Pet stool testing: What a fecal exam reveals about your pet’s health

Fecal exams are a common component of your pet’s preventive care. Why? Because they’re a GREAT way to check for parasites that may be living inside your pet. Parasites are common in dogs, particularly puppies, and fecal exams can help us prevent parasites from growing into a larger issue.

Why are fecal exams important?

The reason fecal exams are important is because parasites hiding within your pet’s body can cause life-threatening issues for your pet. Not only that, but they’re a public health concern. Gnarly parasites like roundworms and hookworms can transfer from animal to human (gross, right?). Fortunately, this transfer is rare, but parasites are something all pet owners should take seriously.

In addition to being a vital part of preventive care, if your pet comes to our hospital with diarrhea, vomiting, or weight loss, we will request a fecal exam to help us better understand what is causing their issues.

What do fecal exams detect?

We analyze your pet’s poop for over 100 parasites to ensure their insides are parasite-free! The most common parasites we test for are:

• Tapeworm
• Roundworm
• Hookworm
• Whipworm
• Giardia
• Coccidia

Though fecal exams are typically used for the detection of parasites, they can also be used to look for bacterial overgrowth and signs of inflammation in the presence of red and white blood cells. Knowing what type of bacteria is present can help us decide what medications may be needed for bacterial overgrowth that causes vomiting or diarrhea. It may also help us decide if supplements like probiotics are needed.

How do fecal exams work?

First, we collect a stool sample. This may be done manually by veterinary staff using a gloved finger or fecal loop, or we might ask the client to bring in a fresh sample (not dried out). If the stool has been left outside too long, it runs the risk of being contaminated by other parasites. The sample may be analyzed at Banfield or sent to an outside lab — it all depends on what the sample is being evaluated for.

For certain parasites, we may do a fecal flotation, which looks for eggs that float to the top after a solution is added to the sample. If we need to look for other things like Giardia trophozoties or bacteria, we may look at the sample directly. All of this is evaluated with a microscope.

How often should a dog get a fecal exam?

We recommend one fecal exam per year for adult dogs, but we may recommend additional fecal exams for your dog if they’re active outside, still a puppy, traveling overseas, or having issues with diarrhea, vomiting, inappetence, or weight loss. For adult cats, we recommend one fecal exam per year, and additional exams if they’re a kitten or spend a lot of time outside. (Tip: Fecal exams are included in our Optimum Wellness Plans for dogs and cats.)

How do I collect my pet’s stool at home?

We recommend collecting your pet’s poo within 12 hours of your appointment time. For doggos, please bring in a quarter-sized sample in a plastic bag; for cats, grab a fresh sample from their litter box and put it in a plastic bag. For health and safety concerns, please make sure to wear gloves and zip that baggie tightly to avoid a poo-tastrophe.

Fecal tests are included in your Optimum Wellness Plan and recommended for puppies, kittens, and adult pets alike. For the young ones, fecal testing follows their vaccine schedule, so be sure to bring a fresh sample to each vaccine appointment. For adults, bring a fresh sample to their comprehensive exam every six months.

How much does a vet charge for a fecal exam?

Fecal exams are included in our Optimum Wellness Plans for both dogs and cats. If your pet is not on an Optimum Wellness Plan, ask your veterinarian about the cost of a fecal exam.