Vital Signs — Tuesday, November 3, 2026
"He who fears death will never do anything worthy of a living man." — Seneca
A Tuesday reminder that the hard conversations — the prognosis, the price, the goodbye — are exactly where the work matters most.
Editor's Pick
- AAHA releases guidelines on emerging parasites in dogs and cats — The 2026 AAHA One Health guidelines cover 12 emerging parasites of greatest concern plus nine more to watch, with practical guidance on recognition, testing, treatment, and client communication. Why it matters: drug resistance, animal movement, and better detection are all pushing parasites up the list, and the guidelines push antiparasitic stewardship and zoonotic-risk conversations as part of routine parasite control.
By the Numbers
- 29% — of relief veterinarians say they are more likely to accept shifts at clinics with AI scribe support, per the 2026 Serenity Vet study. Takeaway: a scribe isn't just a documentation tool anymore — it's a recruiting lever for the relief pool.
In the Journals
- Donation matching initiative bolsters pet cancer research — Blue Buffalo will match donations to Morris Animal Foundation dollar for dollar up to $200,000 through December 31, funding cancer detection and treatment research in dogs and cats, including the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study.
- FDA approves ready-to-use cefovecin injectable for dogs — Convenia RTU for Dogs is a ready-to-use 160 mg/mL cefovecin suspension — double the original concentration — but it is dogs-only, since its benzyl benzoate and propylene glycol may be toxic to cats.
AI Watch
- IDEXX Laboratories (IDXX) Q3 2026 Earnings Results & Call Transcript — On its November 2 earnings call, IDEXX said CoVet, the AI scribe it acquired in September, is already running at roughly a $20 million annualized revenue run rate and growing at strong double-digit rates — a sign of how fast ambient AI documentation is becoming a real business line, not just a pilot project.
The Business End
- USDA grant aims to strengthen regulatory veterinary workforce — A three-year USDA grant will fund paid 10- to 12-week summer internships for nine veterinary students in State Animal Health Official offices, giving students hands-on exposure to disease surveillance, emergency response, and regulatory work.
- 10 steps to turn relief shifts into long-term value for your practice — With nearly 1 in 10 private-practice vets now working relief and relief burnout at a five-year high, the piece argues for treating relief doctors as an investment: book early, build a trusted network, spell out terms and overtime up front, and give a 10-minute orientation on arrival.
The Feel-Good Finish
- Three-Legged Dog and Cat Become Best Friends, Get Adopted Together in Maryland — Blueberry the dog and Meadow the cat each lost a leg to an extremity wound, bonded while recovering in the same rescue hospital, and were adopted together by a couple who already share their home with a three-legged cat.
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