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.

Chronic Pet Diseases Rising is a post from: Pet Friendly World

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 condition

As 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.

How do I Know if My Dog has Worms? is a post from: Pet Friendly World

PDSA, the UK’s leading veterinary charity, gives their advice on a variety of dog and cat health matters plus general pet care tips to ensure your pet looks and feels its best.

Diet and nutrition
A pet’s diet is very important in helping to maintain good health. Pets should have a well balanced diet suitable for their breed and species. A recent survey by PDSA has found that around one in three dogs and one in five cats is overweight – which is bad news for our furry companions. “Many people simply don’t realise that pet obesity can cause serious health problems,” says PDSA Senior Veterinary Surgeon, Elaine Pendlebury. “Overweight pets are at a higher risk of many conditions, including heart disease, diabetes and arthritis.

Coat care and grooming
Skin and coat condition are very good indicators of a pet’s health. Many vets think of coat and skin condition reflects the overall health and well being of pets. For dogs in particular, cleaning and grooming regularly is important in maintaining a healthy glossy coat. Fleas and other infections can also affect the condition of the coat, so carry out a regular flea treatment programme as recommended by your vet. In addition, what you feed your pet affects the condition of the coat – research has shown that a high quality diet produces a better quality coat.

In cats, regular grooming is an important part of the bonding process (it is especially important in longhaired cats). It gets rid of dead hairs, and so prevents fur balls. It also gives owners a good opportunity to check for any lumps and bumps etc.

Clipping
Many heavily coated dogs benefit from having their hair trimmed and thinned for summer.

Nail care
Owners should check their pet’s nails regularly as overgrown nails can be very uncomfortable. Regular walks may help keep a dog’s nails in check, however they might need clipping from time to time. For cats, providing a scratching post at the correct height is important to help them condition their own claws, but some elderly or infirm cats may need to have their claws trimmed.

Bathing
As dogs sweat very little, they do not need to bathe as often as people. The skin and hair of a normal dog remains clean and healthy through regular dry grooming. Excessive bathing can be detrimental to a dog as it can remove the coat’s natural oils and dehydrate the skin. There are situations where dogs do require a bath – such as after rolling in a noxious substance or if the vet recommends or prescribes a shampoo for a skin condition. However, for most dogs, bathing once every two or three months is adequate. Use a mild hypoallergenic dog shampoo unless your vet advises you otherwise – human shampoos can be too harsh for a dog’s skin.

Cats tend to be quite clean animals, grooming themselves with their tongues, so they don’t usually require bathing unless they are particularly dirty or unable to clean themselves through illness, injury or old age.

Owners should always seek advice from their vet on coat care, including the correct way to bathe cats and dogs.

Did You Ever Think About Spring Cleaning Your Pet? is a post from: Pet Friendly World

"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.

Las Vegas Pet Friendly Hotel Initiative is a post from: Pet Friendly World

“It’s a God send”; “It really works”, “A brilliant piece of kit”; “You get results from just one walk” – these are just some of the many comments Ancol has received from customers about its new Happy at Heel harness and lead set.

Developed in partnership with leading dog trainers Pure Dog Listeners (PDL), this unique product solves one of the most common problems for dog owners – pulling on the lead.

Pure Dog Listeners Director Caroline Spencer explains: “The Happy at Heel harness aims to achieve a happy dog and a happy owner so both can enjoy a walk. It is a fun and interactive way in which owners can train dogs not to pull on the lead.”

Sarah Lane, Sales Director at Ancol adds; “We are delighted to work with Pure Dog Listeners on such a great product. Everyone who has tested the harness is amazed by its success and recommends it to their family and friends.”

The harness is available in four sizes and comes with a free training DVD which shows how the harness works and offers extra advice for dog owners.

The harness is part of an exclusive PDL training range, which includes a Training Dumbbell and Floating Dummy for dogs to retrieve. It also includes the Home Line lead, which is ideal for dog training in the home, and the Long Line lead, perfect for training outdoors.

For more information and to find a local stockist visit www.ancol.co.uk or call 01922 402428. Alternatively you can buy online at www.puredoglisteners.com. To see the harness in action go to www.youtube.com/ancolpetproducts

Ancol Makes Dogs Happy At Heel is a post from: Pet Friendly World

In his recent State of the Union speech and subsequently, President Obama warned colleges that schools can't just "jack up tuition every single year" and simply expect people to pay it, adding that, "If you can't stop tuition from going up, the funding you get from taxpayers every year will go down." Obama is targeting Perkins loans, work-study jobs, and Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants.

In response, CVM deans say that they agree with the need to do something about escalating tuition in higher education, which burdens graduates across all professions with often-hefty payments at a time when they are trying to get their careers off the ground. Deans often have only limited, shared decision-making power over tuition rates. For example, in the public sphere, states approve the tuition increases that universities propose and governing boards implement. In simplest terms, students are paying more because the state is paying far less.

The AAVMC is working to publicize and increase loan forgiveness or loan restructuring payment options. Deans point out that they are working hard to reduce the overall cost to educate students through improved campus efficiencies and that, despite state cuts, their tuition increases are less than the national average. For example, according to the College Board, average undergraduate tuition at state colleges rose 8.3 percent this year, and, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges, resident medical school tuition rose 7.7 percent, while the average tuition at state CVMs rose 6.6 percent.

According to a recent AAVMC survey, the belt tightening comes at a cost. Of the 28 deans, 71.4 percent reported that state cuts are reducing their schools' ability to hire and maintain faculty; 53.5 percent reported that the cuts are affecting their ability to maintain some academic course offerings for students; and 50 percent reported that cuts are interfering with efforts to provide extension and outreach services.

In 2011, the AAVMC released Roadmap for Veterinary Medical Education in the 21st Century: Responsive, Collaborative, Flexible, a report found at www.aavmc.org/roadmap that was compiled by the North American Veterinary Medical Education Consortium (NAVMEC).  As reported in that publication, many CVMs have laid off staff members, reduced the number of faculty members, and eliminated programs.

"What is most worrisome is that CVMs report that they have been unable to fill a significant number of faculty positions," said Dr. Gerhardt Schurig, AAVMC president and dean of the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. "Some hopefully temporary cost-cutting measures that can help are to hire part-time or adjunct faculty or slightly increase the student-to-faculty ratio, but we don't want to do that to such a degree that we dilute the quality of the veterinary medical education experience, and we particularly need to manage the size of clinical medical rotations in order to provide a hands-on, individualized educational experience."

Many CVMs are part of schools established through passage of the 1862 Morrill Land-Grant Act, which stressed "agriculture and mechanic arts," with most financial support coming from state departments of agriculture. "With time, and the shift of the North American population to urban settings, [direct] financial support to land-grant universities has declined sharply, in stark contrast to what has been provided to schools of human medicine, dentistry, and nursing," says the NAVMEC report. The last major influx of federal funds to veterinary schools came in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Today, agriculture and farm animal care is just one of the multiple roles veterinarians play, and a shift toward companion animal practice, the human-animal bond, and a "one health" approach has occurred. "One health" focuses on the intersection of human, animal, and eco-system health. "Veterinarians are the only professionals educated in a comparative, cross-species approach to diagnostics, epidemiology, and preventive medicine, which is important for a comprehensive, global, 'one health' direction. As this new direction grows, the demand for veterinarians will grow. It will only take a major outbreak of a disease common to humans and animals, bioterrorism attack, or a compromise of the food system infrastructure to dramatically spike an immediate need for additional veterinarians," Schurig said.

From a financial perspective, "The focus of CVMs shifted and many traditional federal revenue streams dried up without any major new funding to support the important work that CVMs do," Schurig said. "Now, on top of that, we're coping with a drastic reduction in state financial support."

 "In light of recent trends, CVMs, the AAVMC, and the AVMA need to pursue the NAVMEC report's recommended approaches now more than ever," said Dr. Bennie Osburn, interim executive director of the AAVMC. The report recommends that colleges of veterinary medicine provide a cost-effective, quality education with a "one health" approach where CVMs share educational resources and partner with the AVMA and other stakeholders nationally, internationally, and locally, to develop economically viable approaches to veterinary medical education.

The Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) is a nonprofit membership organization working to protect and improve the health and welfare of animals, people, and the environment by advancing academic veterinary medicine. Its members include all 33 veterinary medical colleges in the United States and Canada, nine departments of veterinary science, eight departments of comparative medicine, three veterinary medical education institutions, nine international colleges of veterinary medicine, and five affiliate international colleges of veterinary medicine.

US Vet Colleges Feel The Financial Pinch is a post from: Pet Friendly World

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/

Cold Weather Warning For Pet Owners is a post from: Pet Friendly World

A 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.

Pets Help HIV Sufferers (Study) is a post from: Pet Friendly World

Meet Kate…

In January 2011 I became a dog owner. I now have two – Baxter a 1 year old Border Terrier and Kevin, a 7 month old Yorkie. I cannot imagine life without dogs now that I have them but with my job, over the past year I’ve found it quite difficult.

I’m a DJ, and at least two weekends a month I drive up and down the country to DJ at various nightclubs. It’s great fun but I also use it as an opportunity to take my dogs on a little adventure, so we can explore the beautiful english countryside, beaches and woodland together. The only downside is that I haven’t found a great deal of ‘Dog Friendly’ Hotels and most of the time, the promoter will book a hotel for me that isn’t pet friendly meaning the dogs stay at home with my partner and I travel alone. So I decided to review Dog Friendly Hotels for K9 Magazine and our first stop is BRIGHTON.

Brighton is in East Sussex, on the south coast of Great Britain. Popular with tourists and day-trippers, it offers something for everyone. Beautiful restaurants, cool and funky bars, lovely beaches and parks as well as being the shopping destination from heaven. It is also one of the most cultural cities in Europe. We are visiting The Oriental Hotel…..

Friday 7pm: Bags packed, car filled with petrol, Baxter and Kevin strapped safely in the back seat and off we go. Goodbye Birmingham, see you in a couple of days.

Friday 10pm: A pretty smooth journey, both the doggies well behaved although we’ve only had Kevin one week and he’d not been in a car before meeting us. He was a very nervous traveller and was sick just as we pulled up out side The Oriental Hotel (much to the annoyance of my other half Adam – it went all over his cardigan).

Friday 10:30pm: Sick cleaned up, car unloaded, we look as though we’re staying for a month with the amount of luggage we’re carrying! Check in was easy and the staff are very friendly. As you enter The Oriental, it’s warm and small, but not dingy. Very cosy in fact. A cute cocktail bar on the ground floor also acts as the reception area and to the left of it are around 6 tables with chairs, where breakfast is served.

Friday 12am: After returning home from a local pub with friends, we find Kevin and Baxter snuggled up on the beautiful chocolate brown suede sofa in our suite. We are in Room 7, the very top of the building. It is quiet and secluded which is perfect for us but I guess the only down side is that we’re having to go down 3 flights of stairs to take the boys out for wee wee’s. Still, every cloud – climbing stairs is good for you!

The room is spacious, and well thought out. A living area as you enter, with a gorgeous and modern red and white bathroom off of it. It’s open plan which I like and as you move in to the room to our left is a beautiful big and extremely comfortable bed. Wooden flooring is a bonus in case the doggies have any accidents. We fall asleep and look forward to walkies the next day.

Saturday 10am: The memory foam mattress was divine! We all slept well. Kevin and Baxter woke me at 8am licking my face. I popped them on their leads, guided them down the stairs and walked out of the hotel so they could pee. As I look to my left I can see the sea! A 1 minute walk down to the beach and the boys are off their leads running like lunatics across the pebbles towards the sea. Baxter braves it and enjoys a brief splash in the sea while Kevin watches with caution.

Read the rest of Kate’s review, including her evening at The Ginger Dog and photoshoot with Brighton Dog Photography at K9Magazine.com

Kate Lawler Visit Pet Friendly Brighton for K9 Magazine is a post from: Pet Friendly World

Never give up on your dog, no matter how exhausted you are. Without reinforcement, your dog will revert to his old behaviors. The learning process for dogs is a constant one; with reminders and reinforcements needed along the way.

During inappropriate chewing training, set your dog up for success. Even more so, an inappropriately-chewing dog needs to be protected. Items like hairbrushes can cause a dog to choke or could block their airway.

If you have a puppy that likes to chew on everything when you are away from home, the easiest solution is to consider an indoor or outdoor kennel to use in your absence. If this is not an option for you, the simplest way keep him from chewing is to close the doors to rooms that have appealing items and put other tempting items out of his reach.

Interesting dog health tip: Read up on food intolerance in dogs your dog's behavior is directly influenced by their diet.

Accidents will happen sometimes when you house train your pet. Make sure to clean up accidents as soon as they happen. If the accident is left behind, the smell will make your pet think it's okay to eliminate in that spot. It will be difficult to discourage his eliminating in that spot once a habit is formed. Many cleaning products are made just to eliminate this order, you can find them at any pet store.

If you are looking to train your dog to not use the bathroom inside, housebreaking pads are counter productive. Wee-wee pads are prone to leaks, which make your dog think that it is okay to eliminate in that area due to the smell. Housebreaking pads encourage dogs that indoor bathroom use is okay; similar objects the shape and size of the pads may be used by a mistaken puppy. Always teach your pet that he must go outside to use the bathroom.

The most important part of dog training is to ensure that dog know its name. If you want to have control of your dog, you have to teach him to respond to you. Call them to you at least ten times a day. Never call your dog over to you in order to punish it, either.

Get your dog the proper nutrition required for canine health. An unhealthy diet can have several negative effects on your dog. If your dog isn't getting what it needs to stay healthy, it could really struggle to find the energy for training or may act out in other ways. By making small changes to your dog's diet, you can alter their receptiveness to the training.

If your dog has problems with destructive chewing, he may be suffering from anxiety or boredom. Enclosing him in a crate will prevent accidents from occurring and leaving him a chew toy will discourage destruction of your property.

People are often amazed about how easy it can be to train your dog and how quick they see changes. If you are having behavior problems with your dog, read on for some solutions.

A Simple, Easy Dog Training Plan For 2012 is a post from: Pet Friendly World