Parasite Screening

Parasite screening is a highly recommended service as it enables veterinarians to conclude whether certain symptoms that your cat may be experiencing are due to an intestinal parasite. Routine screenings should be done annually to ensure that your cat’s gastrointestinal health is intact.

Screenings ensure that parasites can be taken care of as quickly as possible. Parasites prevent cats from being able to digest and absorb nutrients properly. This results in an array of symptoms including malnutrition, diarrhea, vomiting, poor growth and/or weight loss, an increase in appetite, anemia, and poor coat development. Additionally, certain parasites like hookworms, giardia, and roundworms can be spread to humans.

At the Feline Medical Clinic, we screen for hookworms, roundworms, tapeworms, whipworms, lungworms, and additional intestinal parasites. Parasites can be diagnosed largely through fecal examinations. Treatment is based on the kind of parasite that your cat has and the severity of your cat’s symptoms. We recommend deworming indoor/outdoor cats yearly regarless of their fecal exam results due to their increased risk of parasites.

By engaging in annual parasite screenings, you reduce your cat’s overall parasite risk. If you have a kitten, it is beneficial to supply the clinic with fecal samples during each of its vaccination visits.