Banfield Pet Hospital has released its State of Pet Health 2012 Report, revealing that certain chronic diseases in dogs and cats have risen drastically since 2007. The report, compiled by Banfield’s internal research team, Banfield Applied Research and Knowledge (BARK), captured and analysed medical data from the 2 million dogs and nearly 430,000 cats cared for in Banfield’s 800 hospitals in 2011. The largest report of its kind, the State of Pet Health 2012 Report breaks down the data by these chronic diseases: overweight and obesity, arthritis, kidney disease, thyroid disease and heart disease. The 2012 report shows that in the past five years, chronic diseases have continued to increase, some at an alarming rate. Overweight and obesity increased 37 percent in dogs and 90 percent in cats, whereas arthritis increased 38 percent in dogs and 67 percent in cats. While the rise in chronic diseases is alarming, equally concerning are pet owner perceptions surrounding the overall health of pets. Banfield, along with Kelton, a leading market research and strategy consultancy, recently surveyed 2,000 dog and cat owners for a deeper understanding of pet owner perceptions regarding chronic diseases and the steps they take to keep their pets healthy. Although the 2012 report shows an increase in chronic diseases, only 36 percent of dog owners and 28 percent of cat owners said they would take their pet to see a veterinarian to manage an existing disease or condition.

“At Banfield, we strongly believe in regular preventive care and early disease diagnosis. The key to successful early disease diagnosis involves a partnership between pet owners and their veterinarian to identify changes in a pet’s overall health and behavior,” said Jeffrey Klausner, DVM, senior vice president and chief medical officer for Banfield Pet Hospital. “New this year, we uncovered pet owners’ perceptions to shine light on the common misconceptions surrounding pet health. This information is valuable as it raises awareness of pet owner knowledge gaps, identifies pet owner education opportunities and provides key learnings for the veterinary profession as a whole. In partnership with pet owners, we hope to reduce the number of pets living with undiagnosed or unmanaged chronic diseases.” While pets in the United States may be living with several chronic diseases, overweight and obesity are primary concerns due to their association with other chronic conditions—many of which can  impact the overall quality of a pet’s life. According to the report, nearly half of arthritic dogs (40 percent) and more than 1 in 3 arthritic cats (37 percent) are also overweight; almost half of diabetic dogs (42 percent) and diabetic cats (40 percent) are overweight; 40 percent of dogs with high blood pressure and 60 percent of dogs with hypothyroidism are also overweight.

According to the 2012 report, overweight and obesity affect 1 in 5 dogs and cats. The rise in pet overweight and obesity mimics the increase in humans. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), overweight and obesity in humans is also on the rise. The CDC reports that overweight/obesity in humans has increased to 1 in 3 (35.7 percent) of U.S. adults.[1]  While the rise in chronic diseases is a concern, so is the gap in medical care of cats. Despite the fact that there are more cats than dogs in the United States, Banfield treated 1.5 million more dogs than cats in 2011. Cats, however, are just as susceptible to serious, chronic diseases as dogs. One of the most significant diseases highlighted in this report is chronic kidney disease, a common cause of death in cats. This disease increased by 15 percent since 2007 and is nearly seven times more common in cats than in dogs. In 2011, 1 in every 12 geriatric cats had a diagnosis of kidney disease. Most cats diagnosed in the early stages of chronic kidney disease live about two to three years, whereas most cats diagnosed in later stages live less than six months after diagnosis.

“As outlined in this year’s State of Pet Health Report, chronic diseases are on the rise, and as a profession, we need to continually focus on regular preventive care and early disease detection,” said Ron DeHaven, DVM, chairman, CEO, American Veterinary Medical Association and chairman, Partnership for Preventive Pet Healthcare (PPPH). “The primary reason we formed the Partnership for Preventive Pet Healthcare was to help veterinarians understand and communicate the importance of regular preventive care for pets. We are pleased that Banfield is both a founding partner and a primary supporter of the PPPH, and that they are committed to sharing this valuable information in an effort to help us achieve our mission.” To view and download the full State of Pet Health 2012 Report, visit www.stateofpethealth.com.

Worms. Disgusting, horrible little things that make our dogs truly miserable.Worse still, dog worms cause illnesses and can lead to serious health problems.

According to our friends over at www.dogworms.co.uk, on the topic of diagnosing our dogs with a worm infestation, they say:

All dogs will have worms at some point in their lives with younger dogs being be more at risk. Preventing and treating worms can be relatively easy especially when caught early. There are five main types of dog worms – whip worm, round worm, hook worm and the tape worm and parasitic flat worm.

In this article, it explains the various symptoms of different types of canine worms which include:

- Weight loss
- Loose stools
- Breath odour
- General lack of coat conditionAs the article rightly explains, all dogs can have worms at some time or another. The key to preventing infestation or re-infestation is to worm your dog regularly (the veterinary recommended frequency is four times per year).

If you are concerned that your dog may have worms the best course of action is to have your dog examined by a vet.

Having a pet could be the key to fighting family flab and getting kids off the couch and into the park, according to a research project carried out by a pet food manufacturer.With an international study claiming that British children are amongst the laziest in the world, the findings offer crucial information in Britain’s high profile fight against flab.

The research claims that over four in ten families have found that their kids play more actively now they have a pet. Over a quarter of those questioned reported that their children’s interest in sedentary activities such as TV watching and playing computer games had decreased since their pet’s arrival. It is widely accepted that dog ownership leads to greater levels of exercise, however, the research shows that increased levels of active play and a decrease in sedentary activity are apparent amongst children who own dogs.

In addition, pet ownership could be the key to improving family stress levels. Over a quarter of pet owners questioned admitted that they have been less stressed since having a pet in their lives.80% of parents believe that their pet has made their children very or extremely happy. Nearly half of all respondents think that their pet has made their child feel loved, more friendly towards others and relaxed. Whilst nearly three quarters of respondents felt that their children were more caring as a result of having a pet.

Mums as well as kids feel that they benefit from pet ownership with over a half admitting that their pet plays a crucial role in offering them emotional support and companionship.Specialist in Human Animal Companion Bond research, Dr June McNicholas is not surprised by the results: “This survey shows that pets may help combat some of the “modern” problems of childhood, such as obesity and lack of exercise. Pets really do help motivate children to get away from the TV or the computer and take an active role in exercising and caring for their pet. The more involved children become in learning about their pet’s needs for a healthy diet and exercise, the more they can learn about keeping themselves healthy.”

Justine Hare, spokesperson for the pet food company that carried out the survey, comments; “It is clear from this research into pet-owning families that the benefits of having a pet permeate throughout the family and are tremendously positive, dynamic and more far-reaching that perhaps one would first think.” It’s not just humans who are struggling to beat the bulge. There is widely circulated data now showing that dog obesity is set to claim more canine lives than ever before.

The Riviera Hotel & Casino Las Vegas rolls out the red carpet for canines with the launch of a new pet-friendly program. Effective today, guests can travel with their furry friend and enjoy special hotel amenities. “We understand pets are considered part of the family. With the launch of our new dog-friendly program, we hope our guests will have added peace of mind knowing they can now travel with their beloved pet,” says Anthony Bender, vice president of marketing and advertising. 

Upon stepping “paw” at check-in, traveling pooches will receive a plastic mat, food and water dishes and dog treats. Dog owners will receive information on the property’s dog-friendly areas and designated outdoor relief area. In addition, the hotel will provide a list of pet resources in the area including grooming, daycare, boarding, pet stores, local veterinarians and more. Guests must notify the hotel of plans to bring their pet when they make a reservation. Dogs must weight 50 pounds or less and be present at check-in. Dogs must be supervised and on a leash while in public areas. For more information or to make a reservation please call (855) 468-6748 or visit www.RivieraHotel.com.

People have been urged to take extra action to ensure the welfare of their pets, livestock and wildlife during the cold weather.Chief Veterinarian Nigel Gibbens said:

“Our animals need extra care during this cold weather.  I know many pet owners are already thinking about what else they need to do. But for those who aren’t – there are some really simple steps they can take to ensure their pets stay healthy and happy during the cold weather.” Essential reading: Caring for dogs in cold weather.

Things people can do include:·       Think about housing for your pets.  Where pets, such as rabbits and guinea pigs, are kept outside in hutches think about bringing them into garages/sheds where it is warmer;

·       Horses and ponies that are kept outside should have access to shelter;·       It is important to ensure a good supply of drinking water, and ice should be cleared from it regularly;

·       There should be regular provision of food for the animals; ·       In an emergency you should contact an animal welfare group.

More information is available at www.defra.gov.uk/food-farm/animals/welfare/weather/

CWRU study finds the love of a dog or cat helps women cope with HIV/AIDSA spoonful of medicine goes down a lot easier if there is a dog or cat around. Having pets is helpful for women living with HIV/AIDS and managing their chronic illness, according to a new study from the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University.

“We think this finding about pets can apply to women managing other chronic illnesses,” said Allison R. Webel, instructor of nursing and lead author of the article, “The Relationship Between Social Roles and Self-Management Behavior in Women Living with HIV/AIDS,” which appears in the online journal Women’s Health Issues.

Webel set out to better understand how women manage their HIV/AIDS and stay on track to take their medications, follow doctors’ orders and live healthy lifestyles. She conducted 12 focus groups with 48 women to find out what they did to stay healthy. The women had an average age of 42, about 90 percent had children, and more than half were single. During the focus groups, six predominant social roles emerged that helped and hindered these women in managing their illness: pet owner, mother/grandmother, faith believer, advocate, stigmatized patient, and employee. All roles had a positive impact except stigmatized patient, which prevented women from revealing their illness and seeking out appropriate supports.

“Much information is available about the impact of work and family roles, but little is known about other social roles that women assume,” Webel said.Being a pet owner was an important surprise, added Webel, who collaborated with co-author Patricia Higgins, a professor of nursing at Case Western Reserve University.

“Pets—primarily dogs—gave these women a sense of support and pleasure,” Webel said.When discussing the effect their pets have on their lives, the women weighed in. “She’s going to be right there when I’m hurting,” a cat owner said. Another said: “Dogs know when you’re in a bad mood…she knows that I’m sick, and everywhere I go, she goes. She wants to protect me.”

The human and animal bond in healing and therapy is being recognized, Webel said, as more animals are visiting nursing homes to connect to people with dementia or hospitals to visit children with long hospital stays. Being a pet owner is just one social aspect of these women’s lives. “We found the social context in which this self-management happens is important,” Webel said.

Another strong role to emerge was advocate. Participants wanted to give back and help stop others from engaging in activities that might make them sick, the researchers report. While roles as mothers and workers are well documented, “less-defined social roles also have a positive impact on self-management of their chronic illness,” Webel said.

Well, as we’re sure you can appreciate, ‘best’ is a wholly subjective issue. Or is it?According to the consumer magazine, Which? - they’re pretty unequivocal about it. They say the best UK dog insurance product comes from John Lewis.

This is quite an interesting evolution as far as we’re concerned.We began life in 2001 advising pet owners to avoid high street names and stick with specialist providers of insurance products. e.g. don’t go with Argos/Tesco etc, stick with the likes of Direct Line and Churchill.

This, we believed to be accurate at the time, as a result of an apparent ‘cashing in’ by some companies who simply wanted to get in to the pet insurance sector but who weren’t really specialist enough to offer comprehensive cover for the wide variety of issues and health concerns that could compromise dog owners should they actually need to claim on their policies. As Bob Dylan once wrote though, times are a changin’.

Now we have a more mature dog / pet insurance market and many players have entered, exited, refined and in nearly (nearly!) all cases, improved. Which? Magazine is independent and very well respected. When they perform a consumer test, they do it thoroughly and without commercial bias. So when they pronounce a product to be ‘the best’ then, by and large, it usually is.

We tend to refrain from making subjective proclamations on these pages. However, we are more than happy to lean on the experience and good judgement of publications of authority such as Which?.On this basis, if you’re looking for the best UK dog insurance product, you can select John Lewis Pet Insurance with the full confidence that it has the trust and recommendation of one of the UK’s most respected consumer guides. That’s good enough for us!

For those of you lucky enough to be K9 Magazine Premier members, here’s what you’ve got to look forward to in the next issue (no 49) of K9 Magazine (and for those of you who haven’t yet seen the light…go here, sign up and enjoy the full benefits for a special price!) Spot The Symptoms of Canine Cushing’s Disease
Puppy Paper Training: An Introduction
Older Dog Care
K9 Health: Skin Problems in Dogs
Dog Spaying & Neutering: A Surgical Guide
How to Dog Proof Your Home
Can Dogs Get Fleas in Winter?
Is Your Vet Ripping You Off?
Dog Cold Weather Care Tips
K9 Kitchen: Healthy Homemade Dog Treats (Part III)
Tellington Touch For Dogs (special members-only report)
100 Ways to Extend Your Dog’s Life (you can buy this book for £14.99 - or get it for FREE as a K9 Magazine member)

K9 Magazine Premier members receive a FREE eBook and a special canine report every month, along with a whole host of additional member benefits as well as K9 Magazine delivered monthly.

With as many as one in three pets requiring an unexpected visit to the vet each year, pet insurance is an important part of responsible pet ownership, says Petplan the UK’s favourite pet insurance provider.

Pet insurance is designed to provide pet owners with peace of mind and financial security so that in the event of an accident or illness their pet can receive the best possible treatment available without having to consider the cost of veterinary bills.

Louise Watson agrees, knowing all too well about the importance of pet insurance. Her boxer Zeus was diagnosed with epilepsy and after extensive tests, which included an MMR scan and a spinal tap, the vet also found he had a heart murmur.

All of Zeus’s scans and tests to diagnosis him and the daily medication he now takes to control his conditions has cost over £4,000 so far. However, thankfully for Louise she took out a Petplan Covered For Life policy shortly after buying Zeus, which has meant that all these costs have been covered by Petplan.

“I’m so grateful to have decided to takeout a Petplan Covered for Life policy – it means we can cover the continual treatment for Zeus’s epilepsy and heart murmur for the rest of his life. I always recommend Petplan to my friends as I wouldn’t know what I would have done without their support.”

With an increasing number of pet insurance policies available, it can be confusing for pet owners to decide the best policy. However, a Petplan Covered for Life plan is the most comprehensive policy on the market. It renews the amount of vet fees cover at the start of each year, which enables policy holders to claim the full vet fee benefit, year after year, as long as the policy is renewed annually. It also pays for ongoing conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, skin conditions and epilepsy.

The vet fees benefit is the most claimed upon area of pet insurance policies; however Covered for Life also offers cover for complementary treatment, boarding fees and advertising and reward if the policy holder’s pet is lost or stolen. Furthermore Covered for Life includes third party liability cover for dogs starting from £1 million.

If you have a dog that suddenly develops a higher than normal thirst level or urination, it’s important to keep a close eye for signs of diabetes.Many people are unaware that diabetes in dogs is a serious and potentially fatal disease, but it can be prevented if the symptoms are recognised early.

Excessive drinking and urination are two of the first signs to be aware of.Even the colour of the dog’s urine can offer a tell tale sign as a symptom of diabetes mellitus and canine diabetes insipidus.

Sudden urination in the house should be referred to a vet for closer inspection.Diabetes can be more common in older dogs and often this new habit of suddenly urinating in the house can lead owners to mistakenly believe the dog is simply showing signs of old age.

In actual fact, the onset of urination in the house can be a result of the dog drinking more, which in turn can be a symptom of canine diabetes itself.Dogs suffering with diabetes can be prone to becoming dehydrated, particularly in hot weather.

Spotting The Symptoms of Diabetes in Dogs:- Sudden weight gain
- Sudden excessive thirst
- Increase in panting and wanting to go outside to urinate

These three common diabetes pointers can be harmless, symptoms of nothing more than ageing. But if it is an early pre-curson to diabetes, spotting it early and getting it treated can very well save your dog’s life. K9 Magazine’s Ryan O’Meara:

“Diabetes is killing more dogs than it should. Knowing how to spot the signs and working to ensure your dog’s diet and weight are properly matched to their age, breed and lifestyle is something well worth talking to your vet about.” - Article distributed by petbuzz :: social media for pet brands.