Weekly Companion Animal News: March 2, 2026

Gallant, MWI to create ultra-low temperature cold chain for stem cell therapies

Gallant, developer of off-the-shelf stem cell therapies for animals, said the first product in the planned cold chain most likely will be sonruvetcel injectable suspension — a potential uterine-derived allogeneic mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) therapy for cats with refractory feline chronic gingivostomatitis. Partnership with MWI will enable delivery of veterinary stem cell therapies requiring storage at -80°C. Nearly 95% of veterinary professionals believe stem cell therapy will become a standard treatment option within the next decade, according to survey data conducted by Gallant in collaboration with the American Animal Hospital Association.

ACVIM guidance on canine CIE encourages dietary trials

The American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine’s new consensus statement on the diagnosis and treatment of canine chronic inflammatory enteropathy notes that dietary modification as a test of treatment is an adequate therapeutic point, because 38% to 89% of dogs with CIE are food-responsive, and many maintain long-term clinical remission of at least three months on dietary treatment alone. The statement also outlines a stepwise diagnostic approach, including patient history, clinical signs, physical examination findings, sequential diagnostic tests and imaging.

Zomedica and Moichor sign TRUVIEW distribution agreement

Zomedica will supply its TRUVIEW digital microscopy systems and associated supplies for Moichor’s sale to its point-of-care veterinary customers. The systems will be co-branded and integrated with Moichor’s proprietary AI engine and board-certified pathology services. In addition to the Moichor agreement, Zomedica will continue its own direct placements of TRUVIEW systems.

Dr. Jon P. Mochel advances canine kidney disease research at U of Georgia

Dr. Jon P. Mochel has been appointed the Diane L. Wynocker Professor for Advancing Canine Kidney Disease Research in the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. Mochel, director of the Precision One Health Initiative, leads a team of scientists developing novel research models using lab-grown mini organs, called organoids. “The main clinical need remains unmet: As of today, there is no FDA-labeled drug approved to treat or slow the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) itself in dogs or cats in the U.S.,” he says.

Telehealth-only practice opens in Virginia

LightSpring Virtual Veterinary Care, a privately owned, telehealth-only veterinary practice, has launched in Waynesboro, Virginia. Each 30-minute video consultation is $75, and medications are shipped directly through the practice’s online pharmacy. The practice was founded by Dr. Leslie Sheridan, a 2002 graduate of the University of Tennessee’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

Parallels found in feline and human cancer cells, tumors

Researchers from the British Welcome Sanger Institute investigated cancers in domestic cats and revealed striking parallels with how the disease manifests in humans, particularly in breast cancer. Over half of the feline mammary tumors exhibited mutations in the FBXW7 gene, a mutation already recognized in humans. “For women with this mutation, the findings are highly encouraging, as they may open avenues for targeted therapies,” said study co-author Louise van der Weyden.

Vets should be prepared for natural death requests

More clients will pursue natural death rather than euthanasia for their pets, said Kathleen Cooney, senior director of medical education for the Companion Animal Euthanasia Training Academy, speaking at VMX 2026. “As the human-animal bond continues to evolve, we will need to evolve with it,” she said, adding, “I do believe that we have a responsibility to lay out alternatives to euthanasia besides just defaulting into it.”

Canine obesity linked to increased eye pressure

Researchers at the Koret School of Veterinary Medicine at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem found that overweight and obese dogs have significantly higher eye pressure than lean dogs, with pressure increasing by 1.9 mmHg for every one-unit rise in body condition score. The research suggests that excess body fat and related metabolic changes may interfere with fluid drainage in the eye, potentially serving as a modifiable risk factor for dogs predisposed to glaucoma