I too would recommend the fecal loop - its much more simple and less invasive than an enema. A (gloved) finger can also usually do the trick if you don't need a large sample. Also, I don't know if you would have much luck getting a fecal sample from an anesthetized animal by giving it an enema. Emily
----- Original Message ----- From: "Katherine W McFadden" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [email protected] Sent: Saturday, May 17, 2008 10:59:14 AM GMT -06:00 US/Canada Central Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Small carnivore enema It's a fecal loop. I used them on raccoons and you can actually get quite large samples sometimes. Kate On Fri, 16 May 2008, malcolm McCallum wrote: > why not use the fecal sampling device vets use to check for worms? > I do not know its name, but it is basically a little plastic scoopy > thing they shove in the dogs anus. > A similar device could easily be constructed. Are you trying to > visually analyze the feces or use radio labeling of the materials? > This could influence the method you use. > > On Fri, May 16, 2008 at 9:11 AM, Mark Tarrant <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> We have been conducting a civet project in Indonesia for the past few years >> and are now looking at expanding our research. We are interested in looking >> into diet composition through faecal sample analysis, however scat has >> proved relatively elusive in previous years and so we are now investigating >> the possibility of using enemas to collect faecal matter. Useful reading >> matter on the subject has been relatively sparse and so I was wondering if >> anyone may have had some experience in this area and could offer some advice >> as to the best direction to proceed in. Individuals are trapped and >> anaesthetised for radio collaring and morphological measurements so would >> not be immobilised specifically for faecal sampling. >> >> Any help would be greatly appreciated, >> >> Mark Tarrant > > > > -- > Malcolm L. McCallum > Assistant Professor of Biology > Texas A&M University-Texarkana > Editor, Herpetological Conservation and Biology > http://www.herpconbio.org > > Spring Teaching Schedule & Office Hours: > Genetics: W 6:00 to 9:40pm > Herpetology: TR 10:00-11:40am > Histology: MW 1:00-2:40pm > Seminar: T 2:30-3:30pm > Office Hours: > M: 3:30-5:00pm > T: 11:40-1:00pm; 3:30-5:00pm > W: 4:00-6:00pm > > "We live in a time when lemonade is made with artificial flavoring, > and furnisher polish is made with fresh lemons." > -Alfred E. Neuman > _________________________________________________________ Kate McFadden, Ph.D. Assistant Professor School of International and Public Affairs and Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology http://www.columbia.edu/~kwm6 Columbia University Office: (212) 854-7750
