Data was taken and analyzed from the over 2 million dogs and approximately 430,000 cats that were cared for in Banfield’s 800 hospitals nationwide in 2011. As one of the largest reports of its type, data is broken down by chronic diseases including overweight and obesity, arthritis, kidney disease, thyroid disease and heart disease.

Chronic diseases have continued to rise over the past five years. In dogs, overweight and obesity went up 37 percent, and in cats it increased 90 percent Arthritis is also on the rise, with a 38 percent increase in dogs and a 67 percent increase in cats. In conjunction with this, a marketing research study undertaken by Banfield on 2,000 dogs and cat owners showed a correlative finding. Even with the increase in chronic diseases, 36 percent of dog owners and 28 percent of cat owners revealed they would have their pet see a veterinarian to manage it.

Jeffrey Klausner, DVM, senior vice president and chief medical officer for Banfield Pet Hospital, shared, “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… In partnership with pet owners, we hope to reduce the number of pets living with undiagnosed or unmanaged chronic diseases."

In correlation with this report, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that human obesity and being overweight has increased to nearly 36 percent (or 1 in 3) U.S. adults.

Banfield was found in 1955 in Portland, Oregon, and is the largest veterinary practice in the world. They joined the Mars, Inc. company and have over 2,600 veterinarians working in 800 hospitals nationwide. For more information about Banfield, visit www.banfield.com.