Pet Fecal Exams & Parasite Screening in Sandy Springs, GA, From Your Local Vet

Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Sandy Springs is a vet in Sandy Springs, GA, that tests dog and cat stool for intestinal parasites. A fecal exam looks for the eggs and cysts of worms and single-celled parasites, which are far too small to see at home.

Most adult pets need a fecal test once or twice a year. Puppies, kittens, new adoptions and pets with diarrhea need one sooner.

Call (678) 673-3977 or bring a sample to your next visit.

Why test stool if my pet looks healthy?

Many pets with intestinal parasites look and act normal, especially adults. At Petfolk Sandy Springs, a fecal exam catches parasites before they cause weight loss, diarrhea or a dull coat, and before they spread to other pets. Some, like roundworms and hookworms, can also infect people, which matters in homes with small children.

What parasites does a fecal exam find?

A fecal exam at Petfolk Sandy Springs can find:

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

• Hookworms: blood-feeding worms that can cause anemia in young pets.

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

• Giardia: a single-celled parasite that causes greasy, smelly diarrhea, often picked up from water.

• Coccidia: single-celled parasites common in young and stressed pets.

Tapeworms often don't show up on a fecal test. Pet parents usually spot them first as small, rice-like pieces near the tail or in the stool.

How do I collect a good sample?

1. Pick up a fresh sample, ideally within the last 12 hours.

2. A piece about the size of a sugar cube is enough.

3. Seal it in a plastic bag or a clean container.

4. Keep it cool, not frozen, if you can't bring it right away.

5. Label it with your pet's name, especially in multi-pet homes.

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

What happens at the clinic

The sample is mixed with a special solution that makes parasite eggs float, then examined under a microscope. Petfolk Sandy Springs has an in-house lab for many tests, so many results come back during your visit; some tests, like a detailed Giardia screen, may go to an outside lab. If your pet needs an exam too, Fear Free handling is standard at every Petfolk clinic.

Local habits that raise the risk

Dogs who drink from creeks, puddles or the Chattahoochee River can pick up Giardia. Dogs who visit busy spots like the renovated Morgan Falls Dog Park share ground with many other dogs. The National Park Service asks visitors to the river recreation area to pick up and bag their dog's poop, which also helps keep parasite eggs out of the soil for everyone.

Treatment and keeping parasites away

If the test finds parasites, the vet prescribes the right medicine, from the on-site pharmacy, and may recheck the stool afterward. Many monthly heartworm preventives also control some intestinal worms. Read more about deworming in Sandy Springs.

What does a fecal exam cost?

The fecal exam is priced separately and is often added to a wellness exam, which starts at $99 at Petfolk Sandy Springs. You'll get an estimate before any test or treatment, and the final bill can differ if the plan changes during the visit.

Bloody or nonstop diarrhea

Diarrhea with a lot of blood, diarrhea with vomiting in a puppy or kitten, or a pet who seems weak needs to be seen the same day. A pet who collapses needs a 24-hour emergency hospital such as BluePearl Pet Hospital on Abernathy Rd NE.

Bring the sample in

Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Sandy Springs is at 6223 Roswell Rd, 365A, Sandy Springs, GA 30328. Call (678) 673-3977 to ask whether your pet needs an exam with the test.

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