Theme this week
VetWatch reports uneven product spending. Vetsource’s US sample averaged fewer new puppy and kitten patients per practice in 2025. The findings call for a check of local demand. This month, use clinic records, staff time and full costs to review stock, growth and purchasing plans.
Executive takeaways
- Check local use before changing vaccine or parasite-control orders this month. VetWatch reports fewer dollars spent on these products. 1 Prices and stock on hand may affect the figures.
- Check local patient counts before approving growth plans this quarter. Vetsource’s US sample averaged about 10% fewer new puppy and kitten patients per practice in 2025 than in 2024. 2
- Prepare a stock record for Convenia RTU for Dogs with “for dogs only” wording before launch. US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval covers dogs only. 3 Zoetis plans a launch in the first quarter of 2027; price and supply terms are unconfirmed. 4
- Compare total staff time and costs for one paperwork trial at the next budget review. Administrative work was the most common stress choice in dvm360’s voluntary survey of 146 veterinary professionals. 5 Saved time may leave payroll unchanged.
- Compare test costs, staff time and time to receive results before approving a switch. The Accuplex study used selected samples and lacked details of the dogs’ health. 6
Signals
1. VetWatch reports uneven spending across product categories
OBSERVED
Animalytix’s October 20, 2026 VetWatch insight report updates product spending through September 30. The figures cover product purchases across more than 32,000 US practice and shelter sites. 1
Product-purchase spending figures from the insight report are summarized in the table below. It shows percentage changes in dollars spent during January–September 2026 compared with the same months of 2025. The source does not provide counts of items bought, used or sold. 1
| Product category | Change in dollars spent |
|---|---|
| Core and lifestyle dog and cat vaccines | Down 2.4% |
| Kennel-cough vaccines | Down 5.4% |
| Parasite-control products | Down 3.3% |
| Supplies used up during surgery | Up 0.4% |
| Chronic care products | Up 0.6% |
Source: PETMETRIX summary of figures reported in October 20, 2026 VetWatch insight report. 1
VIEWPOINT
These spending differences give buyers a reason to review orders for each product group separately. Lower dollar spending may reflect prices, product choices or stock already held. Cutting orders when local use is steady could leave too little stock.
Buyers should base order changes on local use and stock levels. Steady use with enough stock can support keeping the current plan.
CONFIDENCE
Moderate — one publisher supplies the figures. How sites were chosen, price effects and changes in the sites reporting remain unclear.
ACTIONS
Independent veterinary practices
- Check counts of vaccine and parasite-control items bought against last year’s matching period before buying stock.
- Check stock against recent use before changing how much to order this month.
Corporate veterinary groups and clinic consolidators
- Compare spending by product group at the same clinics with last year’s figures this month.
- Check how prices affect each clinic’s largest spending changes before revising group budgets.
Distributors, e-retail and home delivery providers
- Compare items clinics ordered by product group with the same period last year before buying stock.
- Check forecasts for home delivery that use these figures against orders before the next review.
Manufacturers and commercial operators
- Compare items shipped by product group with sales plans before the next forecast.
- Check any customer stock reports by product group before changing sales targets this quarter.
2. Vetsource reports fewer new puppy and kitten patients
OBSERVED
Vetsource published a white paper on veterinary patient trends on October 15, 2026. The paper examines changes in new puppy and kitten patients following the pandemic pet boom. It also considers whether pets acquired during that period could produce a surge in older patients. The analysis covers records from 6,493 US practices that Vetsource serves, mainly general companion animal practices. 2
Vetsource drew the records directly from practice software. It counts each patient once per month. The paper does not state whether annual totals count each patient only once. 2
Vetsource reports an average of 434 new puppy and kitten patients per practice in 2025. The 2024 average was 482. The reported practice average fell by about 10%. 2
For all patients aged 8 years or older, practices averaged 1,449 patients in 2024. The 2025 average was 1,443. 2
VIEWPOINT
These averages give clinics a reason to check expansion plans that depend on more patients. More visits or higher spending per patient could still support revenue growth. Clinics should compare recent demand for visits with available appointment slots before adding more.
Suppliers should compare sales plans for products for older pets with actual orders. Current appointment and stock plans can stay in place where local demand supports them.
CONFIDENCE
Moderate — Vetsource supplies the counts. Changes in the sample and how well it represents other practices remain unclear.
ACTIONS
Independent veterinary practices
- Check new puppy and kitten patient counts against the same period last year before the next staffing review.
- Check demand for older pets’ visits against open slots before adding more this quarter.
Corporate veterinary groups and clinic consolidators
- Compare demand for older pets’ visits with open slots across clinics before funding more slots.
- Separate patient growth at the same clinics from growth from new sites in this quarter’s forecasts.
Distributors, e-retail and home delivery providers
- Check sales plans for products for older pets against orders before buying more stock.
- Estimate stock left at quarter-end if orders for products for older pets stay unchanged, before the next purchase.
Manufacturers and commercial operators
- State assumed patient growth for products for puppies, kittens and older pets in the next sales forecast.
- Test launch plans for products for older pets assuming no patient growth at the next budget review.
3. Convenia RTU for Dogs gains approval ahead of planned launch
OBSERVED
The US FDA approved Convenia RTU for Dogs on October 20, 2026. The ready-to-use injection contains the antibiotic cefovecin and treats certain bacterial skin infections in dogs. 3
The original Convenia was approved in 2008 for dogs and cats. The new formulation contains the same active ingredient at a higher concentration. FDA limits the newly approved formulation to dogs because some other ingredients may be toxic to cats. 3
Zoetis expects to supply veterinarians in the first quarter of 2027. The release gives no price or supply terms. 4
VIEWPOINT
Approval gives buyers time to prepare stock records before the planned launch. Clear product names and “for dogs only” wording can help staff identify this formulation when ordering. First orders should depend on confirmed price and supply terms and expected clinic use. Current stock plans should stay in place until those terms and expected use are clear.
CONFIDENCE
High — FDA records confirm the approval. Launch timing, price and supply terms still need confirmation.
ACTIONS
Independent veterinary practices
- Review confirmed price and supply terms against expected clinic use before placing the first order.
- Prepare a stock record with the full product name and “for dogs only” wording before launch.
Corporate veterinary groups and clinic consolidators
- Use the full product name and “for dogs only” wording across clinic order systems before launch.
- Have the purchasing lead review launch terms before approving clinics’ first orders.
Distributors, e-retail and home delivery providers
- Prepare clinic listings with the full product name and “for dogs only” wording before stocking it.
- Check when Zoetis can ship before telling clinics when their orders will arrive.
Manufacturers and commercial operators
- Have sales staff check that this product’s sales sheets say “for dogs only” before using them.
- Have the launch team confirm price, supply and order details before sales staff brief clinics.
4. dvm360 respondents cite administrative work as a source of stress
OBSERVED
On October 15, 2026, dvm360 published survey findings from 146 veterinary professionals. Participants chose to take part through the dvm360 website, social media and newsletters. The survey covered a range of roles, including veterinarians, technicians and practice managers. 5
Participants could select up to three contributors to their current stress or burnout. “Administrative burden,” covering documentation and inefficient work processes, was the most common choice, selected by 61 of 146 respondents (41.8%). “Workload/pace” combined the amount of work with how quickly staff needed to complete it. That option ranked second, selected by 57 of 146 respondents (39.0%). 5
The findings describe this voluntary group. The article does not say when people answered or give a breakdown by country or practice specialty. 5
VIEWPOINT
For clinics, the potential gain is more time for patient care, client support or breaks within existing paid hours. This depends on finding and removing avoidable administrative steps. Payroll could remain unchanged. Spending could fall if lower paid overtime costs exceed the costs of making and maintaining the change.
For suppliers, the opportunity is to reduce the work clinics must do to use their products and services. Simpler forms or fewer follow-up contacts could strengthen a service’s value where clinics identify these as problems. Clinics could compare suppliers and software on both price and staff work. Any change should reduce work across all affected staff, preserve necessary checks and justify the full cost of the service.
CONFIDENCE
Moderate — participants chose to take part in a limited survey. The survey did not measure staff time or business costs.
ACTIONS
Independent veterinary practices
- Time one paperwork task staff find burdensome over the next 5 working days.
- Compare everyone’s time on the task before and after the trial at the next budget review.
Corporate veterinary groups and clinic consolidators
- Compare time spent on the same reporting task across clinics this month.
- Check time spent by everyone involved before extending a process change to other clinics.
Distributors, e-retail and home delivery providers
- Count repeat contacts for order problems that clinics report this month.
- Compare contacts per filled order before and after testing a fix for a problem clinics report this month.
Manufacturers and commercial operators
- Measure how long clinic staff spend on a support form they find burdensome before the next account review.
- Compare staff time before and after changing the form clinics named, at the next account review.
5. Accuplex study compares two tests using selected dog samples
OBSERVED
On October 14, 2026, the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA) published a study that compared how well Accuplex and SNAP 4Dx Plus detected antibodies to Anaplasma and Ehrlichia in dogs. The two groups of bacteria spread through ticks, and the antibodies indicate exposure to them. 6
Accuplex is Antech’s laboratory test; SNAP 4Dx Plus is IDEXX’s test for use in clinics. Researchers tested both products on the same selected, stored blood-serum samples. Separate comparisons used 310 samples for Anaplasma and 309 for Ehrlichia. 6
US clinics had originally sent the samples to Antech for routine testing. The Ehrlichia samples were collected in July and August 2023, with collection focused on the southeastern US. 6
Researchers assessed each product against a third test, an indirect fluorescent antibody test, which also detects antibodies. The table below shows how often each product matched this reference test’s positive and negative results for Ehrlichia. The study lacked clinical information to establish whether individual dogs were ill. 6
| Measure | Accuplex | SNAP 4Dx Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Positive results among 78 samples positive by the reference test | 94% | 58% |
| Negative results among 231 samples negative by the reference test | 97% | 100% |
Reported Ehrlichia antibody results from the selected 309-sample set. 6
The authors used initial Accuplex results to ensure enough positive samples. Five of the seven authors of the report were Antech employees; Antech supplies Accuplex. 6
VIEWPOINT
The comparison leaves the value of changing tests uncertain. Results from routine practice would help buyers judge whether the reported differences apply to their patients. Test price, staff time and time to receive results could also change the value of a switch. Buyers can keep current arrangements while a clinical lead reviews the evidence and local operating costs.
CONFIDENCE
Moderate — the study used selected samples, so its findings may not apply broadly.
ACTIONS
Independent veterinary practices
- Ask suppliers for studies with a typical mix of clinic patients before deciding on a test switch.
- Compare test cost, staff time and time to receive results before approving a switch.
Corporate veterinary groups and clinic consolidators
- Have the clinical lead check both table rows and how samples were chosen when suppliers cite this study.
- Compare test costs, staff time and time to receive results across clinics before approving a group switch.
Distributors, e-retail and home delivery providers
- For test sales, check claims against both table rows and how samples were chosen before issuing quotes.
- For lab services, confirm when results will reach clinics before quoting the service.
Manufacturers and commercial operators
- Show both table rows, the caption and how samples were chosen when sharing these findings.
- Seek studies that reflect the mix of patients seen in clinics before claiming similar results in routine care.
Methodology and governance
This PULSE Edition covers developments posted or acted on from October 14, through October 21, 2026, using US Eastern Time.
OBSERVED statements are anchored to public sources and attributed subscriber reports cited below. VIEWPOINT statements present PETMETRIX assessments of their commercial implications. Early watch items are early hypotheses. They are not yet strong enough for a full Signal, and they include what would confirm or rule out the pattern.
PETMETRIX PULSE commercial intelligence is provided for informational use and to support lawful, independent business decisions. It is not legal, clinical, reimbursement, accounting, or financial advice. Route legal, clinical, reimbursement, accounting, and financial decisions to qualified advisers. Respect for the veterinary-client-patient relationship is mandatory.
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Glossary
Active ingredient: The component of a medicine that produces its intended effect.
Anaplasma: A group of bacteria spread mainly by ticks that can cause illness in dogs and other animals.
Antibody: A protein made by the immune system that binds to a specific substance, such as part of a bacterium or virus.
Blood serum: The liquid remaining after blood clots and the clot and blood cells are removed.
Cefovecin: An antibiotic used in injectable veterinary medicines for certain bacterial infections.
Core vaccine: A vaccine recommended for all animals of a species unless a specific medical reason makes vaccination unsuitable.
Ehrlichia: A group of bacteria spread mainly by ticks that can cause illness in dogs and other animals.
Indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFA): A laboratory test that uses fluorescent markers to detect specific antibodies in a sample.
Lifestyle vaccine (noncore vaccine): An informal term for a noncore vaccine recommended for some animals based on lifestyle, location, and risk of exposure.
Ready-to-use (RTU) injection: An injectable medicine supplied in liquid form without needing added liquid to dissolve or dilute it. Product-specific handling steps still apply.
Reference test: A test used as the comparison point when evaluating another test’s results. Its own accuracy affects the comparison.
Volunteer sample: A study group formed from people who choose to join through an open invitation.
References
- Animalytix. “Vet Watch® Insight Report - YTD Week 41, October 2026.” Subscriber email received by PETMETRIX October 20, 2026. https://www.vetwatch.com/
- Vetsource. “Where are the pandemic puppies and kittens?” Undated. Accessed October 15, 2026. https://assets.vetsource.com/asset/e021713d-d4b0-4125-9e2d-0f405e14fb85/Pet-age-demographic-White-paper.pdf
- US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). “FDA Approves Ready-to-Use Cefovecin Injectable for Treatment of Certain Skin Infections in Dogs.” October 20, 2026. https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/cvm-updates/fda-approves-ready-use-cefovecin-injectable-treatment-certain-skin-infections-dogs
- Zoetis Inc. “Zoetis Receives FDA Approval for Convenia® RTU for Dogs (cefovecin injectable suspension), Helping More Medium and Large Dogs Access Single-Injection Treatment.” October 20, 2026. https://news.zoetis.com/press-releases/press-release-details/2026/Zoetis-Receives-FDA-Approval-for-Convenia-RTU-for-Dogs-cefovecin-injectable-suspension-Helping-More-Medium-and-Large-Dogs-Access-Single-Injection-Treatment/default.aspx
- dvm360. “Veterinary professionals cite burnout, pay, and corporate ownership concerns in dvm360 survey.” October 15, 2026. https://www.dvm360.com/view/veterinary-professionals-cite-burnout-pay-and-corporate-ownership-concerns-in-dvm360-survey
- Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA). “Silicon surface multiplex immunoassay (Accuplex) for antibodies against Anaplasma spp and Ehrlichia spp is a robust option for tick-borne pathogen screening in dogs.” October 14, 2026. Evason et al. DOI: 10.2460/javma.26.05.0396. https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/aop/javma.26.05.0396/javma.26.05.0396.xml