Health
Why Fecal Testing Matters for Your Pet’s Health
We test for intestinal parasites that left untreated can be detrimental to your pet.
- Roundworms are the most common intestinal parasites. Adult worms look like spaghetti strands.
- Whipworms and Hookworms are intestinal parasites which cannot be seen with the naked eye. They attach to the intestinal lining and decrease the effectiveness of nutrient absorption.
- Tapeworms can occasionally be seen with the naked eye and look like flat rice segments. They attach themselves to the host’s intestines causing malabsorption of nutrients. Tapeworms result from the ingestion of fleas or other intermediate host. If your pet has tapeworms, you must also treat for fleas.
- Giardia is a single celled organism that cannot be seen with the naked eye. Giardia is contracted by drinking water from contaminated lakes, streams and even puddles. The parasite damages the lining of the intestinal tract and decreases effectiveness of nutrient absorption. Giardia initially may cause bouts of diarrhea but sometimes goes without obvious symptoms.
- Coccidia is a single celled organism that is most commonly found in puppies and kittens intestinal tracts. As pets age, they tend to develop a natural immunity to the effects of coccidia. Adult pets may carry coccidia intestinally and shed the cysts in the feces, but show no external symptoms.
Yes. Roundworms, giardia, hookworms, whipworms, and in rare cases tapeworms can all be transmitted to humans. Removing feces from the yard immediately and using proper sanitary protocols, such as washing hands after handling stool and before handling food, keep human infection rates low.
Routinely we recommend testing twice yearly. If your pet is experiencing diarrhea, we recommend a stool sample be checked to rule out intestinal parasites. If your pet has been treated for intestinal parasites, we recommend checking a stool sample after treatment to be sure the treatment has been effective.
There is no single medication that will treat every intestinal parasite. While breeders and shelters often use proper de-worming protocols, pets living in such environments may simply be chronically exposed to parasites in the environment. Generally, a broad spectrum de-wormer is given to treat common intestinal parasites. Pets may also be exposed to intestinal parasites again after treatment, especially in crowded or poor sanitary conditions.
Yes ! Many intestinal parasites are transmitted by wildlife, such as coyote, fox and raccoon. Additionally, pets can be exposed to internal parasites by hunting infected rodents or birds. Intestinal parasites can also stay in the environment for long periods of time and are not necessarily eliminated with a hard winter freeze.
Symptoms can include diarrhea, sometimes with blood. You may also see adult roundworms or tapeworms in the stool or around the anus. Roundworms can also be seen in vomit. Perianal irritation or scooting may also occur. Long term infestations may cause weight loss and/or lethargy.
Yes. Since most intestinal parasites are not visible to the naked eye, you may not see any evidence of such. Diarrhea may only be present in advanced infections. My pet never goes outside. Can my pet still get intestinal parasites? Yes. Intestinal parasites can be passed when your pet ingests fleas (during grooming) or rodents (which may live in your house, unknown to you). Intestinal parasites can also be passed from mother to puppy in utero or during nursing. Intestinal parasites can also be found in infected soil samples which you could bring into the house on your shoes or clothing. Some parasites are also found in contaminated food and water sources.
Yes. For dogs we recommend monthly treatment with Interceptor which in addition to preventing heartworm also controls roundworm, hookworm and whipworm infestation. For cats, we recommend monthly treatment with Revolution. Even indoor cats risk parasite exposure from multiple sources. Parasites can be tracked in on the bottom of shoes and introduced through other pets that live or visit your home. Additionally, while some cats are considered by their owners to live exclusively indoor, cats can sneak out or be carried outside to enjoy a sunny afternoon. For these reasons, we strongly recommend applying Revolution monthly. Revolution prevents heartworm, ear mites, sarcoptic mange, hookworms, fleas, and roundworms. Additionally, Revolution is helpful against some types of ticks.
Stool samples are sent to a laboratory for comprehensive testing. This includes checking for ova and parasites by centrifugation and also a Giardia Elisa test. Results are available within one to two business days.
