Pet Fecal Exams in Lake Mary, FL, From Your Local Vet

Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Lake Mary is a vet in Lake Mary, FL, that checks stool samples for worms and other parasites in dogs and cats. A fecal exam looks for eggs and tiny organisms that live in the gut. Most of them are too small to see, and many pets carry them without any signs at all.

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

When does my pet need a fecal exam?

Most adult dogs and cats need one a year, often at the yearly wellness visit. The vet may ask for one sooner if:

• you just brought home a puppy, kitten, rescue or shelter pet

• your pet has loose stool, mucus or blood in stool

• your pet is losing weight or has a dull coat

• you saw worms, or rice-like bits near the tail

• your pet is scooting or licking the rear end a lot

Puppies and kittens often get several checks in their first months, since they pick up parasites so easily.

How do I collect a stool sample?

It is easier than it sounds:

1. Use a clean bag or container. A sandwich bag turned inside out over your hand works.

2. Pick up about a teaspoon of fresh stool, from the last 12 hours if you can.

3. Seal it, and keep it cool (not frozen) until the visit.

4. For a cat, scoop from a clean litter box. Clumping litter stuck to the sample is fine.

Label it with your pet's name, and bring it to the visit or ask the team about dropping it off. If you can't get a sample at home, tell the team. In many cases they can collect a small one during the exam, and it does not hurt your pet.

What does the test find?

The in-house lab looks for eggs and signs of common gut parasites, including:

• roundworms, hookworms and whipworms

• tapeworm segments

• coccidia, a single-celled parasite common in young pets

• giardia, which causes watery, smelly diarrhea and spreads through water and wet ground

If a parasite shows up, the vet prescribes the right medicine for that one. See deworming in Lake Mary. For some parasites, the team may ask for a second sample after treatment to make sure it cleared.

Where Lake Mary dogs pick up parasites

Parasite eggs survive in damp grass, sand and standing water, and the warm Central Florida climate helps them last. Dogs pick them up by sniffing, licking paws and drinking from puddles. Common spots include shared lawns at busy parks, the dog-friendly sidewalks and patios around Colonial TownPark, and ditches after a summer storm. Carry water for your dog, so they are not tempted by a puddle, and pick up stool every time. If you have a fenced yard, scoop it at least once a week, since eggs build up in the same spots your dog uses again and again.

What to expect at the clinic

The vet asks about your pet's stool, appetite and habits, and does a hands-on exam. Many fecal tests run in the clinic's in-house lab, so results can come back the same day. Fear Free handling keeps the visit calm, and you can stay with your pet. If your pet has diarrhea right now, see vomiting and diarrhea treatment in Lake Mary.

A wellness exam at Petfolk Lake Mary starts at $99, and a sick exam starts at $135. 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 stool changes need fast care

Call the clinic the same day if a young pet has diarrhea, if you see blood, or if your pet stops eating. If your pet has black, tarry stool, a lot of blood, vomiting that won't stop, or is weak and can't stand, go to a 24-hour emergency hospital. The closest one is Veterinary Emergency Group (VEG), 1490 W Fairbanks Ave, Winter Park.

Where we are

Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Lake Mary is at 222 Wheelhouse Ln, #1110, Lake Mary, FL 32746, with free parking off I-4. It is open weekends, and walk-ins are welcome. Call (689) 400-8901.

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