Intestinal Parasites

Intestinal parasites are a common problem with puppies and kittens but most can be easily treated once they are diagnosed. Roundworms, tapeworms, hookworms, and whipworms are the most common intestinal parasites in puppies and kittens. Other intestinal parasites include microorganisms such as coccidia and Giardia. We recommend having at least two stool samples checked during your puppy / kitten’s first year followed by annual fecal exams as an adult. Your dog or your cat will be constantly exposed to parasites, many of which are transmissible to people (please refer to “Pet to People Worms”). We recommend monthly deworming with Sentinel® for all dogs and Intercepter® for all outdoor cats.   For indoor only cats, a  single deworming annually is sufficient.

Fecal Centrifugation

Intestinal parasitism is diagnosed by examining a stool sample microscopically to identify the tiny worm eggs and microorganisms. There are many methods for performing this important test, many of which are not very accurate.  When we perform a fecal analysis on your pet, we use a superior method known as fecal centrifugation.  This method of testing, while more expensive than other more commonly used tests, will be up to 40% more accurate in diagnosing parasites in your pet.

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