Vital Signs — Thursday, November 12, 2026

Editor's Pick

• Zoetis Receives USDA License for Cytopoint Plus™: The First and Only Long-Acting Monoclonal Antibody Providing 75 Days of Allergic Itch Relief in Dogs with Allergic Dermatitis · ~6 min read — USDA has licensed Cytopoint Plus, a next-generation anti-IL-31 monoclonal antibody given every 75 days — about 1.5 times the interval of original Cytopoint's 4–8 weeks — with efficacy through day 75 and a safety profile similar to Cytopoint, though its label covers allergic dermatitis only, not atopic dermatitis. Why it matters: the most common reason clients walk in just got a longer-acting option, so expect questions about switching, and revisit recall intervals and dermatology inventory. (Company press release.)

"For the present is the only thing of which a man can be deprived, if it is true that this is the only thing which he has, and that a man cannot lose a thing if he has it not." — Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Book II.14 (George Long translation)

Today is the only day you actually have — spend it on the cases in front of you, not the ones that might arrive.

By the Numbers

• +1.8% revenue, −1.9% visits — U.S. veterinary revenue rose 1.8% year over year in the week of Nov 1–7, 2026, while visits fell 1.9%, per the Vetsource/AVMA Veterinary Industry Tracker (published Nov 10). Takeaway: the pattern holds — revenue is still growing on price while fewer patients come through the door, so retention and per-visit value keep doing the heavy lifting.

In the Journals

• A parasite linked to cats may also threaten dogs' eyesight, researchers find · ~3 min read — A Hebrew University case series of five dogs found Toxoplasma gondii may be associated with serious eye disease ranging from mild inflammation to retinal detachment and irreversible blindness, with two dogs relapsing despite prolonged clindamycin treatment. Why it matters: toxoplasmosis belongs on the differential for dogs with unexplained ocular inflammation, especially immune-compromised ones — and clients who know it as a "cat parasite" may be surprised it can affect dogs.
• A randomized, prospective, placebo-controlled feasibility study of systemic administration of equine peripheral blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells in feline chronic kidney disease · ~25 min read — In a blinded, placebo-controlled feasibility study of 21 cats with CKD, a single IV dose of equine stem cells (primed or unprimed) proved acceptably safe but showed no significant treatment effect on blood pressure, SDMA, quality of life, or IRIS stage versus placebo. Why it matters: stem-cell therapy for feline CKD is still experimental — safe in this small trial, but with no efficacy signal yet, so it's a "watch, don't offer" conversation when clients ask.

AI Watch

• What's the ROI on AI in veterinary practices? · ~6 min read — A practicing DVM argues the return on AI scribes and client-communication tools comes down to three habits: baseline your numbers before adopting, get team buy-in, and track the adoption rate — the metric most practices never measure. Why it matters: if you're paying for an AI scribe or messaging tool, the audit worth running this quarter is whether anyone is actually using it. (Opinion/analysis column.)

The Business End

• Research Confirms Pet Health Is Non-Negotiable Household Priority · ~3 min read — Elanco's October survey of 2,018 U.S. consumers found 93% of pet owners maintained or increased pet spending in the past three months, only 7% would cut pet health under financial pressure, and 38% have shifted medication purchases outside the clinic in the past year or two — while a veterinarian's recommendation remains the top reason owners switch medications. Why it matters: clients are still spending on pet health but buying meds elsewhere, so the in-clinic recommendation — and a competitive online pharmacy — is where the revenue is won or lost. (Company survey/press release.)
• Diagnosing veterinary practice culture and giving every team member a voice · ~2 min read — On dvm360's Vet Blast podcast, practice leaders argue culture is local and doesn't survive a change of ownership unless it's deliberately rebuilt — and that a structured culture diagnostic, surveying the whole team, surfaces what keeps people engaged. Why it matters: turnover usually traces back to culture, not the building or the client list, and a diagnostic beats guessing at why good people leave. (Podcast transcript.)

The Fine Print

• H5N1 Reaches Indiana Dairies as Poultry Cases Persist Across the US · ~4 min read — USDA confirmed H5N1 genotype B3.13 in an Indiana dairy herd — the first in the state, caught by routine milk testing rather than sick animals — alongside new Washington herds traced to cattle movement from Idaho and an Iowa turkey flock under a disaster proclamation. Why it matters: the virus keeps reaching new states through routine surveillance, so biosecurity and prompt reporting to the state veterinarian remain the standing advice for livestock clients.

The Feel-Good Finish

• Saving one shelter dog gives veteran a new best friend · ~3 min read — Ares arrived at an Oklahoma shelter unresponsive, feverish, and covered in fleas; after Best Friends' clinic in Arkansas nursed him back to health, Marine veteran Brandon Quinnelly — who lost his PTSD service dog Achilles after 14 years — saw Ares' photo, adopted him the same day, and has begun training him as his new service dog. Why it matters: the shelter officer who drove seven hours round-trip to get Ares care is the reason this story ends with a handshake and a new service dog in training.

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