Most adult dogs and cats need a fecal exam at least once a year, and puppies, kittens and pets with diarrhea need one more often, because intestinal parasites rarely show up where you can see them. Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Fort Mill offers fecal exams and parasite screening in Fort Mill: a small stool sample is checked under the microscope for worm eggs and single-celled parasites.
Petfolk Fort Mill is a veterinary clinic in Fort Mill, South Carolina, at 1642 SC-160, Suite 104. Bring a fresh sample to your pet's yearly visit and it is one trip, not two.
Call (803) 590-8031 or book online.
What does a fecal exam look for?
A fecal exam looks for the eggs or cysts shed by gut parasites: roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, and single-celled parasites like giardia and coccidia. Many pets carry them with no signs. When signs appear, they tend to be vague: soft stool, a dull coat, weight loss or a pot-bellied puppy. Finding the parasite lets the vet pick the right treatment instead of guessing. The Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) recommends regular fecal testing for dogs and cats as part of year-round parasite control.
How often do Fort Mill pets get a stool test?
Puppies are tested most often at Petfolk Fort Mill. From October 2025 to October 2026:
About 1 in 3 Fort Mill puppy wellness visits (32%) included a fecal parasite test.
About 1 in 5 wellness visits for adult dogs aged 1 to 7 (22%) did.
About 1 in 6 kitten wellness visits (18%) did.
When a pet is sick, testing depends on the signs: across Petfolk's Charlotte-area clinics, about 1 in 7 sick visits for vomiting or diarrhea (14%) included a fecal test (October 2025 to September 2026).
Why do puppies and kittens need more than one fecal check?
Young pets are often born with roundworms or pick them up from their mother's milk, and one test can miss parasites that shed eggs only on and off. Plan on more than one fecal check during the puppy or kitten series at Petfolk Fort Mill. The deworming page explains why young pets get repeated doses.
Which Fort Mill habits raise a pet's parasite risk?
Wet ground, shared grass and a pet that sniffs or drinks from puddles raise the risk. Riverside paths along the Catawba, such as Founders Trail and Masons Bend, stay wet after rain, and warm, damp soil helps hookworm larvae develop; they can burrow through the skin of the paws. Busy parks and boarding kennels mean many dogs use the same patches of grass. If your pet had a summer of trail hikes, lake days or kennel stays, a fall stool check catches anything picked up along the way.
Can people catch parasites from a pet's stool?
Yes, some pet parasites, such as roundworms and hookworms, can infect people, especially young children who play in yards and sandboxes. Pick up after your dog right away. The Town of Fort Mill park rules require pet parents to clean up pet waste and keep dogs leashed, and bagging waste stops eggs from sinking into the soil, where some survive for a long time.
When should I bring a stool sample outside the yearly visit?
Bring a sample to Petfolk Fort Mill anytime your pet has:
Diarrhea that lasts more than a day or two, or comes and goes
Mucus or blood in the stool
Weight loss despite a good appetite
Scooting, or rice-like bits around the tail (tapeworm segments)
A new home, such as a rescue or a pet from a shelter or breeder
If diarrhea comes with vomiting, our vomiting and diarrhea page covers when to book.
How do I collect a good stool sample?
Use a fresh sample, ideally from the last few hours.
A piece about the size of a sugar cube is enough.
Seal it in a clean bag or container labeled with your pet's name.
Keep it cool, in a fridge away from food, if you can't bring it in right away. Don't freeze it.
The vet calls or messages you with the result and any treatment needed. If signs continue after a negative test, the vet may ask for a repeat sample.
When is diarrhea an emergency rather than a stool test?
Go to a 24-hour emergency hospital if your pet has bloody diarrhea with vomiting, seems weak or collapses, or if a young puppy or kitten stops eating and drinking.
How do I book a fecal exam in Fort Mill?
Call (803) 590-8031 or book online. Bring the sample to a vet in Fort Mill at your pet's yearly checkup, and you get an estimate before any treatment.
Book a visit at Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Fort Mill, or see all veterinary services in Fort Mill.
About stool samples and parasite tests
Drop samples off on SC-160