Puppies and kittens usually need several dewormer doses a couple of weeks apart in their first months, and adult dogs and cats stay protected with a monthly preventive plus a stool test once or twice a year. Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Ballantyne is a vet clinic in Charlotte, North Carolina, that deworms dogs and cats and checks stool for roundworm, hookworm, whipworm and giardia.
Many young animals get worms from their mother, before birth or through her milk; adults pick them up from soil, grooming, a swallowed flea or hunting. Petfolk Ballantyne is a vet in Ballantyne; call (980) 300-6982 or book online.
When do puppies and kittens need deworming?
From their first visits, repeated every couple of weeks, because one dose kills adult worms in the gut but not the larvae still developing in the body. The plan below follows the general approach of the Companion Animal Parasite Council, and the Petfolk Ballantyne vet adjusts it for your pet.
First weeks at home. Repeated doses a couple of weeks apart. Bring breeder or shelter paperwork so doses aren't doubled or missed. These visits line up with the series on the puppy vaccines page.
About three to six months. Most young pets move to a monthly preventive, and a follow-up stool test confirms the early treatment worked.
Adult years. A stool test once or twice a year, more often for dogs that go to dog parks, daycare or boarding, and for cats that hunt.
When life changes. A new pet at home, a boarding stay, diarrhea lasting more than a day or two, or unexplained weight loss all call for a fresh test.
A pot belly, dull coat, slow weight gain or rice-like segments in the stool can point to worms, but many pets show nothing at all. Testing matters more than looking.
Hookworm is the local one
Hookworm turns up more often than roundworm in Mecklenburg County dog test results. In 2025, about 1 in 50 dogs tested in the county (2.39%) were positive for hookworm, and about 1 in 100 (0.84%) for roundworm, according to Companion Animal Parasite Council data. Hookworms attach to the gut wall and feed on blood, so a heavy load in a young puppy can cause anemia. That is why Petfolk Ballantyne pairs early deworming with stool checks.
Often it's in the monthly chew
At Petfolk Ballantyne, about 1 in 8 kitten wellness visits (13%) included a separate deworming treatment from October 2025 to September 2026. Many puppies instead go home on a monthly chew: Simparica Trio, the most common dog preventive at Petfolk Ballantyne, is labeled to treat roundworms and hookworms as well as preventing heartworm, fleas and ticks. The vet can explain which product covers which parasites.
Gentle Handling is standard at every Petfolk clinic, so a squirmy puppy gets treats and floor time while the vet works. You'll get an estimate before any test or treatment. The final bill can differ if the plan changes during the visit.
Why do adult pets need flea control to prevent tapeworms?
Because dogs and cats get tapeworms by swallowing an infected flea while grooming. NC State Extension notes that fleas can feed and breed all year in North Carolina, slowing only in winter. Flea control that stops in the fall leaves a gap for tapeworms, so the Petfolk Ballantyne vet usually keeps prevention going year-round.
Do Mecklenburg County dog parks check for worms?
No. Mecklenburg County dog parks, including Davie Dog Park, require current rabies, DHLPP and Bordetella, but they do not ask about deworming. Worm eggs pass in stool and can survive in soil for a long time, and not every pile gets bagged. A monthly preventive and regular stool checks at Petfolk Ballantyne are your best protection in shared spaces.
Can people catch worms from a dog or cat?
Yes. Roundworms and hookworms can infect people through contaminated soil, and young children are most at risk. Pick up after your dog right away, wash your hands after cleaning a litter box or yard, and keep every pet in the home on the plan the Petfolk Ballantyne vet sets.
Pale gums need a hospital, not a pill
Go to a 24-hour emergency hospital if your pet has bloody diarrhea, repeated vomiting, a swollen belly with weakness, or pale gums. A heavy worm burden in a very young puppy or kitten can cause blood loss that needs care right away, not a dose of dewormer at home. Petfolk Ballantyne does not provide overnight care.
Book a visit at Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Ballantyne, or see all veterinary services in Ballantyne.
Worm questions we hear often
Off Ballantyne Commons Parkway