Study Reveals Most Common Diseases in Dogs

Banfield report compares selected results to prior years to identify some surprising trends.

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Banfield Pet Hospital has issued a report analyzing the most common diseases in dogs and cats. The “State of Pet Health 2011 Report” collected data from 2.1 million dogs seen at Banfield’s 770 veterinary hospitals in 2010.

Flea Infestation Increases

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Some of the more interesting findings included increases in diabetes, dental disease, ear infections, and flea infestations since 2006. Hookworms and whipworms in dogs also increased during that time period.

Incidence of diabetes mellitus in dogs rose 32 percent since 2006, a startling finding. The number of dogs affected, however, is still low, with 17.5 cases per 10,000 dogs seen. Diabetes is associated with being overweight or obese, one of the top five diagnoses in adult dogs in 2010, which might help explain the increase. Diabetes is also more common in small breeds, whose popularity has risen considerably in the last 10 years, with Chihuahuas and Shih Tzus leading the way.

Heartworm disease is one of the three top health risks for pets in the Southern states, with the highest rate of infection found in Mississippi, where 6.7 percent of dogs tested were found to be infected. Heartworm disease was diagnosed in dogs in all 43 states in which Banfield has hospitals, and the American Heartworm Society reports dogs testing positive in all 50 states. Incidence of heartworm disease was similar in 2010 to 2006.

Dental disease is the most common health issue in dogs, affecting about three-quarters of all dogs over 3 years of age. Many dogs aged 1 to 3 years are affected as well. Dental disease can affect the heart and kidneys, and causes pain that is not readily apparent. There has been a 12.3 percent increase in dental disease in dogs since 2006. While tartar was the most common finding, periodontal disease grade 1 (of 4) made the top 10 list of diagnoses in all dogs, and grades 1 and 2 were both in the top 10 for small dogs. Older dogs have greater risk of developing more severe forms of dental disease. The top breeds most likely to develop periodontal disease include the Toy Poodle, Yorkshire Terrier, Maltese, Pomeranian, and Shetland Sheepdog. The best way to prevent dental disease in dogs is with daily brushing.

Otitis externa (infection or inflammation of the outer ear canal) was the second most common diagnosis in dogs, with a 9.4 percent increase since 2006. In 2010, 15.8 percent of dogs seen in Banfield hospitals were diagnosed with otitis externa. Recurrent ear infections are usually linked to allergies. Breeds that are predisposed to otitis externa include the Basset Hound, Beagle, Bulldog (American and English), Cocker Spaniel (American and English), Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, Lhasa Apso, Poodle (all sizes), Pug, Shar-Pei, and English Springer Spaniel.

Incidence of flea infestation increased 16 percent in dogs since 2006. Tick infestations were also more prevalent, with a 6 percent rate of increase over the past five years. In addition, the number of dogs diagnosed with Lyme disease more than doubled since 2006. Fleas increase during spring and summer months before peaking in October, while ticks were most commonly found in May and June. Fleas are most prevalent in Southeastern states and along the West Coast.

Hookworm prevalence in dogs increased 30 percent and whipworms 8 percent over the last five years. Hookworms are most common in Southeastern states, while whipworms are more prevalent in Midwestern and Eastern states. Tapeworms were the most common parasite found in dogs.

Knowing which diseases are most common can help pet owners be proactive in protecting their pets through preventative care, such as keeping dogs lean; toothbrushing; using heartworm, flea, and tick preventatives as needed; and having a veterinary examination at least once a year.

– Mary Straus

For more information:

Banfield Pet Hospital State of Pet Health 2011 Report
tinyurl.com/banfield

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Mary Straus has been a regular contributor to Whole Dog Journal since 2006. Mary first became interested in dog training and behavior in the 1980s. In 1997, Mary attended a seminar on wolf behavior at Wolf Park in Indiana. There, she was introduced to clicker training for the first time, and began to consider the question of how we feed our dogs after watching the wolves eat whole deer carcasses. Mary maintains and operates her own site, DogAware.com, which offers information and research on canine nutrition and health. DogAware.com has been created to help make people more "aware" of how to make the best decisions for their dogs. It's designed for people who like to ask questions and understand the reasoning behind decisions, rather than just being told what to do.  Mary has spent years doing research for people whose dogs have health problems, or who just want to learn how to feed them a better diet. Over this time, she has learned a great deal about dog nutrition and health, including the role of diet, supplements and nutraceuticals.  In 2007, she was asked by The Ivy Group to contribute to The Healthy Dog Cookbook. She previously also wrote a column for Dog World.

3 COMMENTS

  1. Can you help us with a problem for our old dog (age unknown)? He has trouble with his hind legs and it is hard for him to stand from a lying position. When he does walk his hind legs are very wobbly. Also, lately, after a short walk, his teeth start chattering. It doesn’t last very long, but yesterday (7/26), it lasted for a long time and his mouth and tongue started drooling. This condition starts after a short walk. He is part Schnauzer. He is eating well and sleeps a long time. We have just started giving him Glucosamine/Chondroitin/MSM for dogs for his hind legs I am having a hard time reading what I have typed, so forgive any misspellings. .