Weekly Companion Animal News: October 19, 2026

Feline clinical visits grew in Q3

Feline clinical visits at U.S. veterinary practices grew 2.7% year-over-year in the third quarter of 2026, while canine clinical visits fell 3.3%, according to Vetsource data reported in CATalyst Council Feline Veterinary Market Insights: Volume VII. Feline clinical visits grew in each of the last 12 quarters, and canine clinical visits fell in 11 of them. Vetsource data show that feline visits rose to 24% of companion animal clinic visits in the third quarter of 2026, up from 21% in the third quarter of 2023.

Competition heating up in cancer, kidney and dermatology markets

Elanco, Zoetis and IDEXX Laboratories are investing in cancer diagnostics and treatments for pets, pointing to it as a key growth opportunity in the industry. These efforts accompany research, development and the launch of treatments that target chronic kidney disease and dermatological diseases. However, the companies reported mixed financial results. Elanco recorded strong second-quarter growth, and IDEXX benefited from rising diagnostics utilization, but Zoetis sales fell due to a “more pressured companion animal market.”

HT VET reports its Heat Diffusion Imaging can classify specific canine tumor types

A report from HT Vet shows that the company’s Heat Diffusion Imaging (HDI) technology is moving beyond benign-versus-malignant screening, with new AI classifiers designed to identify specific tumor types. Two new tumor-specific classifiers target lipomas and mast cell tumors (MCTs), the most common benign and malignant skin tumors in dogs. The MCT classifier was designed to prioritize specificity over sensitivity, according to the company. It flags fewer masses, but those it flags are very likely to be malignant and most are mast cell tumours (14 of 16 in the test set).

ASU research offers molecular explanation of why large dogs live shorter lives

A new study led by researchers at Arizona State University offers the first compelling molecular explanation of why large dogs live shorter lives. The answer may lie in how hallmarks of aging reshape dog DNA. Their findings reveal that aging is associated with the widespread loss of epigenome, which influences how much genes are turned on or off without changing the sequence of DNA in each gene. This is particularly true in regions of the genome known as “jumping genes” or transposable elements. A class of these jumping genes called LINE1s were found to be a key component of biological aging differences.

U.S. practices’ revenue per square foot in 2025 down slightly from year before: AVMA

Veterinary practices averaged $1.6 million in gross revenue in 2025, compared with $1.5 million in 2024. In inflation-adjusted (real) terms, the increase was approximately 0.3%, according to new data from the 2026 AVMA Practice Owners Survey. However, gross revenue per square foot – a key metric for assessing operational efficiency in veterinary practice – was $513 per square foot, on average, in 2025, compared with $528 in 2024. The decrease in the national average revenue per square foot may be attributed to both the overall economic slowdown and veterinary practice square footage increasing faster than revenue, according to Frederic B. Ouedraogo, PhD, senior economist and associate director in the AVMA Veterinary Economics Division.

One in 15 cats is infected with Giardia duodenalis

A study from Mars Veterinary Health suggests nearly one out of 15 cats are infected with a common parasite, Giardia duodenalis, and one out of five infected cats can transmit it to humans. Researchers tested over 150,000 samples from cats in 49 states and five Canadian provinces for the gastrointestinal parasite, which can cause frequent diarrhea in both animals and humans. They found that kittens were more likely to test positive than older cats, and male cats were more likely to be infected than female cats. Neutered kittens, more often seen in shelters where neutering happens at a younger age, also had a markedly higher likelihood of infection, which may be due to exposure to other rescue animals.

Colorado State enrolls first students for state’s VPA role

The university has launched its Master of Science in Veterinary Clinical Care degree program, enrolling 14 students in the state’s first program for the Veterinary Professional Associate role. The role was created after Colorado voters approved Proposition 129 in November 2024. CSU is informing potential students that VPAs will deliver routine care under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian, focus on front-line assessments and identify abnormal findings on physical examinations and diagnostic tests. The first cohort would graduate from the five-semester program in spring 2028.

Kyrexa receives FDA’s MUMS designation for canine cancer therapy

UK-based Kyrexa announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted two Minor Use/Minor Species (MUMS) designations for rimcazole, its oral, multimodal cancer therapy. The designated intended uses are for first line medical treatment of canine oral melanoma and cutaneous or oral squamous cell carcinoma. A MUMS designated drug receives seven years of market exclusivity from similar drugs in a similar indication, according to the company.