Pet Fecal Exams in Noblesville, IN, From Your Local Vet

Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Noblesville is a vet in Noblesville, IN, that runs fecal exams for dogs and cats. A fecal exam is a lab check of a small stool sample for intestinal parasites, such as roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, coccidia and giardia. Most of these are too small to see, and many pets carry them with no signs.

Some intestinal worms can also spread to people, especially children, which is one more reason to test.

Call (463) 217-5944, book online or walk in with a fresh sample.

How often should my pet have a fecal exam?

At Petfolk Noblesville, the usual schedule is:

• Puppies and kittens: at the first visit and again during the vaccine series, since most are born with or quickly pick up worms.

• Adult dogs and cats: once or twice a year, often at the wellness exam.

• Any time stools change: diarrhea, mucus, blood, or worms you can see.

• New pets: at the first visit, including rescues and pets from out of state.

Dogs who visit dog parks, daycare or busy trailheads like Hazel Dell on the Midland Trace Trail meet more stool from other dogs, so twice a year is a good fit.

How do I collect a stool sample?

A good sample makes the test accurate:

1. Fresh is best. Collect within 12 hours of the visit, ideally the same morning.

2. About a teaspoon is enough. More is fine.

3. Use a clean bag or container. Turn a poop bag inside out over your hand, pick up, and seal.

4. Keep it cool, in the fridge if needed, not the freezer.

5. Skip samples from grass or litter that sat for hours or dried out. For cats, scoop from the top of the litter.

Label the bag with your pet's name if you have more than one.

Manny, our 6 year old bernedoodle, started having a major change in his stools.

Jami K., Google review

What does the fecal test look for?

At Petfolk Noblesville, the sample is checked for eggs and cysts of:

• Roundworms, very common in puppies and kittens and passed from mother to young.

• Hookworms, which feed on blood and can cause anemia in young pets.

• Whipworms, which live in soil for years.

• Giardia and coccidia, single-celled parasites that cause watery or mucusy diarrhea.

• Tapeworm segments, though these are often easier to spot on fur than in the test.

Some samples are run in the clinic's in-house lab, and others are sent to an outside lab for a more detailed panel. The vet will tell you which one fits.

Healthy-looking pets still need a check

Many parasites cause no signs until there are a lot of them. Monthly prevention covers some worms but not all, and giardia is not covered by most. A yearly fecal exam at Petfolk Noblesville confirms the plan is working and protects your family, your yard and the dogs your pet meets at Finch Creek Park or the neighborhood trail.

Pick up after your dog on walks, and keep kids' sandboxes covered. Many parasite eggs survive in soil for months.

What does a fecal exam cost?

The fecal exam is usually added to a wellness exam, which starts at $99 at Petfolk Noblesville, or is included with PetfolkCare, which starts at $199 a year. The lab test is priced separately. 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 is standard, and most of this visit needs nothing more than your sample.

When diarrhea is more than parasites

Book a sick visit for diarrhea that lasts more than a day or two. Go to a 24-hour emergency hospital such as MedVet Indianapolis on Mayflower Park Dr in Carmel for bloody diarrhea with vomiting, weakness or a puppy who will not drink.

Bring a sample to Noblesville

Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Noblesville is at 5986 Midland Pointe Blvd, Suite 108, Noblesville, IN 46062. Call (463) 217-5944. Worms found? See deworming in Noblesville.

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