Annual check up - poop sample necessary

I'm sure opinions will differ, but this week I received a card in the mail reminding me of annual vaccinations and to bring in a poop sample to check for parasites.  This is for my female ragdoll (indoor only).

In regards to FVRCP and Rabies shots, I have decided to get those once ever 3 years, no sooner. 

Should I be getting a poop sample completed every year, in your opinion?  

cheers,

Marc

I know I cannot really answer this because I do not think I ever bring in a routine stool sample. My guy is an indoor cat, never goes out, so I do not think it would be necessary to check for worms..

As far as the vaccinations go; I am hesitant to give him any more because since his last ones, he has been diagnosed with IBD and is on steroids.. so the vaccine would be detrimental to his health--this is a hot topic..

My vet now requests this as well, which I thought was a bit frivolous as my cat is also an indoor cat. A few years back I brought one in and she tested positive for giardia. When I went in to get the medication, I asked the young woman at the desk how it was possible. She was taking classes at the time to become a registered vet tech and she said they had just covered it in class. It's possible if they eat a fly. :dk:

Giardia? Well - anything is possible.

If you hadn't taken your cat in, do you think you would have been tipped off that something was abnormal, i.e. diarrhea? 

Note: I'm not trying to cheap out, I just don't like doing tests that are overkill, (money grab) such as FVRCP yearly for an indoor cat.  

Although if a poop sample is a wise consensus, then perhaps I should consider. 

She wasn't really showing obvious symptoms. After that, I have been bringing stool samples every year. I'm not a vet, and you should really listen to your vet, but I would think maybe every few years may be OK? :dk:

I should mention that my vet is reasonable with testing. I've suggested tests before to her and she will tell me if she feels it isn't worth the money. My cat is now at the age where she needs yearly blood work, but before that when blood work was necessary, she would do what was cheapest for me, without me asking cost.

AbbysMom said:

My vet now requests this as well, which I thought was a bit frivolous as my cat is also an indoor cat. A few years back I brought one in and she tested positive for giardia. When I went in to get the medication, I asked the young woman at the desk how it was possible. She was taking classes at the time to become a registered vet tech and she said they had just covered it in class. It's possible if they eat a fly.

Click to expand...

wow---thanks for letting us know this..

I always wondered about house cats..meaning if they get bit by a mosquito, or eat one, or eat a fly or bug of some sort...

thanks for clarifying..