Vital Signs — Monday, November 9, 2026

Editor's Pick

• USDA: Idaho cattle likely brought bird flu to Washington dairy herds · ~2 min read — Update: genetic sequencing shows the H5N1 virus that struck 40 Washington dairy herds — and killed one dairy worker — came from Idaho cattle, despite rules requiring pre-movement testing, and a new study finds interstate spread likely began months before the outbreak was detected. Why it matters: cattle movement, not wild birds, is still driving this virus, so dairy clients need to hear that a clean test at the border isn't a guarantee — biosecurity and reporting sick animals matter before a case lands on their farm.

"Do not act as if thou wert going to live ten thousand years. Death hangs over thee. While thou livest, while it is in thy power, be good." — Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Book IV.16

Do the good work that's in front of you today — the clock doesn't negotiate.

By the Numbers

• $1.8 billion → $7.0 billion — The global AI in animal health market was valued at an estimated $1.8 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach $7.0 billion by 2033, an 18.9% compound annual growth rate, per a ResearchAndMarkets report announced November 5. Takeaway: AI tooling is becoming a real budget line, not a novelty — so the question for owners is which tools earn their keep, not whether AI is coming. (Market-research report announcement.)

In the Journals

• Meeting highlights from the Committee for Veterinary Medicinal Products (CVMP) 3-5 November 2026 · ~4 min read — Europe's veterinary medicines committee gave positive opinions for Credelio Quattro (a four-ingredient, all-in-one dog parasiticide), Scovella (velagliflozin, to cut laminitis risk in horses with equine metabolic syndrome), and Laverdia (verdinexor for canine lymphoma), plus a Credelio label addition for ear mites. Why it matters: Credelio Quattro and Scovella are new tools likely headed toward US practices — Laverdia is already FDA-approved here — so expect client questions and rep visits before long.
• From the New York Vet Show exhibit hall: 3 products addressing veterinary care needs · ~3 min read — From last week's New York Vet Show: ReadyRESCUE, a compact activated-carbon alternative to charcoal for toxin ingestion with a 5-year shelf life; Felycin-CA1, the once-weekly sirolimus tablet for cats with subclinical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (the RAPACAT trial, 43 cats, showed it slowed thickening of the heart wall); and a portable all-in-one endoscopy system built for field work. Why it matters: the charcoal alternative and the HCM tablet are both practical additions — a tidier toxin protocol and a real option for the stage B1/B2 cats you're already finding on echo.

AI Watch

• UC Davis wins USDA award to build early warning system for New World screwworm · ~2 min read — UC Davis received a two-year, $4.37 million USDA award to build a screwworm early warning system: about 100 AI "sentinel" cameras in wildlife corridors that recognize screwworm-like wounds, a handheld DNA test for field screening, and hotspot maps across California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Florida. Why it matters: wildlife is the blind spot — the first US wildlife case was an elk in Texas, and USDA has confirmed 79 animal cases since June — so catching it in the wild protects livestock, pets, and the practices that treat them.

The Business End

• IDEXX Laboratories Q3 Earnings Call Highlights · ~4 min read — IDEXX posted Q3 revenue of $1.214 billion (up 10%) and raised full-year guidance, even as US same-store clinical visits fell an estimated 1.8% — while companion-animal diagnostics recurring revenue grew about 11%, the fourth straight quarter with a 1,000-plus basis-point premium over visits. Why it matters: the visit slump continues, but diagnostics per visit keeps climbing — the revenue story is more testing per appointment, not more appointments, which is the lever an independent practice can actually pull.

The Fine Print

• Vet 800 Administrative Rules - Veterinary Nurses, Veterinary Technicians, and Veterinary Assistants · ~3 min read — New Hampshire's veterinary board has proposed Vet 804, a rule defining veterinary assistants and what they may do, with a public hearing December 16 and written comments due December 23. Why it matters: only New Hampshire for now, but assistant scope rules are being written state by state — if your state follows, it changes what uncredentialed staff can legally do in your clinic.

The Feel-Good Finish

• Tula-Tu holding steady during treatment for EEHV · ~3 min read — Update: Tula-Tu, the 21-month-old Asian elephant calf at the Oregon Zoo, is holding steady after a week and a half of emergency care for elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus — antivirals, fluids, and plasma transfusions have her white-cell counts nearly back to normal, her viral load falling, and her appetite and playfulness returning. Why it matters: early detection and an aggressive protocol turned a usually fatal virus into a recovery story, and her blood samples are feeding vaccine research that could protect future calves.

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