dog
Outdoors, step by step1
Go outside with your dog and your materials
Bring gloves, container, and spoon. Stay close at the moment of defecation to act quickly: fresh stool gives the best results.
2
Collect right after defecation
Collect the sample within minutes. The longer you wait, the more parasites degrade and become unviable for analysis.
3
Sample from the center, away from the ground
Use the spoon to collect from the center of the stool, not the surface touching the ground or the ends. Quantity: about one teaspoon (1 to 2 g).
Avoid the part touching grass or gravel: risk of environmental contamination.4
Transfer to the container and seal
Place the sample in the airtight container and close it immediately. Remove gloves by turning them inside out, without touching the outer surface, then wash your hands.
Collecting from a cat
At the litter box, step by step1
Empty and refill the box with fresh litter
Empty the box completely and fill it with clean litter. Clean litter prevents cross-contamination with old stool or environmental agents.
2
Wait for your cat to use the box
Stay nearby to know when defecation occurs. Wait time can range from a few minutes to several hours depending on the cat.
3
Sample from 3 areas of the stool
Using the spoon, collect a small sample from 3 different points of the same stool for representativeness. Total quantity: about one teaspoon.
If your cat shares the box, identify the right stool before collecting.4
Alternative: plastic wrap under the litter
If your cat refuses a clean box, place plastic wrap under a very thin layer of usual litter. Collect the stool from the film rather than from the litter.
Covered or self-cleaning litter boxes
If your cat uses a hooded or automatic box, empty it completely and disable the automatic function for the duration of the collection. A temporary open box with clean litter makes access to a fresh sample easier.
After collection
The immediate steps after collecting
Handling and transport matter as much as the collection itself.
Seal and label
Make sure the container is airtight. Write your pet's name, collection date, and time. This information is essential for the laboratory.
Immediate hygiene
Wash your hands with soap for at least 20 seconds. Disinfect any surface (table, counter) that may have been in contact with the sample.
Refrigerate promptly
Place the sealed container in the refrigerator (between 2 and 8 °C) if you cannot bring it to the clinic within the hour. Never freeze a fecal sample.
Never freeze the sample
Freezing destroys the parasites and eggs in the stool, making the analysis unusable. Always store the sample in the refrigerator, never in the freezer.
Storage and timing
How long can a sample be kept?
Analysis quality depends directly on sample freshness. Follow these timelines for a reliable result.
0–2 h
Ideal
Maximum quality. Bring to the clinic as soon as possible.
2–6 h
Acceptable
Refrigerate. The majority of parasites remain detectable.
6–24 h
Borderline
Less reliable results. Some parasites degrade. Inform the clinic.
> 24 h
Not viable
Discard and repeat the procedure. A reliable result is no longer possible.
When the clinic is closed
If you collect the sample outside clinic hours, keep it refrigerated and bring it first thing the next morning. Let us know about the storage delay so our technician is informed.
Multi-pet households
More than one dog or cat at home?
Collecting in a multi-pet household needs a few extra precautions to avoid identification errors.
One container per pet
Never mix stool from two animals, even if only one test was requested. Each analysis must correspond to a specific animal.
Clear labeling
Label each container with the animal's name, date, and time. If in doubt, add a description (e.g., 'Mittens, tabby cat').
Same day if possible
Ideally, collect samples from all your pets on the same day to simplify transport and keep each sample fresh.
Cats in a shared box
If multiple cats share the box, isolate the relevant cat in a separate room with a clean box to be sure you collect the right stool.
FAQ
Your questions, our answers
The most common situations when collecting a fecal sample.
My pet doesn't feel like going: what should I do?
Be patient. Keep your dog on a leash outside in their usual area and wait for them to go naturally. For cats, make sure the clean litter is accessible in a calm area. Avoid stressing the animal, as this can delay defecation. If the collection is urgent, contact us and we will advise you.
My pet's stool is very soft or liquid: can it still be used?
Yes, soft or diarrheal stool is perfectly analyzable, and often more important to analyze, as it may contain more active parasites or bacteria. Collect what you can with the spoon and bring it to the clinic quickly.
Can I use stool that has been sitting in the litter box for several hours?
Ideally no. Stool more than 6 hours old in the litter gives less reliable results. If you have no other option, bring it anyway and tell our team the approximate collection time so the technician can adjust their interpretation.
My vet asked for 3 consecutive-day collections: why?
Some parasites, such as giardia, are shed intermittently; a single sample can give a false negative. Three consecutive collections clearly increase detection sensitivity. Keep each sample refrigerated and bring them according to the instructions you received.
How much stool is needed exactly?
About 1 to 2 grams is enough, the equivalent of a small teaspoon. An insufficient quantity can compromise the analysis, but a large amount is not necessary. When in doubt, our team can give you the exact quantity when you request the test.
My pet defecated but I forgot to prepare the container: what should I do?
Collect the sample anyway with whatever you have on hand: any clean container with a lid. Refrigerate it immediately and bring it to the clinic, noting the collection time. An imperfect sample is usually better than none at all.
The information in this guide is for educational purposes and does not replace a veterinary consultation. For any health concern or questions about the procedure, contact our clinic directly.
Questions about the collection?
Our team is here to guide you or to provide a suitable collection container.