Vet Care Plan Integration

ParasiteVet Care Plan Testing is designed exclusively for veterinary practices, supporting routine parasite control in dogs and cats in line with current ESCCAP guidance. It is intended to integrate into preventive healthcare plans and clinical workflows rather than replace clinical judgement.

Routine Care Plan Testing includes faecal parasite screening using a combination of:

• Direct wet preparations.
  
• Concentration techniques.
  
• Baermann migration for detection of lungworm and other migrating larvae.
  
• Larval culture where required.

This approach provides broad screening for clinically relevant gastrointestinal and respiratory parasites commonly encountered in practice.

Care Plan Testing is typically performed quarterly (four times per year), in line with evidence-based recommendations for ongoing parasite surveillance. Testing frequency should always be adjusted based on individual patient risk factors, lifestyle, and clinical findings.

All results are reviewed and interpreted by RCVS-registered veterinary surgeons with over 15 years of clinical and parasitology experience. Reports are designed to be clear, concise, and clinically relevant, supporting evidence-based treatment decisions while recognising the importance of the full clinical picture.

Short answer: No.

Care Plan Testing is designed to support, not delay or prevent, parasite treatment. It helps practices apply targeted, risk-based control while ensuring that treatment decisions remain timely and clinically appropriate.

Results are used to inform and refine parasite control strategies, supporting the responsible use of antiparasitic products without restricting treatment where there is clinical suspicion, ongoing exposure, or welfare concerns.

Where results indicate a potential clinical concern or require further clarification, additional testing (e.g. repeat microscopy or PCR-based diagnostics) may be recommended. Any follow-up testing or treatment decisions remain at the discretion of the attending veterinary surgeon.

Practice registers submissions via online portal.

ParasiteVet provides:

• Sample pots and labels
  
• Packaging and tracked postage

Samples can be submitted batched weekly, depending on practice preference and workflow.

Routine Care Plan samples are processed promptly upon receipt, with results typically available within 3-4 working days, depending on sample volume and testing requirements. Baermanns and larval culture take additional time.

Care Plan Testing is designed specifically for dogs and cats. Separate testing pathways are available for exotic species, including reptiles and birds, and should be discussed with the laboratory team where required.

Fill out the contact form. Once received we will send you all the specific information and costing, along with an online form so that we can give you access to the portal for sample submission requests and results. The initial volume requirement will be asked also for the first 3 months. Additional collection packs can be requested.

Methods used:

• Direct smear / wet mount
  
• Concentration techniques
  
• Baermann migration technique
  
• Larval culture where indicated. 
  
• Additional testing can also be requested.

Routine detection includes:

• Nematodes: Toxocara spp., hookworms, whipworms (Trichuris spp.), Strongyloides spp.
  
• Protozoa: Coccidia (Cystoisospora / Isospora) in dogs and cats. Structures compatible with Giardia spp., Cryptosporidium spp., and Toxoplasma spp. may be flagged on microscopy, with antigen testing or qPCR recommended where appropriate due to higher diagnostic sensitivity and specificity.
  
• Cestodes (tapeworms): Taenia spp., Dipylidium caninum, Echinococcus spp. Due to intermittent egg shedding and the lower sensitivity of faecal detection, routine or risk-based praziquantel treatment may be considered in line with current guidance.
  
• Baermann larvae migration technique: Detection of first-stage larvae compatible with Angiostrongylus vasorum, Aelurostrongylus abstrusus, and other migrating nematodes (e.g. Crenosoma vulpis, Strongyloides spp.).

Intermittent shedding & prepatency: A negative result represents a point-in-time finding and does not exclude infection. Repeat testing or alternative diagnostic modalities should be considered where clinical suspicion remains high.

Lungworm: The Baermann technique improves sensitivity for detecting migrating larvae but a negative result does not rule out disease. Antigen testing, PCR, or empirical treatment may be appropriate based on clinical presentation.

Tapeworms: Cestode egg shedding is intermittent and detection on routine faecal examination is limited. Routine or risk-based praziquantel treatment should be considered in line with current guidance (see “What about tapeworms?”).

Clinical interpretation: All results require veterinary interpretation and must be considered alongside history, clinical findings, and risk factors. Prescribing of POM-V products remains subject to a clinical examination in accordance with RCVS requirements.

Tapeworm (cestode) infections are poorly detected on routine faecal analysis due to intermittent egg shedding and the fact that eggs are often retained within proglottids rather than freely passed in faeces.

As a result, a negative faecal result does not reliably exclude tapeworm infection. For this reason, routine or risk-based treatment with praziquantel may be appropriate in dogs and cats, in line with current parasite control guidance and individual patient risk.

Tapeworm testing and treatment decisions should always be guided by clinical assessment, exposure risk (e.g. hunting, raw feeding, flea exposure), and public health considerations.

Care Plan Testing follows a test-first approach for endoparasites, supporting targeted, risk-based treatment rather than routine blanket dosing.

Alongside this, practices may choose to:

• Maintain routine ectoparasite cover, or
  
• Adopt a treat-as-found approach for ectoparasites, based on clinical findings, exposure risk, and client preference.

Tapeworm treatment is typically applied on a risk-based basis, recognising the limited sensitivity of routine faecal testing for cestodes.

Clinical judgement and individual patient risk assessment always apply.

Care Plan Testing submissions are managed through the ParasiteVet online portal, allowing practices to:

1. Submit sample details electronically.
   
2. Access results securely online. 
   
3. Results are also issued by email to the practice.

What we supply:

• Faecal sample pots.
  
• Zip bags with Patient/sample label.
  
• Tracked return envelopes: batch submissions once weekly.

Sample requirements:

• Fresh faeces, approximately 15–20 g (walnut-sized).
  
• Avoid contamination with litter, bedding, or soil.
  
• Clearly label with patient name, owner surname, date and time of collection.

Storage:

• If there is any delay, refrigerate at 2–8 °C.
  
• Do not freeze samples.
  
• Where appropriate, a 24–48 hour pooled sample may improve detection of intermittently shedding protozoa or larvae.

Turnaround time:

Results are typically reported within 3-4 working days of laboratory receipt, using a standardised report format with clear interpretation and action prompts. Baermanns and possible larval culture can take a couple of days.

Routine Care Plan dispatch:

Samples are collected and sent weekly on a given day i.e. Mondays. Dispatch is via the tracked return labels provided

Late or urgent cases:

Samples collected after the cut-off should be stored refrigerated and sent with the next scheduled dispatch.