We recommend that your pet be tested on an annual basis for intestinal parasites. A small amount of fresh feces (ideally one gram or the size of a sugar cube) is mixed with a solution containing sugar (Sheather’s solution) and then spun in a centrifuge. This separates the ova (eggs) of parasites such as roundworms, whipworms, hookworms and coccidia and floats them to the surface of the test tube, which we then recover on a slide and can identify under the microscope. This allows us to choose the correct dewormer for your pet and also may influence choice of heartworm preventatives, as they have different spectrums of activity against intestinal worms, and some parasite eggs remain persistent in the soil of your yard. Even indoor only pets can become infected, as some of these parasites are passed to pets through ingestion of fleas, crickets, mice or potting soil.