Banfield's State of Pet Health 2014 Report highlights prevalence of infectious diseases

The recently released Banfield Pet Hospital State of Pet Health 2014 Report offers a comprehensive analysis of the prevalence of various infectious diseases that affect the nation's cats and dogs.

The report analyzed data collected from almost 2.3 million dogs and 470,000 cats that were treated in Banfield's nationwide network of animal hospitals in 2013.

Here's a look at some of the new numbers featured in Banfield's report:

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infection

According to the State of Pet Health 2014 Report, one of every 300 cats seen in Banfield hospitals was diagnosed with FIV.

The numbers also showed that male cats are three times as likely to be infected with FIV as female cats, and that intact cats older than 1 year were 3.5 times as likely to be infected with FIV as same-aged spayed/neutered cats.

States with the highest risk of FIV infection were:

  1. Oklahoma
  2. Iowa
  3. Arkansas
  4. South Carolina
  5. Indiana

Lyme disease infection in dogs

Approximately one in every 130 dogs was infected with the bacterium that causes Lyme disease in 2013, Banfield reported. The report highlighted a definitive link between dog size and infection risk, reporting that infection was twice as common in large breeds as in toy/small breeds.

The 2013 infection numbers represent a 21 percent increase since 2009, corresponding to a similar increase in tick infestation during that period, Banfield said. Dogs' risk of contracting Lyme disease is largely tied to their geographic location, as dogs in Northeastern states were found to be more likely to have the disease than in other areas.

The states with the highest rates of infection were:

  1. New Hampshire
  2. Massachusetts
  3. Rhode Island
  4. Connecticut
  5. Pennsylvania

Prevalence of other diseases

In addition to Lyme disease and FIV, Banfield is tracking infectious diseases such as canine influenza, leptospirosis, canine distemper, toxoplasmosis, and Giardia. The 2014 report found that:

  • One out of every 290 dogs seen at Banfield hospitals in 2013 tested positive for parvovirus infection.
  • One out of 230 dogs was infected with Giardia.
  • One in every 10 cats had an upper respiratory infection.
  • One in every 45 cats was infested with ear mites.
  • Almost 2 percent of dogs seen at Banfield hospitals had kennel cough.

Read more of the report

To read the full 25-page State of Pet Health 2014 Report, download it for free at Banfield's State of Pet Health website.

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