My Pet World: Pet health stats a valuable source of info on dogs and cats across the country
Another feline virus, feline leukemia, doesn't allow cats to live out a normal lifespan. While treatment can extend their lives and quality of life, ultimately a feline leukemia diagnosis is terminal. The good news is, instances of feline leukemia have declined by five percent over the past five years.
Vaccines are available for both FIV and feline leukemia, and Lefebvre says many cats aren't likely to need either vaccine. However, if cats do go outdoors and/or may interact in unknown cats, a vaccine makes sense.
Certainly vaccines do save lives. One example relates to the potentially fatal canine parvovirus, which has declined by nine percent over the past five years.
"This disease (to which puppies are most susceptible) has only declined because people are vaccinating," says Lefebvre. "If people become complacent, we'll see more canine parvovirus."
The states where canine parvovirus occurs most often are New Mexico, Texas and Nevada.
Review more data at www.stateofpethealth.com.
----
CHECK OUT AMERICA'S FAVORITE BREEDS
Here are the six most common dog and cat breeds seen at Banfield the Pet Hospitals in 2013:
Dogs:
...continued
(c) 2014 DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.
