Feces / Mutes
Feces/Mutes
A normal mute or dropping has three components, what are they?
• Answer:
Fecal portion from the gastrointestinal tract, urates and urine from the kidneys
Feces/Mutes
Green or yellow mutes may involve the feces or urates.
What is the term to describe green or yellow urates?
• Answer:
Bilivirdinuria.
The liver contains little or no biliverdin reductase, so biliverdin not bilirubin is the primary bile pigment. Abnormal production, storage, and excretion of bile can lead to increased biliverdin in the serum, which is then excreted into the urine, changing the color of the dropping.
Feces/Mutes
What organ dysfunction might be present with bright green or yellow urates?
• Answer:
Liver dysfunction.
Biliverdinuria is associated with liver disease. Types of liver disease to consider are bacterial, viral, metabolic, parasitic, fungal, heavy metal.
Feces/Mutes
A mute with a very dark green and slightly gooey fecal portion reflects bile (biliverdin) in the feces. What is a common reason for this?
• Answer:
Anorexia or low food intake.
This may result in excess biliverdin (type of bile) from the liver
Feces/Mutes
Mutes that are more liquid in appearance, brown in color and often have a strange odor are usually associated with what organ system?
• Answer:
Gastrointestinal.
Gastrointestinal disorders such as parasitic, bacterial, and yeast infections can alter the mutes shown above.
Feces/Mutes
Droppings that are black in color may indicate hemorrhage or intestinal bleeding from which part of the gastrointestinal tract?
• Answer:
Upper gastrointestinal
Disorders of the upper gastrointestinal tract (stomach and small bowel) may be present with this type of dropping. Etiologies may include bacterial, viral, toxins or neoplasia, and signs of illness may progress rapidly.
Feces/Mutes
Formed mutes with pink tinged urates may suggest what?
• Answer:
Hematuria.
Hematuria (blood in the urine) or hemoglobinuria (free hemoglobin in the urine) may be a result of toxins, neoplasia, bacterial or viral infections.
Feces/Mutes
A fresh dropping that shows tiny segments of a worm is most likely what type of intestinal parasite?
• Answer:
Tapeworms: are flat, ribbon-shaped, segmented intestinal worms belonging to the cestode family. As they dry in the mute sample, they may resemble the appearance of rice.
Feces/Mutes
A raptor is ill with signs of anorexia, bloody diarrhea, vomiting and weight loss. On the fecal exam double operculated eggs are seen. This would most likely be what parasite?
• Answer:
Capillaria sp. can cause lesions in the mouth, esophagus, crop and small intestine and caecum.
