Fecal flotation is a routine veterinary test used to diagnose internal parasites or worms. The test detects the eggs of mature parasites that live inside the body and pass their eggs to the outside by shedding them into the host’s stool. Some of these parasites are worm-like, while others are tiny single-celled organisms called protozoa. Most of the parasites live in the intestine, but a few live elsewhere in the body.
Our doctors recommend a yearly fecal test done as part of the annual check-up is usually sufficient to monitor healthy adult pets. However, more frequent fecal testing will likely be recommended if an adult pet is not on year-round prevention, develops diarrhea, eats raw food, exhibits unexplained weight loss, or has a history of recurrent parasitic infections.
For more information about fecal tests, check out our pet health library!