Vital Signs — Saturday, November 7, 2026

Editor's Pick

• Fighting drug resistance: AVMA unveils expanded resource to help veterinarians protect animal health · ~2 min read — The AVMA released "Antimicrobial Stewardship and Pathogens Affecting Animal Health," a 200-plus-page update of its 2020 report built by more than 50 experts, with printable species-specific report cards covering dogs and cats, cattle, poultry, equids, fish, sheep and goats, and swine. Why it matters: resistance is already limiting treatment options in exam rooms, and this gives your whole team a single practical reference — including new guidance on susceptibility testing and, for the first time, drug-resistant ringworm.

"The universe is transformation: life is opinion." — Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

The day will change around you either way — the part you control is what you make of it.

By the Numbers

• 47% vs. 26% — Veterinary service prices climbed 47% since 2019, against 26% for general consumer prices, per 29 years of Bureau of Labor Statistics data analyzed by dvm360. Takeaway: clients aren't imagining the sticker shock, and the visits being skipped first are the preventive ones — so the cost conversation belongs in every estimate, not just the ones where clients flinch.

In the Journals

• One in Four Dogs Had Hidden Neurological Deficits During Routine Veterinary Visits, New Study Finds · ~6 min read — In a Cornell study of 277 dogs visiting a teaching hospital for non-neurological reasons, 26% showed delayed postural reactions — subtle proprioceptive deficits their owners hadn't noticed — rising to about 39% in senior dogs. Why it matters: a mildly delayed paw-replacement response in an otherwise healthy senior may be an aging change rather than a red flag, but it also argues for a quick neuro screen at senior wellness visits so you have a baseline to compare against.
• Hunters Can Be First Line of Defense as Flesh-Eating Screwworm Spreads, Threatens U.S. Livestock · ~4 min read — Update: U.S. screwworm detections reached 116 animals as of Nov. 5 — up from 90 on Nov. 2 — including the first cases in wildlife, two elk shot by hunters in Texas, and Arizona's fifth case, a pet dog with no travel history. Why it matters: with hunters now effectively the early-warning system for wildlife cases, any client who hunts or travels with animals near the border region needs the wound-check and don't-move-the-carcass message.
• Bird flu hits 47,000 chickens in Western Washington · ~2 min read — Avian influenza hit a 47,000-bird egg-laying farm in Pierce County, Washington — the first commercial poultry flock sickened in western Washington since the outbreak began in 2022 — with the eggs destroyed after USDA confirmation on Nov. 4. Why it matters: with 211.79 million U.S. birds affected since 2022, any poultry-owning client should be hearing about biosecurity now, not after a neighbor's flock is hit.

The Business End

• Vet bills are outpacing inflation. Here's what that's doing to client decisions · ~6 min read — Drawing on 29 years of BLS price data and visit volume from more than 6,000 Vetsource practices, dvm360 finds vet prices up 47% since 2019 while companion-animal visits fell every year from 2022 through 2025 — roughly 57 million fewer visits than the 2021 peak predicted — with wellness visits now eroding fastest. Why it matters: 52% of pet owners skipped or declined needed care in the past year, 71% citing cost, yet 73% of those who declined for cost reasons were never offered a cheaper alternative — the fixable gap is the estimate conversation, not the price list.

The Fine Print

• USDA Announces Major Updates in Farm Bill Animal Health Programs, Including $80 Million in New Funding Opportunities · ~3 min read — USDA's APHIS raised annual Farm Bill animal health funding from $30 million to $233 million starting in fiscal year 2026 and opened $80 million in competitive grants — $40 million for state preparedness and $40 million for industry and veterinary organizations — with applications due January 7, 2027. Why it matters: state VMAs and livestock groups can apply directly, so if your association has a biosecurity or preparedness project on the shelf, this is the funding window for it.
• AVMA to Separate Veterinary School Accreditation Under New Federal Rules Following Legal Challenges · ~9 min read — The AVMA plans to spin its Council on Education into a separate nonprofit accreditor after the Department of Education's Oct. 30 final rule requiring accreditors to operate independently of professional associations, with most provisions effective July 1, 2027. Why it matters: the split follows lawsuits from Lincoln Memorial and Tuskegee challenging COE practices, and since the AVMA currently subsidizes about half of accreditation costs, veterinary colleges — and ultimately tuition — could absorb more of the bill.

The Feel-Good Finish

• Forrest is On the Road to Recovery · ~1 min read — Forrest, a puppy who arrived at the Kentucky Humane Society with a life-threatening degloving injury near his jugular vein, needed emergency surgery and a drain — and one week later his wound is healing cleanly, the drain is out, and he's doubled in weight from about 14 to 28 pounds in a foster home.

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