The report, compiled by Banfield's internal research team, Banfield Applied Research and Knowledge (BARK), analyzed data collected in 2012 from nearly 2.2 million dogs and 460,000 cats cared for in Banfield's more than 800 hospitals in 43 states.
The State of Pet Health 2013 Report includes state-specific statistics regarding lifespan of pets, and provides a comprehensive summary of overall pet health, including common and chronic diagnoses.
According to the report, pets are living longer: the average lifespan of a cat in 2012 was 12 years, which has increased by 10 percent since 2002—adding a full year to a cat's life. The average lifespan of a dog in 2012 was 11 years, a 4 percent increase adding a half a year to a dog's average lifespan.
Additional findings in the 2013 report include the impact spaying and neutering has on a pet's lifespan. Data revealed neutered male cats live, on average, 62 percent longer than unneutered males and spayed female cats live, on average, 39 percent longer than unspayed female cats.
An increase in longevity was also seen in dogs. Neutered male dogs live, on average, 18 percent longer than their unneutered counterparts and spayed female dogs live, on average, 23 percent longer than unspayed females.
Due to the fact that dogs and cats age much faster than humans—one year for a human is roughly five to seven years for a dog or cat—it is especially important that pet owners understand the potential factors that may impact how long their pet lives.
In addition to spaying and neutering, other contributing factors such as genetics, breed type and size, a pet's geographic location and the amount of preventive care a pet receives may have an impact on a pet's overall lifespan. The cornerstones of preventive care include vaccinations, parasite control, dental care, nutrition and behavior training, among other things.
"As a practice, Banfield is a believer that regular preventive care is essential to helping pets live happier, healthier and longer lives—a core piece of that preventive care is twice-annual examinations and early disease diagnosis," said Jeffrey Klausner, DVM, MS, DACVIM, senior vice president and chief medical officer for Banfield Pet Hospital.
"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. Together, we hope to protect pets from preventable diseases, help detect and manage chronic conditions and work to ensure that all pets are as healthy as possible for as long as possible."
For more information about Banfield Pet Hospital visit www.banfield.com. For the full State of Pet Health 2013 Report, please visit www.StateofPetHealth.com.
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