How We Fail Our Dogs (Part II)
The decrease in the number of pet visits to veterinary hospitals since 2006–before the recession–has many wondering if pets today are receiving adequate medical care. Only 30% of veterinary canine patients are pronounced healthy, according to the Banfield report, as compared to 50% that are in need of dental care. Conclusion: only 33% of us give our dogs a good quality of life–health!
A yearly dental cleaning and some work at home and dogs won’t suffer from dental disease, according to Dr. Jeffrey Klausner, Banfield’s chief medical officer.
According to the Banfield Pet Hospital State of Pet Health Report based on over 2 million dogs, 50% of all dogs are in need of dental work; ear problems will be part of the health diagnoses of 18%; and over 10% will be overweight–with 50% under 2 years of age! Other common problems include dermatitis, fleas, lameness, skin tumors and conjunctivitis–most are common preventable conditions easily diagnosed in a yearly hospital visit and with home attention need not become major problems.
Klausner hypothesized that the surprising increase in the instances of fleas could be due in part to pet owners buying preventative medications from big box stores and over the Internet without benefit of veterinarian education. When it comes to internal parasites, the report showed that round worms and tapeworms were more common than heartworm.
Small dog breeds were most commonly seen at Banfield hospitals: the number of pit-bull-type dogs increased 47% in the past 10 years.
The Banfield report is available at www.banfield.com by searching for “state of pet health”.
Next up: Part III, Health care solutions and the effect of the Internet
FROM GREAT DANES TO GOLDFISH. If it flies, crawls, runs, swims or slithers, legislation in some community or county or state would prevent pets from being sold in pet stores. Shelters are being over-run with every imagined species and more hamsters are euthanized than any other animal! Some shelters are even agonizing over cloudy goldfish bowls. The question–treat the goldfish so they are adoptable and healthy or flush them down the toilet! Stay aware of all animal legislation.
READERS INVITED TO READ BETWEEN THE LINES. Matthew Allwein, a 2010 criminal justice graduate from Lock Haven University, is the newest member of the five-member Kennel Compliance Specialist Team. Listed on his inspection record are the well-known Main Line Rescue and Kimbertal Kennels (Doberman Pinschers). Both kennels have stirred national controversy.
Jul 10, 2011 | | Uncategorized