Vital Signs — Tuesday, October 20, 2026

20 Oct 2026 — 3 min read

"The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts." — Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

(The tone you set first thing in the morning tends to follow you all day.)

Editor's Pick

CATalyst Council Reports Cat Clinical Visits Grow 2.7 Percent as U.S. Veterinary Clinical Visits Fall 1.9 Percent — Feline visits rose for the 12th straight quarter while canine visits fell 3.3%; why it matters: for an independent practice, growing feline care is no longer optional, it's the growth strategy.

2.7% — year-over-year growth in U.S. feline clinical visits in Q3 2026, versus a 1.9% decline in overall clinical visits, per Vetsource data in the CATalyst Council's Feline Veterinary Market Insights Vol. VII — takeaway: cats are now 24% of companion-animal clinic visits, up from 21% in 2023, and they're the only segment consistently growing.

Landmark Clinical Trial Demonstrates 95.3% Efficacy for Streamlined Heartworm Treatment in Shelter Dogs — A 168-dog randomized trial in JAVMA found a compressed 2-dose melarsomine protocol just as effective as 3 doses, with 100% survival — potentially cutting shelter treatment cost and timelines dramatically.
Merck Highlights Landmark Gilvetmab Research in Canine Cancer Treatment — Two peer-reviewed studies report a 66.7% clinical benefit rate for gilvetmab, the first caninized anti-PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor, in canine melanoma and mast cell tumors, with a 46% objective response rate in mast cell tumors.
Case Report: Therapeutic plasma exchange for systemic centipede envenomation in a 2-kg Chihuahua dog — First reported canine case of therapeutic plasma exchange for centipede envenomation: a 3-hour session in a 2-kg patient dropped CRP 83% and the dog was discharged after 7 days.
Comparative Analysis of the Fatty Acid Profiles of Hypoallergenic Veterinary Diets, Commercial Dog Foods, and Oral Fatty Acid Supplements Available on the Hungarian Market — Lab analysis of 35 products found commercial dog foods carry very low EPA and unfavorable omega-6/omega-3 ratios — worth a skim before the next dermatology diet consult.

University develops AI technology for cattle TB screening — Edinburgh-linked startup AI for the Eye is building a retinal-imaging prototype to screen cattle for bovine TB on-farm — non-invasive, early-stage, and aimed at complementing existing testing.
viggoVet Introduces the Intelligent Veterinary Platform, Bringing Clinical Super Intelligence into Veterinary Practice — A new "Clinical SI" platform from a vet-founded company offers decision support, dental charting, and anesthesia tools that layer onto existing software or replace it — 60-day free trial on offer.

CATalyst Council Reports Cat Clinical Visits Grow 2.7 Percent as U.S. Veterinary Clinical Visits Fall 1.9 Percent — Puppy visits dropped 10% year-over-year and sit 44% below pre-Covid baseline, while kitten visits stay above it for a seventh straight year — a clear signal to invest in feline-friendly workflows and kitten-to-lifelong-care retention.

New Maryland law limits board action against veterinarians who discuss cannabis and CBD — Effective October 1, Maryland's board can no longer discipline vets solely for discussing or recommending cannabis or CBD for animals; it doesn't approve any product, but it clears the exam-room conversation.
Capstar for Screwworm in Dogs: FDA's New EUA Explained — The FDA's September 3 emergency authorization makes Capstar and generic nitenpyram the first OTC products authorized for prevention of New World screwworm in dogs and cats — worth knowing for traveling or imported-rescue patients.
National Anti-Vivisection Society calls for public support for COMPACT Act — NAVS is rallying support for a bipartisan House bill that would ban federal funding for live dog and cat testing and require release-and-adoption guardrails for lab animals.

Firefighters Get the Sweetest Surprise (Video) — Georgia firefighters fresh off animal-CPR training helped deliver 15 puppies via emergency C-section — and one firefighter adopted a pup for his daughter.
Abandoned Senior Dog Has a Long Road to Recovery, but He Finally Has People in His Corner — After a ferry ride and eight-hour drive to reach him, rescuers got emaciated senior Frank into veterinary care — he stayed gentle through it all, and hopes are he earns the name "Frank the Tank."

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