Deworming
A dewormer only works on the parasites it's made for, so the first step is finding out what your pet is carrying. Petfolk Johns Creek is at Medley, in Johns Creek Town Center, near Johns Creek Parkway and McGinnis Ferry Road, and our Johns Creek clinic sees dogs and cats for deworming seven days a week.
For puppies and kittens, deworming is a routine part of the first months of care. For adult pets, it usually follows a positive fecal test or a clear sign, like tapeworm segments near the tail.
Call (470) 964-6691 or book online. Open 8am–6pm, seven days a week.
When to go to a 24-hour emergency hospital
Go to a 24-hour emergency hospital if your pet is vomiting repeatedly, has bloody diarrhea with weakness or lethargy, has pale gums, or is a young puppy or kitten that stops eating or drinking. Heavy parasite loads can cause dangerous blood loss in very young animals.
Petfolk Johns Creek is open 8am to 6pm, seven days a week. We don't provide overnight care, so anything that can't wait until morning belongs at a 24-hour emergency hospital.
Why One Dewormer Doesn't Fit Every Pet
Roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, and tapeworms don't all respond to the same drug. Giardia and coccidia aren't worms at all; they're single-celled parasites, and most routine dewormers won't touch them.
That's why an over-the-counter dewormer can seem to fail. The product may simply not cover the parasite your pet has. A fecal exam tells the vet which parasite is there, and the treatment follows from that.
Tapeworms usually come from swallowing an infected flea, so flea control is part of the plan.
Whipworms and giardia often need repeat rounds spaced weeks apart.
Some pets carry more than one parasite at the same time.
Puppy and Kitten Deworming
Young animals are the most likely to have worms. Puppies can pick up roundworms before birth or through nursing, and hookworms can pass through a mother's milk. Kittens most often get roundworms through nursing. Merck's pet owner guide notes that roundworms are especially common in puppies.
One dose isn't enough. Dewormers clear the worms living in the gut now, but larvae still moving through the body mature over the following weeks. Your vet sets a repeat schedule for the early months, usually lined up with vaccine visits so you aren't making extra trips.
Dosing follows weight, and young pets grow fast. Every visit includes a weigh-in, and our Gentle Handling team uses treats on the scale so a wiggly puppy stays calm long enough for an accurate number.
“Fantastic experience. Everyone was patient, answered all our questions on the new puppy.”
— Jason W., Petfolk client
When Your Pet May Not Need Deworming
A healthy adult dog or cat on a monthly preventive that covers intestinal worms, with a recent clean fecal test and normal stool, usually doesn't need a separate deworming. Many heartworm preventives also control some roundworms and hookworms.
Deworming without a reason isn't harmless shorthand for good care. If your pet has soft stool, the cause may be diet, stress, or an infection that a dewormer won't fix. Ask whether a fecal test makes more sense first.
What Happens at a Deworming Visit
Bring a fresh stool sample if you can, sealed in a bag or container and kept cool.
The vet reviews your pet's history, prevention, and anything you've seen, including segments near the tail.
Your pet is weighed and examined.
If the fecal test points to a parasite, the vet chooses a medication that covers it and explains the schedule.
You get an estimate before treatment starts.
If you can't get a sample, come anyway. The vet can often collect a small one during the exam.
What Deworming Costs Depend On
Deworming is usually billed in parts, and the total depends on what your pet needs:
The exam, or the wellness visit it's folded into
Whether a fecal test is run
Your pet's weight, which sets the dose
The parasite, since some need one dose and others need several
Whether a recheck fecal test is recommended
You'll see an estimate before anything starts. For puppies and kittens, deworming usually happens at wellness visits. PetfolkCare members get exams covered up to $99 per visit and 10% off lab work.
Start With the Right Parasite
Book a visit at Petfolk Johns Creek, bring a fresh sample if you have one, and leave knowing exactly what you're treating and for how long. Call (470) 964-6691 or book online.