Weekly Companion Animal News: April 20, 2026

Drug to lengthen dogs’ lifespans could lead to shift in vet medicine

Though still under regulatory review, a drug designed to extend pets’ lifespans from biotech firm Loyal could bring about a shift in veterinary medicine – moving from treating age‑related conditions to addressing aging as a biological process. Rather than treating a specific disease, the drug, called LOY‑002, targets aging itself by interacting with insulin‑like growth factor 1 (IGF‑1), which is a hormone involved in growth and metabolism. While IGF‑1 helps puppies grow, higher levels of the hormone later in life are associated with faster cellular aging, especially in larger dog breeds.

Rising cases of rare urinary tract stone in dogs may be diet-related

Researchers at the Minnesota Urolith Center – part of the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine – have found the rise in the rare stone type appears to be associated with consumption of a form of choline used in many fresh and homemade dog foods and supplements. Researchers identified 159 cases of dogs with these stones in 2025, more than five times what it saw the year before. The stone type is composed of calcium tartrate tetrahydrate.

Pet insurance growth slowed in 2025, but remains robust

The market recorded an 11% year-over-year increase in net premiums earned in 2025, rising to a record $3.59 billion, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence. That said, the 2025 total reflects a slowdown in the pace of growth from the prior year, when net premiums earned soared 26.6% to $3.23 billion in 2024. The industry’s net loss ratio, which has remained almost flat since 2017, improved modestly to 74.2% in 2025 from 76.1% in the prior year.

BioTesserae optimistic following successful study of canine cancer treatment

BioTesserae, in collaboration with Sunflower Therapeutics PBC, announced that the single-domain antibody BTC-001 was well tolerated in healthy dogs following a single ascending dose study. BTC-001 recognizes the immune checkpoint inhibitor PD-1 is said to be simpler than typical oncology biologic drugs and more conducive to streamlined manufacturing.

OpenVet names clinical advisory board members

The AI veterinary clinical platform named the following to its clinical advisory board: Garret Pachtinger, VMD, DACVECC, co-founder of VETgirl; Craig Clifford, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Oncology), BluePearl Malvern; Fred Wininger, VMD, MS, DACVIM (Neurology), founder of The Animal Neurology Center; Rae Hutchins, DVM, DACVIM, Wedgewood Pharmacy; Ira Gordon, DVM, DACVR (Radiation Oncology), co-founder of Veterinary Angel Network for Entrepreneurs (VANE); and Marisa Brunetti, VMD, Mt. Airy Animal Hospital.

VARON expands line of in-home oxygen therapy bundles

VARON announced it has brought respiratory support into the home with its expanded line of oxygen concentrator therapy bundles. Designed for pets in recovery, distress, or long-term respiratory care, the system delivers stable, continuous-flow oxygen in a safe and controlled way. By pairing a pet oxygen concentrator with a dedicated chamber, pet owners can create a gentle oxygen-enriched environment where pets can rest comfortably, without the stress of masks or restrictive equipment, according to the company.

Vuzix signs reseller agreement with Movora for smart glasses

Vuzix Corporation, a supplier of AI-powered smart glasses, waveguides and augmented reality technologies, announced it is expanding into the veterinary market through a reseller agreement with Movora, a veterinary med-tech company specializing in orthopedic implants, surgical instruments and continuing education. Movora will distribute Vuzix M400 smart-glasses-based remote support kits to a North American network of veterinary professionals.

Researchers recommend approach to treat dogs’ fungal ear infections

Mutations in a key protein make a yeast found in dogs with common outer ear infections more resistant to the topical antifungals used to treat it, veterinarians and pathobiologists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign found in a new study. “Based on our findings, it is recommended to use a topical short-tailed azole (the most commonly prescribed antifungals for otitis externa) such as miconazole or clotrimazole as an initial therapy for dogs with yeast ear infections,” they said. “The medium- and longer-tailed azoles such as ketoconazole and posaconazole, respectively, should be reserved for recurrent or nonresponsive cases.”