Deworming in Lake Mary, FL, From Your Local Vet

Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Lake Mary is a vet in Lake Mary, FL, that deworms dogs and cats of every age. Most puppies and kittens are born with worms or pick them up from their mother, and adult pets catch them from soil, fleas and other animals. A dewormer chosen by the vet clears the worms your pet has, and a monthly preventive keeps new ones from settling in.

Book online, walk in, or call (689) 400-8901.

Which worms do Lake Mary pets pick up?

The four that show up most in dogs and cats here are:

• Roundworms. Very common in puppies and kittens. They look like strands of spaghetti in stool or vomit.

• Hookworms. Tiny worms that feed on blood and can make a young pet weak and pale. Larvae live in warm, damp soil and can pass through the skin of paws.

• Whipworms. Mostly a dog problem. They cause long-running loose stool, sometimes with mucus.

• Tapeworms. Pets swallow them by eating an infected flea while grooming. You may see small, rice-like bits near the tail or on bedding.

Central Florida never gets a long, hard freeze, so worm eggs and larvae in the soil do not get a winter break. That is why the vet talks about prevention all year, not only in summer.

How often should my puppy or kitten be dewormed?

Young pets get dewormed more often than adults because they pick up worms so easily. The vet usually deworms at each visit in the puppy or kitten vaccine series, a few weeks apart, then moves your pet to a monthly preventive that covers common worms.

Across Petfolk, kittens are the pets most often dewormed at a wellness visit: about 21% of kitten wellness visits included a dewormer, compared with about 14% of puppy visits (Oct 1, 2025 to Sep 30, 2026). New kittens from a rescue or a backyard litter often arrive with roundworms, so bring them in soon after they come home. See kitten vaccines in Lake Mary and puppy vaccines in Lake Mary for the full first-year plan.

Does an adult dog or cat still need deworming?

Yes, if worms get in. Adult pets can pick up worms from sniffing and digging, from hunting lizards, or from fleas. The best defense for most adults is a monthly preventive. Many heartworm preventives for dogs also treat roundworms and hookworms, so one dose covers a lot. See heartworm prevention in Lake Mary for options.

If your adult pet has loose stool that will not settle, is losing weight, or you saw something moving, the vet often checks a stool sample first. That shows which worm is there, so the right medicine goes in. Learn more on the fecal exam page.

Shared grass, shared worms

Lake Mary dogs spend a lot of time in the same places: the lawn at Central Park on a farmers market morning, the fields around the Lake Mary Sports Complex, and the paths at Greenwood Lakes Park. Worm eggs pass in stool and can stay in grass and soil for a long time. A few habits cut the risk:

• Pick up after your dog right away, every time.

• Keep your dog from sniffing or eating other dogs' stool.

• Rinse and dry paws after a damp walk.

• Treat fleas, since fleas carry tapeworms.

• Wash your hands after cleaning the litter box or the yard, because some pet worms can infect people.

What a deworming visit includes

The vet weighs your pet, because dose depends on weight, and does a hands-on exam. If needed, the team checks a stool sample. The first dose is often given at the clinic, and you take home any follow-up doses with clear dates on the label. Fear Free handling is part of every Petfolk visit, so the team keeps things calm with treats and patience, and you can stay with your pet.

A wellness exam at Petfolk Lake Mary starts at $99. You'll get an estimate before any test or treatment. The final bill can differ if the plan changes during the visit. PetfolkCare membership starts at $199 a year.

When worms become urgent

Most worm problems are not an emergency. Call the clinic the same day if a puppy or kitten has pale gums, a swollen belly, or bloody or black stool. If a young pet is very weak, can't stand, or collapses, go to a 24-hour emergency hospital. The nearest one that never closes is Veterinary Emergency Group (VEG), 1490 W Fairbanks Ave, Winter Park.

Directions and parking

Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Lake Mary is at 222 Wheelhouse Ln, #1110, Lake Mary, FL 32746, with free parking. It is open weekends, walk-ins are welcome, and same-day appointments are available. Call (689) 400-8901.

Book a visit at Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Lake Mary, or see all veterinary services in Lake Mary.