Would a fecal test (for a ferret) show if they had a urinary tract infection.?
I was just wondering because I took my ferret to the vet and he did a fecal test and it came back negative. So the vet concluded that he was stressed( gave him Amforol suspension). But I felt that the vet was wrong so I took him to another vet and she ran a fecal test and a uranalysis. The fecal test said that he had blood in his poo and the uranalysis said he had a urinary tract infection. I was just wondering how the first vet missed this. ( I took my ferret to the 1st vet monday and then the 2nd Wednesday and I told both of them the same problems)
My ferret was not using the bathroom at all (one of the reason i took him to the vet) so I dont know why the 1st vet gave him anti diarreha medication.
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A fecal test will not show a urinary tract infection.
Amforal is an anti-diarrheal, anti-upset stomach. Stress can cause diarrhea & can cause blood in the stool as well. A fecal exam on your ferret would show that there is blood in the stool, any parasites should the ferret have any, but it will tell nothing of the urinary system.
A urinalysis will show a UTI, any urine crystals, and any bacteria causing the infection can be cultured out an identified in order to determine the correct anitobiotic to give.
It is strongly possible that both vets were right – if you brought the ferret in for diarrhea – your first vet came up with a treatment for the diarrhea. He might not have thought to run a urinalysis, which could be construed as skipping steps to acheive a diagnosis. The second vet found the urinary tract infection.
It is possible that the discomfort of the urinary tract infection caused the animal to stress which gave it the bloody diarrhea. Vet #1 treated the symptom, while it sounds like vet#2 found the root of the problem.
A fecal test usually diagnosis worms in the stool. You can not diagnose a UTI from a fecal exam.
A fecal test only tests for parasites, worms, etc. The second vet did the right thing, by doing a urinalysis…….that’s the only thing that will tell you about a urinary tract infection. Great that you were smart enough to take your ferret for a "second opinion". Maybe you should make the second vet your PRIMARY vet, from now on……Good for you.
don’t go to the crappy vet anymore. some are better than others