Second annual Veterinary Emerging Topics (VET)™ Report

Banfield Pet Hospital once again joined forces with the North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) to publish the second annual VETERINARY EMERGING TOPICS (VET)^TM Report. The 2018 VET Report focuses on feline antimicrobial usage and the mounting public health issue of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), expanding the conversation Banfield and the NAVC started in the 2017 VET Report about this issue in canine patients.

As the largest general veterinary practice, Banfield uses its size and scale to advance the profession by analyzing insights gleaned from the more than 10 million pet visits to its 1,000-plus hospitals nationwide each year. These findings, coupled with the NAVC’s commitment to advancing veterinary healthcare through professional development and support services, enable the two organizations to maximize the VET Report’s reach and impact.

“Our second annual VET Report enables Banfield to continue its commitment to advancing pet health,” said Daniel Aja, DVM, Chief Medical Officer, Banfield Pet Hospital. “In partnership with the NAVC, our shared goal is to give veterinarians around the world information they need to provide the best care possible to feline patients, while also educating pet owners and the general public on the issue of AMR in companion animals.”

A lack of awareness around existing guidelines for antimicrobial usage in veterinary medicine has contributed to discordance between usage patterns and ideal treatments. Like the 2017 VET Report, the 2018 publication highlights these guidelines and places a special focus on prescription patterns in common feline infections, considering the unique challenges cat owners face treating their feline companions, such as hiding behavior and defense mechanisms.

To provide perspective on current practices, Banfield’s research examined the treatment of upper respiratory infections and urinary tract infections in feline patients. Key findings include:

• 40 percent of cats received antimicrobial medications for a presumptive UTI with no urinalysis or with negative results
• 11 percent of feline patients received further culture and susceptibility testing to confirm the diagnosis after a positive urinalysis
• Two primary drivers for administering antimicrobials instead of additional testing or other forms of treatment were concerns about cat and owner compliance
• Opportunities exist to achieve improved adherence to existing antimicrobial usage guidelines through increased veterinarian focus on patient diagnostic testing, client education and support, and improving the ease of medication administration

“We are honored to partner with Banfield for the second year on the 2018 VET Report to offer insights on emerging trends impacting the veterinary industry," Tom Bohn, MBA, CAE, CEO of the NAVC said. "With this year’s report focused on feline AMR, our shared goal is to drive further awareness and action on this critical issue profession-wide.”

For more information or to download the full report, visit the Banfield Exchange or vetfolio.com/vetreport.

About Banfield Pet Hospital

Founded in Portland, Ore., in 1955, Banfield is the largest general-veterinary practice in the world. In 2007, Banfield joined the Mars, Inc. family of businesses, and today has more than 1,000 hospitals across the United States. More than 3,500 Banfield veterinarians are committed to providing high-quality veterinary care for over three million pets annually. Banfield's charitable arm, the Banfield Foundation, was established in 2015 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the well-being of pets and communities. In 2017, Banfield Pet Hospital – including the work of the Banfield Foundation – was named among Points of Light's Civic 50 as one of the most community-minded companies in the U.S. Press seeking additional information are invited to call the Media Hotline: (888) 355-0595.

About the North American Veterinary Community

Founded in 1982 and headquartered in Gainesville, Florida, with offices in Orlando, Florida, the North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) is a non-profit organization providing world-class professional development to the global veterinary healthcare community. Its largest initiative, VMX, formerly known as the NAVC Conference, hosts more than 17,000 attendees each year. Other offerings include VetFolio, an online CE platform in conjunction with AAHA; the NAVC Institute; the Veterinary Innovation Council; an Industry Services Division, an online news and lifestyle channel Spark! and its official journals: Today's Veterinary Business, Today’s Veterinary Nurse, Today’s Veterinary Practice and Veterinary Advantage. Visit http://navc.com for more details.