Pet Fecal Exams in Missouri City, TX, From Your Local Vet

A fecal exam is a lab test on a small stool sample that looks for worm eggs and other gut parasites. Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Missouri City is a vet in Missouri City, TX, that runs these tests for dogs and cats, often during a wellness or sick visit. Many parasites don't cause signs at first, so the test finds them before your pet, or your family, gets sick.

Most adult pets need a fecal test once a year. Puppies, kittens and pets with diarrhea need them more often.

Call (832) 225-3315 or book online. Walk-ins are welcome.

What does a fecal exam check for?

The test can find eggs or cysts from:

• Roundworms and hookworms, common in puppies and kittens

• Whipworms, which live in soil for years

• Giardia and coccidia, tiny parasites that cause watery or soft stool

• Tapeworm segments, which often look like grains of rice near the tail

Some parasites shed eggs only now and then, so one clean test doesn't always mean none are there. If signs keep going, the vet may test again.

How often should my dog's stool be tested?

• Puppies and kittens: at several early visits, alongside deworming

• Adults: at least once a year at the wellness exam

• Any age: when there's diarrhea, weight loss, or worms you can see

At our Houston-area clinics, about 1 in 4 wellness visits for dogs aged 1 to 7 included a fecal test between Oct 1, 2025 and Sep 30, 2026. That dropped to about 1 in 7 for dogs 7 and older, even though senior dogs pick up parasites too.

How do I collect a good sample?

• Pick up a fresh sample, ideally from the last 12 hours

• A piece about the size of a grape or a sugar cube is plenty

• Seal it in a clean zip bag or a cup with a lid

• Keep it cool, not frozen, until you bring it in

• For cats, scoop from the litter box and leave off as much litter as you can

You can bring the sample to any visit, or drop it off with a quick call first.

Parasites at the Bark Park

Missouri City has no park inside city limits where dogs can run off leash. Many local dogs play at the Bark Park in Kitty Hollow Park, 9555 Highway 6, which Fort Bend County runs. Shared dog parks are great for exercise, but eggs from one dog's stool can sit in the grass and soil for months. Dogs that play there, or at daycare, are good candidates for a yearly test or more.

Picking up after your own dog right away is the single best way to keep the park clean for everyone.

Worms people can catch

Some pet parasites, like roundworms and hookworms, can infect people, mostly young children who play in the dirt. Washing hands after yard play, keeping sandboxes covered and keeping pets on year-round prevention all help.

Fecal test pricing

A fecal test is added to an exam. A wellness exam at Petfolk Missouri City 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.

Fear Free handling means a nervous pet rarely needs any hands-on sampling if you bring a stool sample from home.

When diarrhea needs a same-day visit

Call or walk in the same day for diarrhea lasting more than a day, worms in vomit, or a puppy that won't eat. A pet with bloody diarrhea that is weak, or a puppy that collapses, needs a 24-hour emergency hospital such as VEG on University Blvd in Sugar Land.

Drop off a sample

Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Missouri City is at 8225 Hwy 6, Suite 300, Missouri City, TX 77459, a short drive up Highway 6 from Kitty Hollow Park. Call (832) 225-3315.

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