Greg Echols, DVM, a self-employed relief veterinarian

Relief medicine has risen in recent years and projects an alternative to traditional animal health care practice that is thriving on modern career ideologies and lifestyle culture.

Although relief work may not be the best fit for every practicing veterinarian, it is proving to be a viable career path for many practitioners. Over the course of a decade, ending in 2018, relief practice grew from approximately 1800 veterinarians to approximately 2300 veterinarians, numbers that track with the overall population of practicing veterinarians that is also increasing.

“What we’re seeing is a shift in how veterinarians approach their careers,” Michael Raphael, CEO of IndeVets, a veterinary relief service provider, said in a 

Relief veterinary work refers to temporary employment that can range from short- to long-term assignments. Relief doctors support practices by providing patient care and maintaining operational continuity, either through an agency or as independent contractors. They may cover for veterinarians on family leave or vacation, assist with increased workload demands by offering additional expertise, or respond to urgent situations requiring general or specialized skills.

In a 2023 survey of relief or mobile veterinarians, for which results were recently released, 444 participants responded, sharing their reasons for making the shift from previous jobs. Administration, hospital culture, leadership, and workplace scheduling were all contributing factors.

Anita Patel, DVM, director of clinical excellence-southeast for IndeVets and a practicing relief veterinarian

Anita Patel, DVM, director of clinical excellence-southeast for IndeVets, is a mother and relief practitioner in the Atlanta, Georgia, area. She worked as an associate veterinarian in a busy, small animal practice with multiple doctors before pivoting her career to relief practice when she experienced increasing burnout. “I loved the practice I was at, I loved the people that I worked with, I loved the clinical growth that I had, [but] work-life balance just really became something that I wasn’t getting. [I was] constantly feeling like my personal life came second to my professional life,” Patel said.

Like Patel, Raphael said, veterinarians increasingly want to have greater control over their work hours and schedule. “Many feel that traditional associate roles don’t give them that flexibility and respect for life outside of being a vet they need (and deserve). Relief work often seems to be the only viable solution,” he said. “There are many veterinarians who are just looking for a new way to practice. They are looking for a clinically led team where they can grow professionally without the constraints of a traditional associate role.”

Photo courtesy of Andrew Findlaytor, DVM 

Andrew Findlaytor, DVM, chief veterinarian at Roo, and a relief veterinarian.

Greg Echols, DVM, operates his own relief veterinarian service and recently spoke about it on dvm360’s 

 “It feels great,” he said. “I don’t really have to ask for time off. It’s definitely more freedom. It’s less burden [than what I experienced as an associate veterinarian], and [I'm] able to work wherever I want to work.”

Andrew Findlaytor, DVM, was an independent relief veterinarian prior to joining the team at Roo, a digital marketplace for matching veterinarians and technicians with relief jobs, where he now serves as chief veterinarian. He said a desire to keep learning and curiosity for how different hospitals operated led him to relief work. “I figured working in more places would give me more experience, so I set out on this quest to work at every hospital I could find,” he said in a 

“I found, in my journeys, every hospital has something that they do uniquely well, that no one else has figured out. And every hospital has something they struggle with, no matter how big and fancy or small. Everyone’s got their own thing they’re trying to solve,” Findlaytor added.

Although many relief veterinarians rely on service providers like Roo and IndeVets, 210 of 239 respondents of the 2023 survey reported it easy to find relief work, with many citing personal connections, word of mouth, introductions, and personal inquiries as driving sources. Most relief veterinarians surveyed also indicated they have a regular client base of hospitals and shelters.

Patel said that although it’s nice to have the opportunity to work in different hospitals all the time, it is also good to have her current long-term placement, which has her working in the same hospital every week. “It’s kind of nice sometimes, being able to pick. If I want that continuity and consistency, I can do that, while still getting to practice in a lot of different practices,” Patel said. 

Marisa Brunetti, VMD, chief veterinary officer with IndeVets and a relief practitioner

Marisa Brunetti, VMD, chief veterinary officer with IndeVets, said she is currently a relief practitioner in a hospital that formerly employed her, and she is enjoying the opportunity to continue engaging with familiar clients and patients. Relief veterinarians who are more interested in practicing across the spectrum of care in a variety of settings from shelter medicine to high-end clinics, like Findlaytor, or who want to primarily work a specialty capacity also find opportunities. “We have lots of doctors that maybe just want to do surgery, and they can't do that every day in one practice. And so they get a chance to do something very specific that they love [through relief work],” Brunetti said.

Compensation for relief veterinarians and technicians varies. How it compares to more traditional roles can even more be tricky to quantify, according to Raphael. “There are so many contributing factors to consider, including out-of-pocket expenses the relief vet must bear, production requirements of the associate, years of experience, and location,” he added.

However, according to Roo, its top-earning relief veterinarians saw more than $300,000 in 2024, with the assumption that they were working at a full-time pace. The average 9-hour shift of a relief veterinarian working through Roo pays $1290, according to the company.

Although relief service agencies may also offer benefits packages, independent contractors are responsible for securing health insurance on their own, which also factors into compensation variables. However, the latter also has a say in what they are paid. “If there’s a clinic that needs me for a certain number of hours, I can make my own rates,” Echols said in his interview.

Veterinarians working in the relief space also may face potential drawbacks to relief practice. The 2023 study’s authors found new hospital protocols, little support from colleagues, and a lack of job security to be challenges for some respondents.

 Experts also noted that independent relief workers are also spending time securing their next placements and managing administrative tasks such as invoicing, in addition to practicing medicine.

Still, Raphael said hospitals can rely on relief veterinarians to deliver expert medicine. “Oftentimes, this helps those clinics prevent burnout and grow their practices with our highly credentialed vets,” he said.

Kogan LR, Rishniw M. Relief and mobile veterinary careers may offer a path towards improved quality of life. 

. 2023;262(2):209-215. doi:10.2460/javma.23.07.0422

McCafferty C. From internship to entrepreneurship. 

. September 11, 2024. Accessed January 15, 2025. https://www.dvm360.com/view/from-internship-to-entrepreneurship

Zimmerman R. How much do Roo relief vets make? Roo. December 9, 2024. Accessed January 15, 2025. https://www.roo.vet/roo4you/how-much-do-roo-relief-vets-make

Articles

Temporary work is a choice that a growing number of doctors have made in recent years

Relief practice allows veterinarians to thrive

Discover how the Avant Laser is revolutionizing veterinary care with non-invasive, precision technology that accelerates healing, reduces pain, and enhances mobility in pets—all at a competitive price.

Redefining Pet Mobility and Comfort with Non-Invasive Laser Technology

Hi, I'm Pamela Moffat from Avant Wellness and I'm here with Doctor Tom Walsh who uses our laser. And I wanted to say we’re very excited to be here for DVM360 Fetch in Long Beach, California. Tom, good to see you.

We're fairly new to the vet world. We've only been talking to vets, probably for the last, in a serious way, for the last year years. So, as we get more awareness, we have more vets using this with spectacular results. The kind of results that Tom gets—he, of course, will not brag about them, but I will. We see, time and time again, he gets results that other vets can't. You know, he very often gets dogs from other vets, who they've sort of given up. And you know, there was one you were talking about yesterday.

 Yes. Yesterday, I was talking about a dog that had a mysterious cervical nerve impingement that we could not replicate. We couldn't find a reason why on an MRI or anything like that, the neurologist said I don't know what we can do with this. And we actually started working on this with the laser. We added some ice to it as well to help reduce that inflammation. And within just a few treatments, we were able to get that inflammation down which then released the dog to have a better range of motion with its neck. Once that started happening, the dog realized it didn't hurt to move, and it got to a situation where it no longer wanted to lay in the bed all day long. It wanted to get up. and within, I believe it was 8 treatments, 9 treatments with the laser we had that dog outside running up a hill like it was a puppy.

Yeah, that was incredible. I've seen that—where this dog literally could not walk to its bed and then was sprinting up the hill. I mean, you're bringing dogs basically back to life.

 I really appreciate that. The whole reason why I love to focus on rehabilitation is because I get to help them down that journey. The laser is the key component in my toolbox. Because of the pain mitigation, the anti-inflammatory properties, and also how it speeds healing. The thing is rarely do you ever come across a product that is actually affordable and over delivers what they were actually producing, and that's what I found in Avant and I wouldn't go back to anything else.

 We’re glad to hear that. So, one of the things that I know you love is all of the protocols that we have.

 We've got 250 protocols. We've got special vet protocols for dogs, small animals, horses. And tell me about how quickly you can get results for this?

 It's not only quick to get results, but as you know, unlike a human patient where you can tell them to stay still, every vet out there knows our animals and our patients are wiggly. So, it's not only about the number of protocols you have, it is how fast you can get to them. That's why there's a favorites button in here that I utilize every single day. I'm able to pin the protocols to favorites and I'm able to get that result right away. Usually within 60 seconds of picking this device up I'm lasering. And the great thing is because of the safety of this laser, I don't have to worry about burning the animal or burning its coat or anything like that. It also gives my technicians a lot of confidence and flexibility to be able to use this.


You know, one of the key components to this laser is you designed it with a practitioner in mind. And you see how tiny it is. But here's the thing: the practitioner is very busy. We as vets are surfing on a very high wave every single day, going from appointment to appointment as fast as we can, getting records in, making sure the medications are right, all of those things. This means our time is extremely limited. The safety and the simplicity of this device allows you to hand it to your technician. Without fear they can use it, while you're busy doing something else that you need to get done as of a vet. So, I appreciate the fact that it was designed with that practitioner in mind in the application of the real world. When it gets too busy and the fur is flying out there, the reality is this: in a technician’s hands you know that’s it's trusted device. You know the animals not going to be hurt, the technicians not going to be hurt, and you know the treatments going to be right.

 So, we know that you were used to using Class IV lasers.

Yeah, as a lot of vets are used to that. And then you came across this, which is a Class 3B laser. You had to sort of get your head around that. Tell us why you switched and how you found it works.

 So, it really confused me, because going from a Class IV laser I thought for sure that it wouldn't be powerful enough, in those words, to where it would get down to the joint capsule. It wouldn't get to the IVDD spaces that I needed to get to reduce those nerves and that sort of thing. So, when I started seeing the results—that they were as good or better than I expected—I actually gave you guys a call and said, “I need more education about this, because I'm not sure why this product is working better than advertised.” And I realized that this is a light wave. When you tune it properly, it gets the right results. When you tune that, just like tuning a radio station, you can hear it clearly. The cells hear it clearly. And with that, the message it's telling them is to reduce inflammation, to reduce pain, and start the ATP process.

 So, how about the speed? How long is your treatment?

Normally my protocols last anywhere from four to five minutes, but what I love about this is the portability of being able to move it around to different places. I can actually extend my protocols to cover other areas. That animal may be there for a cruciate repair, but chances are it's got some inflammation in its shoulders as well. Because it has to balance that weight somewhere. So, the ability to be able to treat both things and within the same protocol, and moving around so easily, and the literature backs it up—that over range of motion, laser is more effective.

 How has this little laser affected your business?

You know, Pamela, this laser has changed my business completely. What has happened over the past three years, four years, is I've gone from being mobile-based to having my own facility. When I was mobile, I was treating about 12 to 15 dogs a week at the max. Now I'm averaging 25 to 30 a day.

 I have, and I have to believe that it's part and parcel because of the process, but the product that I have to use every single day, every single patient gets this laser. So, there's no deniability that this is the key component in the factor.

We like to hear that. Tom specializes in small animals, but we also have a number of vets who are using this for forces. One in particular is using it for all the top show horses. She will go to a show. They don't actually allow, from what I understand, Class IV at the show, so this is really the best tool. And in the course of two minutes, that horse is ready to go. They're jumping Grand Prix, 5-6 feet and timed. You know, it takes a lot out of the animal. The great thing about horses and having this sort of device is you have to be mobile. You have to go in the stalls. If you're dealing with thoroughbreds, they’re…

 Very anxious. This doesn't make any noise. You can approach them. It’s fast, and it's a great device for both large and small animals. You know, we do have a mission at Avant. That mission is to make laser therapy more accessible to people. And the way we do that is we make this laser really simple. The protocols are all in there. You just push the button and go. We make it affordable, so more people can get the laser. And this was really designed with practitioners in mind. You know, it's easy to use, it's fast, and it's the most powerful in its class. So, we love it at Avant because we have so many people who love this laser, and we hear these miracle stories all the time. And we're just here to tell vets that we are here to help them.

 We're so excited to be here at DVM360 Fetch. For more information, just give us a call or visit the website at www.avantwellness.com.

Videos

Discover how non-invasive laser treatment is revolutionizing veterinary care with  precision technology that accelerates healing, reduces pain, and enhances mobility in pets—all at a competitive price.

Jason B. Pieper, DVM, MS, DACVD talks about the multiple therapies available for cases of moderate and severe atopic dermatitis and delves into each option

Treatment options for moderate and severe atopic dermatitis, and when to use what

, Jason B. Pieper, DVM, MS, DACVD, assistant professor at Iowa State University goes in depth about the various treatment options for moderate and severe atopic dermatitis. Pieper outlines the various agents and therapies that should be used for moderate cases versus severe cases, explaining the advantages and disadvantages of the therapies, and specific cases in which one treatment is preferred over another, or discouraged. In his discussion, he talks about Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, cyclosporin, Cytopoint, allergen-specific immunotherapy, monotherapy, steroids, and more.

 to listen to an earlier part of Pieper’s interview, where he talks about treatment options for mild cases of atopic dermatitis.

Below is a partial transcript which has been edited for clarity.

For moderate, you know, that's kind of where you get to about the 5 to 6 categories. Those are kind of where I think of more of the drugs that are targeted towards, you know, atopic dermatitis. So, we have a variety of them. Realistically, you go looking at Cytopoint, which is the monoclonal antibody to [interleukin 31] IL-31, which is [an] injectable, canonized as well I should say, so it's only for dogs. I think it works really well. It's variable how long it works. You know, anywhere from 4 to 8 weeks can be successful for that and the nice thing is, you take out the compliance from the owner. It's an injectable you give there at the clinic and it's going to be good as far as that timeline, and you don't have to worry about the owner missing pills or not giving drugs or something like that. 

Next kind of category I usually think of is kind of your Jak inhibitors. So the Jak inhibitors, would include both Apoquel, as well as Zenrelia. There's a little bit of differences between the two. Obviously, Apoquel has been out quite a while for that drug, and pretty successful, as far as, you know, how long it's been out—anywhere from 60% to 80%, I think it depends on how severe the disease is for [the] success rate for those. But it has been highly successful, relatively safe I would say for the most part, little bit of side effects here and there, but overall, I think it's relatively safe.

Zenrelia is a newer drug. I mean, it was approved by the FDA in September 2024. The biggest concern with it is it does have a black box warning around vaccinations and suppression and whatnot, but they've done some further studies with vaccination, showing that dogs that have previously been vaccinated and are getting then booster vaccines are easily able to achieve tighter levels for the distemper and rabies vaccine. And those were done in much larger studies: 4 times the quantity of dogs [than in] the initial study…. So, from that aspect, I think it's very safe—I'm not worried about the vaccines aspect with them. I think it's relatively safe there. Side effects, since it's also in kind of that Jak inhibitor category and kind of that same first generation of them, I believe that the side effects are relatively low. I have yet to see a side effect with those dogs either. So, I think it's same category for them.

Obviously, we always have steroids. Steroids work well, you know I kind of consider all 4 of those drugs as fast acting, and steroids are kind of in there. Steroids are like a silver bullet. They're highly successful, but long term, my absolute last option because of the side effects and you're definitely going to cause some health issues long term.

Jason B. Pieper, DVM, MS, DACVD, talks about the multiple therapies available for cases of moderate and severe atopic dermatitis and delves into each option

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Center for Veterinary Biologics (CVB), issued Zoetis a conditional license for its Avian Influenza Vaccine, H5N2 Subtype, Killed Virus. The vaccination, labeled for use in chickens, was granted the conditional license because its serology data showed it demonstrates safety, purity, and has a reasonable expectation of efficacy

“When a new strain of HPAI was identified in the US in early 2022, our scientists immediately began work to update our previous avian influenza vaccine,” said Mahesh Kumar, PhD, senior vice president, global biologics research and development at Zoetis, in an organizational release.

On February 8, 2022, the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) was detected in a commercial flock in the United States.

 The virus has continued to spread to other species, including dairy cattle, and even human cases are beginning to be reported. At this time, APHIS has confirmed 146 flocks with HPAI, after being tested, with 94 being commercial flocks, 47 backyard flocks, and a total of 20.04 million birds confirmed infected.

From poultry to public health: Understanding the H5N1 threat

A USDA conditional license, like Zoetis’ avian influenza vaccine

H5N2 Subtype, Killed Virus, allows a product to be used to meet an emergency condition, limited market, local situation, or any other special circumstance and is issued for a finite period, and can be renewed at the discretion of the CVB.

In 2016, Zoetis had received a conditional license for its H5N1 vaccine as well as a contract award for the USDA’s National Veterinary Stockpile. The vaccination was then used in 2023 by the US Fish & Wildlife Service to help protect California condors. Additionally, Zoetis has a USDA license for POULVAC FLUFEND i AI H5N3 RG, which is available in smaller markets outside of the United States, and was used in 2024 to protect endangered birds in New Zealand.

“We first worked on HPAI vaccines in 2001-02 when outbreaks occurred in flocks in Southeast Asia. Our readiness with this most recent vaccine is another example of how we continue to live our purpose to nurture the world and humankind by advancing care for animals, ultimately providing solutions to global animal health challenges,” Kumar continued.

Zoetis Receives Conditional License from USDA for Avian Influenza Vaccine, H5N2 Subtype, Killed Virus, for Chickens. News release. February 14, 2025. Accessed February 17, 2025. 

https://news.zoetis.com/press-releases/press-release-details/2025/Zoetis-Receives-Conditional-License-from-USDA-for-Avian-Influenza-Vaccine-H5N2-Subtype-Killed-Virus/default.aspx

HPAI Confirmations in Commercial and Backyard Flocks. US Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Accessed February 17, 2025. https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/commercial-backyard-flocks

The vaccine from Zoetis, Avian Influenza Vaccine, H5N2 Subtype, Killed Virus, is for poultry and has been demonstrated to be safe, pure, and to have a reasonable expectation of efficacy

USDA issues conditional license for H5N2 vaccination 

Canine oral cavity masses are commonly identified, often as an incidental finding during dental prophylaxis or because of clinical signs identified by owners. Clinical signs can include foul odor from the mouth, abnormal or altered prehension or eating patterns, hypersalivation, blood in the water or food bowls, or a grossly visible mass. These masses can range from inflammatory lesions to hyperplastic lesions to benign or malignant neoplastic diseases. As such, prognosis and treatment recommendations vary based on the type of lesion identified.

Several important steps should be taken and/or considered after the identification of an oral cavity lesion:

Perform a thorough oral examination. This is best performed with the canine under heavy sedation and/or anesthesia.

Document the location of the mass in the medical record as per the modified Triadan system, including details on the location of the mass relative to the teeth (buccal or lingual/palatal) or other pertinent anatomic structures.

Consider taking digital photographs. Because of the complexity of oral cavity masses, digital photographs of the mass are recommended as part of the medical record. This may be of particular importance if the mass requires a more extensive surgical excision following definitive diagnosis.

Perform diagnostic tests aimed at identifying the origin of the oral cavity mass to guide treatment recommendations and prognostic discussions 

Diagnostic investigation of oral cavity lesions typically begins with direct sampling of the lesion to determine a benign or malignant behavior. Cytological evaluation via fine-needle aspiration or impression smears can be a minimally invasive option to achieve a diagnosis and has a high level of agreement with histologic diagnoses.

However, when aiming for a potential definitive treatment, clinicians may prefer to perform incisional or excisional biopsies. The previously mentioned documentation recommendations are of particular importance if excisional biopsies are being considered. If a definitive diagnosis of a malignant tumor or a benign but locally invasive tumor is made, further treatment may be required. Because there may be no gross disease visible to guide additional diagnostics and treatments, the previous documentation will be an important guide to ensure the correct location is being evaluated and treated.

The overall incidence of canine oral tumors is higher than previously reported2 and may be attributed to improved medical care for pets and to pet insurance, resulting in more animals receiving routine medical care than in the past. Canine oral tumors make up approximately 6% to 7% of all reported canine neoplasms

 and tend to be malignant more often than benign.

 The most common oral tumors in dogs are melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), fibrosarcoma, and acanthomatous ameloblastoma, and the most common site for oral tumors in dogs is the gingiva,

 with some tumors having additional site predilections or locations.

The most common canine oral tumor types and their site/location predilections are as follows

Melanoma—gingiva, buccal or lingual mucosa

Fibrosarcoma—maxillary gingiva, hard palate

Acanthomatous ameloblastoma—rostral mandible

Although melanoma, SCC, and fibrosarcoma exhibit malignant behavior, acanthomatous ameloblastomas have a benign but locally invasive behavior pattern.

 Metastatic potential is highest for melanoma cases, with a lower rate of metastasis for SCC and fibrosarcoma and no reported metastases for acanthomatous ameloblastoma cases.3 Despite the lack of metastatic potential for acanthomatous ameloblastomas, their local invasion into the surrounding bone results in diagnostic investigation and surgical treatments similar to those for malignant tumors.

After a definitive diagnosis of any of these tumors, additional diagnostic investigations are recommended. Typically, this includes advanced imaging of the skull to assess the local extent of disease to aid in surgical planning and investigations aimed to rule out regional and distant metastases, such as local lymph node aspiration and thoracic imaging. Surgical treatment for these most common tumors of the mandible and maxilla entails a regional mandibulectomy or maxillectomy. Despite the gross soft tissue nature of these masses, excision of the underlying bone is required due to the tissues of origin of these tumors, invasion of local bone, and the increased risk for local recurrence when soft tissues only are excised.

Despite a relatively invasive surgical treatment process, many dogs recover well from surgery and return to normal oral functions, including prehension, mastication, and drinking.

 Partial mandibulectomies and maxillectomies can have minimal impact on cosmesis, depending on the site and extent of disease, and owners have reported both formally

 and anecdotally that their pet’s quality of life is good postoperatively. Because the invasiveness of definitive treatment for oral tumors can often affect owners’ decision-making, veterinarians are encouraged to highlight the good quality of life, minimal cosmetic alteration, and reasonable recovery times postoperatively during these discussions.

Katie Hoddinott, DVM, DVSc, BSc, DACVS-SA

, is a native of Nova Scotia, Canada. She graduated with her DVM from the Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, in 2012. She then completed 2 internships and a surgery residency at the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph. She became a diplomat of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons – Small Animal in 2019. Hoddinott is currently working at the Atlantic Veterinary College as an assistant professor in small animal surgery, where she enjoys teaching undergraduate veterinary students, interns, and residents. Her professional interests lie mainly in surgical oncology and minimally invasive soft tissue surgery. Her current research focuses include advances in clinical teaching for surgery residents and surgical site infections.

Bonfanti U, Bertazzolo W, Gracis M, et al. Diagnostic value of cytological analysis of tumours and tumour-like lesions of the oral cavity in dogs and cats: a prospective study on 114 cases. 

. 2015;205(2):322-327. doi:10.1016/j.tvjl.2014.10.022

Cray M, Selmic LE, Ruple A. Demographics of dogs and cats with oral tumors presenting to teaching hospitals: 1996-2017. 

. 2020;21(5):e70. doi:10.4142/jvs.2020.21.e70

Liptak JM, Withrow S. Oral tumors. In: Kudnig ST, Séguin B, eds. 

Satthathum C, Srisampane S, Jariyarangsrirattana P, Anusorn P, Sattasathuchana P, Thengchaisri N. Characteristics of canine oral tumors: insights into prevalence, types, and lesion distribution. 

. 2023;10(3):554-562. doi:10.5455/javar.2023.j709

Bull I, Ziener ML, Storli SH, Arendt ML. Quality of life after partial mandibulectomy or maxillectomy in 45 dogs with oral tumors. 

 2023;40(4):329-337. doi:10.1177/08987564231164483

The type of lesion will guide treatment and prognosis

Managing canine oral tumors

The field study for Laverdia-CA1’s (verdinexor tablets) safety and effectiveness in dogs with lymphoma has been completed, according to Anivive, a software-driven pet health company behind the drug’s development. Laverdia-CA1, which received conditional approval from the FDA in 2021, presents a promising oral treatment option for canine lymphoma as it offers a non-invasive approach for veterinary oncology patients, according to a news release.

For the study, 150 dogs were chosen to participate in the trial from more than 700 applicants. The study was a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-masked study that was conducted throughout 12 clinical sites in the United States. Patient treatment and data collection concluded with the closure of the final study site on December 12, 2024, according to Anivive.

With data collection now finished, Anivive has locked the database to start statistical analysis. Results are anticipated in the coming months. The company plans to submit the Effectiveness technical section of the new animal drug application for regulatory review this summer. The FDA has already deemed all other major sections of the application complete, according to Anivive.

 The company will also be submitting for full approval of the drug in Brazil, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the European Union once the data package is finalized.

“This achievement represents a key milestone in Anivive's mission to deliver innovative cancer treatments to companion animals, such as this new first-in-class XP01 blocker,” wrote the company in a news release.

"The completion of our critical study for LAVERDIA-CA1 marks a major milestone in bringing forward an innovative therapy for canine lymphoma,” Dylan Balsz, CEO of Anivive, said in the release.

 "We are excited to analyze the data and move closer to making an oral treatment option available for dogs living with this challenging disease."

In 2021, Laverdia-CA1 became the first conditionally approved oral treatment for dogs with lymphoma. The drug prevents certain proteins from leaving the nucleus of cancer cells, in turn helping these proteins control the growth of cancerous cells in dogs and prevent their spread.

 It is administered orally twice a week with at least 72 hours between doses.

When handling Laverdia-CA1 and cleaning up after a treated dog, and for 3 days post-treatment, veterinarians should wear gloves tested for use with chemotherapy drugs. Cases where gloves should be worn include handling the patient’s food and water bowls, and the patient’s feces, urine, vomit or saliva.

Owners of dogs with lymphoma can also administer the drug at home with a veterinarian prescription and client information sheet.

According to the FDA, pregnant women, women who may become pregnant, nursing women, and children should not handle or administer Laverdia-CA1 nor touch the feces, urine, vomit or saliva of treated dogs.

 with dvm360, Craig A Clifford, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Oncology), offered insight on the novel drug. “We know for the average dog, it may hold the disease for about 3 months or so, so [the drug is] not meant to be a silver bullet—a cure-all for lymphoma,” he explained.

 “[Most] likely in the future, oncologists will be combining it with other agents in other types of protocols. But to me, knowing that 80% of lymphomas are left untreated, [the drug] gives the primary care a game changer—something else that they can utilize, other than just prednisone.”

According to Clifford, veterinary oncologists are beginning to see that Laverdia-CA1 also has a very high response rate against T cell lymphoma—a rare form of cancerous lymphoma that is challenging to treat with few drugs that treat it available. “We’re starting to see that there may be other avenues for this agent,” said Clifford.

“Right now, I view it more as a primary care drug, and I think that’s great because to me, we’re expanding access, meaning more cases are going to get treated, and it’s an unmet need, and I think this drug checks both of those boxes,” he concluded.

Anivive announces completion of Laverdia®-CA1 pivotal field study for canine lymphoma. News release. Anivive Lifesciences Inc. February 14, 2025. Accessed February 14, 2025. 

https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/anivive-announces-completion-of-laverdia-ca1-pivotal-field-study-for-canine-lymphoma-302377090.html

FDA conditionally approves first oral tablet to treat lymphoma in dogs. News release. US Food and Drug Administration. January 11, 2021. Accessed February 14, 2025. 

https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-conditionally-approves-first-oral-tablet-treat-lymphoma-dogs

Bautista-Alejandre A, Clifford C. About the novel drug for canine lymphoma. 

. January 6, 2025. Accessed February 14, 2025. 

https://www.dvm360.com/view/about-the-novel-drug-for-canine-lymphoma

Most major sections of the new animal drug application for Laverdia-CA1 have been deemed complete by the FDA, bringing the drug closer to approval