A fecal exam is a stool test that finds intestinal parasites such as roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, tapeworms and Giardia, and most adult dogs and cats should have one at least once a year, puppies and kittens several times. Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Huntersville offers pet fecal exams and parasite screening in Huntersville and explains what was found and what, if anything, to treat.
Many parasites cause no signs for weeks; others cause diarrhea, weight loss, a dull coat or, in young pets, a potbelly.
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Would I see worms in my pet's poop if they had them?
Rarely. Most parasites shed eggs far too small to see without a microscope, and adult worms stay inside the gut. Tapeworm segments, which look like grains of rice near the tail, are the main exception. A dog can pass many roundworm eggs in normal-looking stool.
In the lab, the sample is mixed with a solution that makes eggs float to the top for a microscope check. Some screens also look for parasite proteins (antigens), which can detect an infection even when no eggs are shed that day. Petfolk Huntersville uses the result to choose the right treatment.
How often should my pet have a fecal exam?
At Petfolk Huntersville, young pets are tested most often, usually several times in the first year, and most healthy adult dogs and cats once a year, often at the yearly checkup. Dogs that hike, swim, go to daycare or eat things off the ground may need it twice a year.
At Petfolk Huntersville, about 1 in 4 puppy wellness visits (24%) include a fecal parasite screen (Petfolk data, October 2025 to September 2026). Across Petfolk's Charlotte-area clinics, about 1 in 5 kitten wellness visits (22%) include one in the same window.
Does heartworm prevention make a fecal test unnecessary?
No. Many monthly heartworm preventives also treat roundworms and hookworms, and some cover whipworms, but few cover tapeworms and none treat Giardia or coccidia. Doses also get missed. The Companion Animal Parasite Council recommends regular testing even for pets on year-round prevention, and Petfolk Huntersville follows that advice.
Which parasites turn up in Mecklenburg County dogs?
Giardia, a single-celled gut parasite, was found in about 1 in 30 Mecklenburg County dogs tested in 2025 (2.84%), according to the Companion Animal Parasite Council's county map. Giardia lives in creeks and puddles, and standard dewormers don't always clear it.
Shared trails collect droppings too. Places many animals pass through, such as Latta Nature Preserve and the loop at Robert C. Bradford Regional Park, hold parasite eggs that can survive in soil for a long time. Keep your dog leashed and away from other animals' waste, and bag your own dog's.
How do I collect a good stool sample?
A poor sample can hide parasites. Petfolk Huntersville asks for:
A fresh sample, ideally within 12 hours of your visit; older samples dry out and some organisms break down.
About a teaspoon, roughly the size of a sugar cube.
A sealed bag or clean container, labeled with your pet's name.
Refrigeration if you can't bring it right away. Do not freeze it.
For cats, a scoop from the litter box; a little litter stuck to it is fine.
Can people catch parasites from pets?
Some, yes. Roundworm and hookworm eggs in soil can infect people, especially young children who play in dirt or sandboxes. The CDC advises washing hands after handling pets or their waste and picking up after dogs promptly. Treating your pet's parasites at Petfolk Huntersville protects the household too.
Does diarrhea always mean worms?
No. Diet changes, eaten garbage, infections and stress also cause loose stool. At Petfolk Huntersville, about 1 in 4 visits for vomiting or diarrhea (26%) include a fecal test (October 2025 to September 2026), which helps rule parasites in or out. See our page on vomiting and diarrhea for when to come in.
Which stool changes need a 24-hour hospital?
Large amounts of blood, black tarry stool with weakness, or diarrhea with collapse or pale gums need a 24-hour emergency hospital right away.
Bring the sample to a vet in Huntersville who can go over the results with you: Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Huntersville, 14227 Boren St, Suite 100, Huntersville, NC 28078.
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Stool sample questions, answered plainly
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