Are Stool Samples Really Important?

Harry here and that post card arrived in the mail that says I am due for my yearly exam and vaccines. Mom called to set up my appointment and the girl who answered the phone recommended that my mom bring in a stool sample as well. They told her that despite the fact I am an indoor cat only they still recommend routine stool checks to rule out intestinal parasites. Stool checks are important for cats, dogs, small animals and other exotic pets. If you are curious if your pet should have a stool sample checked then contact your veterinarian. Some of the most common parasites that dogs and cats can get are tapeworms, roundworms, hookworms or whipworms.  Some parasites are zoonotic, which means they can be transferred between humans and pets, therefore it is important to practice proper hygiene when cleaning up after your pet.  Roundworms are actually the leading cause of childhood blindness so you can see why the vet takes this so serious.  I asked Dr. Paroff to give you the facts about stool samples and there importance, so I’ll turn the floor over to him.