Fecal Exams in Wake Forest, NC, From Your Local Vet

Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Wake Forest is a vet in Wake Forest, NC, that checks dog and cat stool for intestinal parasites in its in-house lab. Most adult pets need a fecal exam once a year, and puppies and kittens more often.

Many parasites cause no signs at first. A pet can look healthy while shedding worm eggs into your yard and the places other dogs walk.

Call (919) 891-6444, book online or drop by with a fresh sample.

What does a fecal exam find?

A fecal exam at Petfolk Wake Forest looks under the microscope for eggs and organisms from common intestinal parasites, including:

• Roundworms, very common in puppies and kittens

• Hookworms, which feed on blood and can cause anemia

• Whipworms, a cause of long-lasting diarrhea in dogs

• Giardia and coccidia, tiny single-cell parasites that spread through water and stool

Tapeworms often slip past the test. You're more likely to see them yourself, as small rice-like bits near the tail, so tell the vet if you have.

How often should my pet have a fecal test?

Most healthy adult dogs and cats at Petfolk Wake Forest need a fecal exam at their yearly wellness visit. Puppies and kittens get several in their first months. Pets with diarrhea, weight loss or a new rescue background should be tested sooner. Dogs who go to daycare, boarding or dog parks often benefit from testing twice a year.

How do I collect a good stool sample?

A fresh sample gives the most accurate result. At home:

1. Pick up a sample within about 12 hours of your next visit.

2. Use a clean bag or container, and a spoonful is enough.

3. Keep it cool, in a sealed bag, away from food. Don't freeze it.

4. Label it with your pet's name and the time you collected it.

If you can't get one, the team at Petfolk Wake Forest can often collect a small sample during the visit with gentle, Fear Free handling.

The vet from test determined issue and gave prescription.

Adam R., Google review

Shared ground, shared parasites

Dog parks and trails are where many dogs pick up parasites. Flaherty Dog Park on N. White Street is a popular off-leash spot, so stool left behind there can spread worms to the next dog. Falls Lake State Recreation Area asks visitors to pick up after pets, noting on its activities page that pet waste is not fertilizer and can put plants, other animals and people at risk for disease.

Always bag and toss your dog's poop on the Smith Creek and Sanford Creek greenways too.

Parasites people can catch

Some, yes. Roundworms and hookworms can infect people, especially children who play in soil or sand where infected pets have gone. Washing hands after picking up poop, keeping sandboxes covered and keeping pets on prevention all lower the risk. Ask the vet if anyone in your home has questions about this.

What does a fecal exam cost?

A fecal exam at Petfolk Wake Forest is priced as a lab test and is often run at the yearly wellness exam, which starts at $99. You'll get an estimate before any test or treatment. The final bill can differ if the plan changes during the visit.

If the test finds parasites, see deworming in Wake Forest for what happens next. For loose stool that won't stop, see vomiting and diarrhea treatment.

When stool problems can't wait

Call the clinic the same day if your pet has bloody diarrhea, or diarrhea with vomiting or a poor appetite. If your pet is weak, pale or collapses, especially a young puppy, go to a 24-hour emergency hospital such as BluePearl Pet Hospital in Raleigh.

Bring your sample here

Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Wake Forest is at 3600 Rogers Branch Rd, Suite 103, Wake Forest, NC 27587. Parking is right outside, so dropping off a sample is quick.

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