Weekly Companion Animal News: April 13, 2026

Jaguar announces positive results for CID drug in dogs

Jaguar Health announced that it completed its ongoing effectiveness study of crofelemer delayed-release tablets for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced diarrhea (CID) in dogs. Crofelemer, under the name Canalevia-CA1, is currently conditionally approved for the sole indication of treating CID in dogs, but the approval will expire on December 21, 2026. In the second quarter of 2026 Jaguar plans to submit the results of the effectiveness study and the positive results of a study of crofelemer delayed-release tablets for treatment of CTD in dogs receiving neratinib – a targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) chemotherapy agent.

Gen X pet ownership grew in 2025

Gen X (roughly those born between 1965 and 1980) emerged as a major contributor to pet population growth in 2025, increasing 12% year-over-year, according to the American Pet Product Association’s National Pet Owners Survey. Gen X dog ownership increased 12% year-over-year. Cat ownership increased 8%.

Petwealth raising pre-seed round

Petwealth, a provider of at-home PCR panels for fecal, oral and respiratory, announced its emergence from stealth mode with $1.7 million raised to date and a pre-seed round in process. Petwealth is the exclusive diagnostic partner for Kennel Connection, pet care management software operating in more than 5,500 locations across the U.S., including daycares, boarding facilities, groomers and pet hotels. In addition, through its partnership with telehealth provider Pawp, every Petwealth report connects pet owners to a licensed veterinarian 24/7.

Practices can proactively address unverified pet health claims

Proactive digital communication from veterinary clinics can disrupt the spread of local pet health rumors, a growing phenomenon as social media algorithms favor emotionally charged content over vetted information and online influencers build perceived medical authority despite lacking veterinary credentials. Tracking clinic-level indicators, such as vaccine refusal rates, can help practices measure the real-world impact of online falsehoods.

Ohio State launches clinical trial of pancreatitis drug for dogs

The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Lamassu Pets have begun testing a canine-specific application of RABI-767, a therapeutic targeting acute pancreatitis, which currently has no effective treatments in either human or veterinary medicine. The trial involves a single injection of the drug delivered directly around the pancreas and is intended to mitigate symptoms, reduce complications and protect against organ failure. Acute pancreatitis is a painful, life-threatening condition that affects an estimated 1.8 million dogs each year in the United States. The drug is also being studied in human clinical trials.

Words matter when discussing clinical obesity in pets

When addressing obesity, veterinarians should practice clinical reframing, says Dr. Ernie Ward. Moving away from casual labels like “chonky” and toward accurate medical terms such as “clinical obesity” is not about being harsh. It’s about being clear. Calling a pet with obesity “chubby” is like calling diabetes a “little sugar issue.” It ignores rather than informs, masking a genuine medical risk and delaying appropriate treatment.

UK charity urges regulation of breeding cats with extreme conformations

UK charity Cats Protection reports that pedigree or purebred cats made up 51% of UK cat acquisitions between 2024 and 2025, an increase from 45% the previous year and from 35% since 2020. Meanwhile, acquisition of non-pedigree cats has fallen from 51% in 2020 to 38% in 2025. “We’re facing a ticking time bomb,” said the organization’s Madison Rogers. “We’ve talked a lot about dogs, and the issues are prolific in the dog market, with dogs with extreme characteristics. We’re not, thankfully, at that stage with cats, but we can really see that [occurring] in as short as five to 10 years.”

CDC warns of medetomidine in illegal drug supply

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a Health Advisory to health professionals and people at risk for overdose about increasing reports from U.S. jurisdictions detecting medetomidine in the illegal drug supply and a severe withdrawal syndrome due to medetomidine exposure. Medetomidine (also known as ‘rhino tranq,’ ‘mede,’ or ‘dex’) is not approved for human use but is approved for sedation and analgesia in dogs. The number of reports increased by 950% from 247 in 2023 to 2,616 in 2024, followed by a further 215% increase to 8,233 in 2025.