HT Vista unveils new diagnostic capability

HT Vista, a non-invasive cancer screening tool for dogs, was set to unveil an enhancement to the device at the WVC Annual Conference in Las Vegas, March 2-5. The company says the latest version not only allows veterinarians to “rule out” cancer without the need for invasive procedures, but now also “rule in” malignancy with over 90% specificity. This advancement is poised to transform veterinary diagnostics, offering a more streamlined, cost-effective, and precise approach to cancer detection, according to the firm.

Guidelines for pet obesity communication issued by APOP

The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP) intends to redefine the conversation around pet obesity with the release of its Guidelines for Pet Obesity Communication: Promoting Respectful Communication about Animal Obesity. The manual focuses on the adoption of pet-first language and advocacy for the term “clinical obesity,” a shift aimed at improving awareness, diagnosis, and treatment of this serious medical condition.

Dog Aging Project gets new funding, new life

Armed with a five-year, $7 million grant from the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute on Aging, researchers with the Dog Aging Project will continue to evaluate the impact of rapamycin – commonly used as an immunosuppressant in people after organ transplants – on the lifespan of mature or senior dogs. The project, launched in 2019 with a five-year, $29 million grant from NIA, was in jeopardy in 2024 when funding was not renewed.

AAHA Referral Guidelines promote collaboration by primary care and specialty teams

Clients increasingly expect clear communication, seamless coordination, and high standards for both routine and complex cases. The 2025 AAHA Referral Guidelines are said to respond to these needs by providing a framework that fosters stronger partnerships between primary care teams and specialty care teams.

Curriculum finalized for Colorado veterinary professional associate role

Colorado State University has finalized the curriculum for the state’s new veterinary professional associate role, with fall 2025 being the first entry class. The program is a total of 65 credits over five semesters, the first three being fully online, the fourth 460 hours of hands-on labs, and the fifth a 540-hour clinical internship at a clinic. The curriculum focuses only on care for dogs and cats. A credentialing exam would be required to pass.

ScribbleVet and LifeLearn announce integration of AI-powered tools

ScribbleVet and LifeLearn have announced an integration between ScribbleVet’s veterinary scribe and LifeLearn’s Sofie decision support tool. ScribbleVet users will have access to Sofie’s veterinary medical content within their ScribbleVet application to make diagnostic and treatment decisions confidently and efficiently, according to the firms.

VetSnap and Vaultek team up to strengthen drug security and compliance

VetSnap, a digital logbook solution for controlled drug compliance, and Vaultek, a manufacturer of smart safes, announced a partnership for hardware and logbook integration for veterinary practices handling controlled substances. Vaultek has tailored a safe exclusively for VetSnap to help veterinary teams ensure that restocking and usage of controlled substances are seamlessly and accurately logged.

Patterson Animal Health reports Q3 2025 net sales of $972.4 million

Companywide, Patterson’s Q3 2025 net sales decreased 2.7% year-over-year to $1.57 billion, and internal sales decreased 2.4%. As announced in December 2024, Patterson entered into a definitive agreement under which Patient Square Capital, a health care investment firm, has agreed to acquire Patterson for $31.35 per share in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $4.1 billion. The transaction is expected to close in April 2025.

Weekly Companion Animal News: March 3, 2025