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Microscopes?

Nanci

Nanci

Alien Lover
Has anyone bought a microscope for doing their own fecals? It's going to be expensive, isn't it, like in the $350 range? Does anyone have a recommendation?

Thanks!
 
You could try a surgical supply store for a used one. Even ask at work they may have an older one you could get for very little.
 
You would want one with it's own built in light. Binocular, probably 5x, 10x and 40x lenses. To have a micromiter adjusted stage is really nice.

You might be able to get an old one from a college or university. A new one could cost 1000 bucks.
 
What sort of magnification would you need? Unless you need a really fancy one I'd say thrift stores might be a good idea. I got one that goes up to 900x magnification just before christmas for pennies. I haven't got any slides for it yet though.
 
Pennies??? All the pawn shops around here have is stolen power tools, guns and jewelry.
 
Currently working with our Vet Program instructor at our school to become educated on all of the tests and microscope analysis. She's mentioned at least 2 other different tests that do not use smear analysis for detection of certain organisms. Don't know that I'll ever trust myself enough to do a full professional screening, but I will feel better learning what I can.

And yes I have a microscope, but it comes with the job.
 
I got to see Isabel's (bearded dragon) fecal at the vet when I got her- when she had two types of coccidia and three types of worms...

I would rather keep a closer eye on them, but not at $20 a pop for everyone...Last year I just checked the four oldest snakes, all of which had worms. I'm curious if now, a year later, with no one having eaten a mouse that hasn't been frozen, anyone is reinfected.
 
I think doing things like fecal flotations just keeps you more aware of the general health of everyone. Even if you never find internal parasites, you will be more likely to see other problems in their early stages.

You can also get sperm smears in the spring and check for fertility. Look at the fat globules in milk, look at some of your blood. Everyone should have a microscope.
 
Having been a certified veterinary technician for over 25 years, I can say I'm an expert on fecal exams. You don't need the fancy scopes to look for worm eggs and coccidia. All you need is a simple microscope that can be found in any good toy store, such as Toys R' Us.

http://www.toysrus.com/search/index...rigkw=microscope&f=Taxonomy/TRUS/2254197&sr=1

Yeah, they're monocular and you have to manually move the slide around, but you can't beat the price and it will do the job just fine.
 
Susan, or anyone, would a cordless microscope be really cool?

How does LED light compare to halogen?? Is it as nice?
 
Nanci, I have never used one with a LED light. I know halogen lights are hot and that becomes a problem depending on what you are looking at.

It really does not require a great deal of light but I would have to see the LED light before I could pass judgment.
 
wade said:
... Look at the fat globules in milk, look at some of your blood. Everyone should have a microscope.
Click to expand...

I second that. I had one when I was a kid and I loved it, I looked at EVERYTHING under that microscope!
 
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