Fecal Exams in Peachtree Corners, GA, From Your Local Vet

Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Peachtree Corners is a vet in Peachtree Corners, GA, that runs fecal exams for dogs and cats. A fecal exam is a lab test on a small stool sample that looks for the eggs of intestinal worms and for parasites like giardia and coccidia. Most of these can't be seen with the naked eye.

Adult pets should have one at least once a year. Puppies, kittens and pets with diarrhea need them more often.

Call (770) 637-0032, book online or walk in with a fresh sample.

Why test stool if my pet seems healthy?

Many pets carry worms without any signs. Roundworms and hookworms can still cause weight loss, a dull coat or anemia, and some can spread to people, especially children who play in the yard. A yearly fecal exam at Petfolk Peachtree Corners finds them early. Monthly heartworm prevention covers some intestinal worms, but not all of them, and not giardia or coccidia.

What parasites does a fecal exam find?

A fecal exam can find:

• Roundworms: common in puppies and kittens, often passed from the mother.

• Hookworms: blood-feeding worms that thrive in warm, moist soil.

• Whipworms: a dog parasite whose eggs can survive in soil for years.

• Tapeworms: sometimes seen as rice-like pieces near the tail, usually from swallowed fleas.

• Giardia and coccidia: single-cell parasites that cause watery or mucus-covered diarrhea.

Some samples are tested in the in-house lab, and some go to an outside lab for more detailed screening; the team will tell you when to expect results.

How do I collect a stool sample?

1. Pick up a fresh sample, ideally from the last 12 hours. Fresher is better.

2. A teaspoon-sized piece is enough.

3. Seal it in a zip-top bag or a clean container. Double-bag it.

4. Keep it cool in the fridge, never the freezer, until the visit.

5. Write your pet's name on the bag if you have more than one.

For cats, scoop a fresh piece from the litter box. A little litter stuck to it is fine.

Shared spaces and parasites

Shared ground means shared parasites. The off-leash dog park near Peachtree Corners' Town Green and the trails at Simpsonwood Park see a lot of dogs. So does the dog park at Pinckneyville Park, with its separate small-dog and large-dog areas. Pick up after your dog every time, and keep up with prevention and yearly fecal exams. Picking up quickly also keeps eggs from settling into the soil in your own yard.

My pupper ended up having an ear infection that we caught during her wellness exam.

Andrea D., Google review

What does a fecal exam cost?

At Petfolk Peachtree Corners, a fecal exam is priced separately and is often part of a wellness exam, which starts at $99, or is free with the PetfolkCare Plan, which starts at $199 a year. You'll get an estimate before any test or treatment. The final bill can differ if the plan changes during the visit.

Gentle care, even for diarrhea

Fear Free handling is standard at every Petfolk clinic. If your pet needs a sample collected at the clinic, the team does it gently. If worms are found, the vet will explain the deworming plan and whether other pets in the home need treatment too.

Diarrhea that can't wait

Diarrhea with blood, repeated vomiting, a pet who won't eat, or a puppy or kitten who seems weak should be seen the same day. Collapse or pale gums need a 24-hour emergency hospital, such as Veterinary Emergency Group (VEG) in Brookhaven. For treatment, see deworming in Peachtree Corners.

Bring a sample

Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Peachtree Corners is at 5175 Peachtree Pkwy, Suite 1300-B, Peachtree Corners, GA 30092. Call (770) 637-0032.

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