Pet Fecal Exams & Parasite Screening

Veterinarian collects beagle fecal sample during parasite screening exam in Midlothian

Most intestinal parasites never show up as worms you can see, and many pets carry them while eating and playing normally. A fecal exam is how you find out. Bring a sample to Petfolk's Midlothian clinic at 1008 Steam Avenue, off Midlothian Turnpike near Alverser Drive, where our in-clinic lab processes most samples on site.

Call (804) 603-9509 or book online, and bring a sample from the last 12 hours.

When it's an emergency: Skip routine screening and go to a 24-hour emergency hospital if your pet has bloody or black, tarry stool with vomiting, can't keep water down, or is weak and listless. In a puppy, those signs can mean parvovirus. Our Midlothian clinic is open 8 AM to 6 PM, seven days a week, and we don't provide overnight care.

What a Fecal Exam Finds

In a standard fecal flotation, the sample is mixed with a solution that floats parasite eggs to the top, where they're identified under a microscope. PetMD's overview of fecal tests explains the common types. Depending on what the doctor suspects, an antigen test can pick up some infections that aren't shedding eggs that day.

Roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms.
Tapeworms, though their segments are more often spotted at home.
Giardia and coccidia, single-celled parasites that cause diarrhea.

A negative result is good news, not a guarantee. Some parasites shed in waves, so the doctor may suggest a repeat test if signs continue.

Close-up of stool sample vial prepared for parasite testing at Midlothian vet clinic

Signs That Mean Test Now

Loose stool or mucus that keeps coming back.
Scooting or licking under the tail.
Weight loss with a normal appetite.
A new puppy, kitten, or rescue in the house.
A pet who drinks from puddles, creeks, or shared water bowls.

Healthy tabby cat after clear parasite screening results at Midlothian veterinary clinic

When You Can Wait for the Annual Visit

An adult pet on year-round prevention, with normal stool and appetite and a clean test last year, can usually wait for the yearly check. Puppies, kittens, and dogs with heavy outdoor exposure are tested more often. The doctor sets the interval by your pet's risk, not a fixed calendar.

Owner collecting dog stool sample at home for Midlothian parasite screening test

How to Collect and Bring a Sample

Use stool from the last 12 hours. Older samples can dry out or let eggs hatch, which hides them.
About a teaspoon is enough. Use a clean bag or container and keep it cool, not frozen.
Skip samples that sat in the grass or litter box for a day.
Tell us about any dewormer given in the past few weeks. It changes how results are read.

If your pet won't go before the appointment, come anyway. The doctor can often collect a small sample during the exam.

Midlothian Dog Parks Are Shared Ground

Chesterfield County's off-leash runs bring a lot of dogs onto the same patch of grass: Clover Hill Dog Park at CTC @ Hull off Hull Street, Ruff House Dog Park in Rockwood Park, and the shaded Chester Dog Park at Goyne Park. Parasite eggs passed in stool can survive in soil, and shared water bowls and puddles at any busy park are a common route for Giardia.

If your dog is a regular at any of these runs, ask whether testing more than once a year makes sense, bring your own water, and pick up right away so eggs never reach the ground.

From Results to Treatment

If the test finds something, the doctor matches the medication to the parasite and usually schedules a recheck sample to confirm it cleared. Dosing schedules for puppies, kittens, and rescues are set at a deworming visit. Results and instructions appear in your visit summary in the Petfolk app.

What a Fecal Exam Costs

Most routine fecal exams happen at a wellness visit. The exam is $99, or included with PetfolkCare ($199 a year), and the fecal test is a separate line item. PetfolkCare members save 10% on lab work. If results call for medication or a recheck, you get an estimate before anything is added.

"The team explained costs and services clearly and gave me the info needed to make an informed decision."
— Heather D., Petfolk client.

Bring the Sample, Get the Answer

A teaspoon of stool tells us more than weeks of watching. Book a wellness or sick visit at our clinic on Steam Avenue, bring a fresh sample, and leave knowing whether there's anything to treat. Call (804) 603-9509 or book online.