A fecal exam checks a small stool sample for intestinal parasites such as roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, Giardia and coccidia, and it's advised several times in a pet's first year, then at least once or twice a year for adult dogs and cats. Many infected pets look perfectly healthy while passing eggs into the yard. Petfolk SouthPark is a veterinary clinic in Charlotte, North Carolina, where our veterinarian in SouthPark runs fecal tests at wellness and sick visits for dogs and cats.
Bring a fresh sample, ideally from the same day, in a sealed bag.
Call (980) 580-8079 or book online.
How often do SouthPark pets get a fecal test?
At Petfolk SouthPark, from October 2025 to September 2026:
28% of puppy wellness visits and 23% of kitten wellness visits included a fecal parasite screen.
About 3 in 10 visits for vomiting or diarrhea (29%) included a fecal test, because parasites are one of the first things to rule out.
Which parasites are common in Mecklenburg County dogs?
In 2025, the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) found Giardia in about 1 in 30 dogs tested in Mecklenburg County (2.84%) and hookworm in about 1 in 50 (2.39%) (CAPC Giardia map). Common finds in dogs and cats include:
Roundworms, long, spaghetti-like worms, very common in puppies and kittens
Hookworms, small worms that feed on blood from the gut wall
Whipworms in dogs, which shed eggs only now and then
Giardia, a single-celled parasite picked up from contaminated water or soil
Coccidia, another single-celled parasite, common in young animals
How does a fecal test work?
At Petfolk SouthPark, a fecal test is a microscope check of a small stool sample.
The sample is mixed with a solution that makes parasite eggs float to the top, often helped along in a centrifuge (a machine that spins the tube fast).
Eggs are lifted onto a glass slide and read under a microscope. Each parasite's eggs have a recognizable shape.
Some tests also look for antigens, proteins parasites shed, which can catch an infection on a day when no eggs are passed.
How do I collect a stool sample for the vet?
Pick up a fresh sample, ideally from that day, with a clean plastic bag or sealed cup. About a teaspoon is plenty. Keep it cool and out of the sun, and in the fridge if it has to wait overnight (sealed, away from food). For cats, scoop from the litter box soon after use; a little litter stuck to it is fine. Older, dried-out samples are harder to read.
How often should my pet be tested?
The Companion Animal Parasite Council recommends several fecal tests in the first year of life, then at least one or two a year for adult dogs and cats, depending on lifestyle. Dogs who go to daycare, hike or share yards sit at the higher end. Test outside the usual rhythm for:
A newly adopted pet, before it mixes with your others
A dog headed to boarding or daycare that asks for a recent result
Any pet with soft stool that keeps coming back
A few weeks after treatment, to confirm the parasite is gone
Why test a pet that looks healthy?
Adult dogs and cats often carry a light load of worms with no diarrhea, weight loss or visible worms. Monthly heartworm preventives cover some intestinal worms, but not all, and not Giardia or coccidia, so a negative test confirms the plan is working.
They had the foresight to test my cat for an extra parasite, beyond normal testing, that he turned out to have Sarah P., Google review
Can my pet's parasites spread to my family?
Some can. Roundworm and hookworm eggs or larvae in soil can infect people, especially young children who play in dirt or sandboxes; the CDC has guidance on parasites shared between pets and people. Pick up after your dog promptly, wash hands after yard work and litter scooping, and cover sandboxes, habits that count most in Olde Providence South backyards or anywhere kids and dogs share space.
What happens if the fecal test is positive?
The Petfolk SouthPark doctor picks a medicine aimed at the parasite found, since no single dewormer covers everything. Some parasites need a repeat dose and a follow-up test a few weeks later, and other pets in the house may need treatment too. The deworming page explains how treatment is planned. A fecal test is priced separately and is usually added to an exam, such as a wellness exam that starts at $99 (or is included with a PetfolkCare plan).
When is a stool problem urgent?
Go to a 24-hour emergency hospital if your pet has a lot of bloody diarrhea, vomits repeatedly, collapses or seems very weak, especially a puppy or kitten, since young pets dehydrate quickly. Milder diarrhea lasting more than a day deserves a same-day visit at Petfolk SouthPark, open 8 AM to 6 PM, seven days a week.
Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - SouthPark is at 4914 Old Sardis Rd, Unit C5, Charlotte, NC 28211. Call (980) 580-8079 or book online.
Book a visit at Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - SouthPark, or see all veterinary services in SouthPark.
Stool sample questions (yes, really)
Drop samples off at Unit C5, Old Sardis Road