Puppies and kittens need a stool test at more than one visit in their first year, adults need one once or twice a year, and any pet with diarrhea needs one now. Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Concord is a vet clinic in Concord, North Carolina, that runs fecal exams on a sample about the size of a sugar cube, looking for the eggs and cysts intestinal parasites leave behind, often before a pet shows any sign.
Many worms live quietly in the gut for weeks. A dog can look shiny and play hard while passing eggs onto the lawn.
Call (980) 360-2922 or book online.
What does a stool test find?
A fecal exam at Petfolk Concord finds the eggs and cysts of the common intestinal parasites. The usual method is fecal flotation. Stool is mixed with a solution, the lighter eggs float to the top and stick to a glass slide, and the slide is read under a microscope.
That covers roundworms and hookworms, which are common in puppies and kittens, and whipworms, which mostly affect dogs. It also covers coccidia and Giardia, single-celled parasites that cause loose stool in young animals. Tapeworm segments sometimes show up too, though they are easier to spot by eye near the tail.
Some parasites shed eggs on and off, so a clean result can miss one that is between shedding cycles. The Companion Animal Parasite Council recommends regular testing through a pet's life for this reason. In Cabarrus County, hookworm was found in 3.61% of dogs tested in 2025, according to CAPC data.
At Petfolk Concord, 31% of puppy wellness visits and 26% of kitten wellness visits included a fecal screen from October 2025 to September 2026. So did 23% of visits for vomiting or diarrhea.
A testing calendar for the year
The first week home. Every new dog or cat gets a baseline sample, whether it came from a breeder, a rescue or a friend.
During the puppy or kitten series. Expect samples at more than one visit, paired with a dewormer plan on the deworming page.
Once or twice a year for adults. Twice is the better pace for dogs that meet other dogs often.
After a change at home. Test again after boarding, a new pet or a move.
Any time stool changes. Diarrhea, mucus, straining or visible worms are reasons to bring a sample now.
Dorton Park, daycare and the twice-a-year dog
Dogs that share space with other dogs pick up parasites from shared ground. That includes busy leashed trails like those at Dorton Park, where leashed dogs are welcome, and it includes daycare and boarding. If that sounds like your dog, plan on two stool tests a year.
Can my family catch parasites from our pet?
Yes, some intestinal parasites can pass from pets to people, and children are at the most risk because they play on the ground and put their hands in their mouths. Screening at Petfolk Concord lowers the chance of spread to other pets and family members.
The CDC has guidance on handwashing and yard cleanup after pets. Pick up stool promptly and wash your hands after scooping the litter box. Roundworm eggs can survive in soil for a long time, so clearing the yard often does more than any spray.
An indoor cat in an Eastfield apartment needs this test too. Potting soil, a new kitten and flies can all bring parasites inside.
How do I collect a good stool sample?
You need a fresh, sealed sample about the size of a sugar cube. More is not better.
Use a clean bag or sealed container. A sandwich bag turned inside out over your hand works well.
Collect from the freshest stool you can, ideally the same day as the visit.
Keep it cool and out of direct sun. Don't freeze it.
Label it with your pet's name, especially if you have more than one.
For cats, scoop a piece from the litter box with a clean spoon. A little litter is fine. Skip clumps soaked in urine.
What a stool test costs
A fecal exam is a lab charge, and you'll get an estimate before any test or treatment. The final bill can differ if the plan changes during the visit. It is usually added to a wellness exam that starts at $99, or included with the PetfolkCare plan.
Bloody diarrhea with weakness goes to a 24-hour hospital
If your pet has bloody diarrhea along with weakness, repeated vomiting or pale gums, skip the stool test and go to a 24-hour emergency hospital. Petfolk Concord is open 8 AM to 6 PM, seven days a week, and doesn't provide overnight care.
Book a visit at Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Concord, 2425 Herrons Nest Pl NW, Suite 100, near Concord Mills, or see all veterinary services in Concord.
Stool sample questions, answered
Close to Concord Mills