Brachycephalic pets (BCPs), particularly dogs, have grown tremendously in popularity over the past 10 years with the crowning of the French bulldog as the No. 1 breed in American Kennel Club (AKC) registration for the past 3 years, displacing the 31-year reign of the Labrador retriever.

Brachycephalic pets are widely recognized to experience a variety of health problems associated with their anatomic changes, including obstructive airway, and gastrointestinal, cardiac, neurological and orthopedic diseases as well as others.

Many clinicians and researchers have raised concern over the popularity of BCP because of man-made negative effects on the quality of life and concerns for the ethics of extreme breeding.

The popularity of a specific breed or breed type may reflect advertisement and popular culture.

Certain breeds of dogs, namely French bulldogs are considered status symbols. Flat-faced dogs often have the appearance of human babies, with larger eyes and may trigger nurturing behavior.

 In Europe and Australia there has been a call for limiting or removing BCPs from advertisement to try limiting exposure and inadvertent promotion of BCPs.

Although a recommendation on the use of BCPs in advertising has not been widely disseminated in the United States, the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association has listed extreme confirmation as a “priority area” of concern without issuing a policy.

 One international website has attempted to draw attention to the risk of brachycephaly.

To determine the prevalence of images of BCPs on websites used to advertise veterinary specialty and emergency practices, a review was initiated author Elizabeth Rozanski, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM), DACVECC, a professor of clinical sciences at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts. For this review, Rozanski examined websites from the published list of specialty and emergency practices certified by the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society (VECCS)

and Veterinary Council on Trauma (VetCOT).

 Additionally, 10 large referral practices, 5 in academia and 5 in private practice, which are not VECCS-certified or VetCOT-verified, were selected at random from a list of practices employing American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care diplomates.

Each website was reviewed by one individual and assessed for the presence of BCP images. BCPs were defined as English and French bulldogs, Boston terriers, boxers, Pekinese, pugs, shih-tzu and Persian cats. Cavalier King Charles spaniels were excluded despite some brachycephalic features because of high incidence of degenerative mitral valve disease leading to their appearance on many cardiology pages. Website landing pages were evaluated as were the individual pages for each specialty (eg. emergency/critical care, oncology, cardiology). Images of individual veterinarians pictured with their own BCPs were excluded, as were “success stories” outlining good outcomes of an individual BCP or information pages about brachycephaly. For veterinary schools, only the pages devoted to the teaching hospital were evaluated.

Practices were divided into VECCS certified or not certified, VetCOT verified or not, academic or private practice, and large corporate or smaller corporate. Using GraphPad software, descriptive statistics were calculated. Fisher’s exact tests were used to compare the prevalence of BCP images between groups.

Fifty-one practice websites were evaluated for the review. Brachycephalic images were identified in 26 (51%) websites. The majority (n=12) were French bulldogs, with the remainder including English bulldogs (n= 5), boxers (n=4), Boston terriers (n=3), pugs (n=2), shih-tzus (n=1), Pekingese (n=1), and a single Persian cat. Three sites had 2 brachycephalic images.

Fifteen academic hospitals and 36 private practices were included. One academic center had an English bulldog as a mascot, while other animals or concepts were the mascot for other schools. Six of 15 (40%) of academic hospitals had images of BCPs, while 22/36 (61%) of private practices had brachycephalic animals (p=0.22). For practices that are VECCS-certified, 12/26 (46%) had brachycephalic images, which was not different than non-VECCS certified practices (14/25 [56%], p=0.26). For VetCOT-verified practices, 8/18 (44%) had brachycephalic images, and for non-VetCOT-verified practices, 18/33 (55%) had brachycephalic images (p=0.56). There was no difference (p=1.0) in large versus small corporate practices.

The results of this review show that BCPs are commonly seen on the websites of emergency and specialty hospitals. There is no difference in the type of practices or the certification of the hospital in their apparent likelihood of having BCPs on their websites.

Brachycephalic pets are thought to appeal to people because of their “kindchenschema,” which is group of physical characteristics that mimic those seen in infants, and subsequently appear to encourage people to find them “cute” and want to care for them.

 Whatever their appeal, there this is no doubt that the popularity of brachycephalic pets has increased exponentially in recent years.

One study documented that the breed winning the Westminster Kennel Club did not affect the popularity in the following 5 years.

 However, movies have been shown to increase the popularity of canine breeds featured in them.

, which resulted in a marked increase in dalmatians surrendered to shelters

, that had a similar impact on interest in that species. Additionally, celebrities often pose with their dogs, and French bulldogs are amongst the most popular in tabloids

 In a well-known case, pop star Lady Gaga had 2 of her French bulldogs kidnapped and her dog walker critically injured, before ultimately being returned.

When a breed is popular, there is an increased likelihood of breeding for profit and less concern about health due to potential for profits. It is important to note that many breeders of brachycephalic dogs value the health of the breed.

One approach to trying to limit consumer exposure to potentially dangerous products, such as alcohol or cigarettes, is to ban advertising of the product, either universally or to certain vulnerable audiences. Banning BCPs from advertising and replacing them with dogs with more normal conformation is one step that might help decrease breed popularity and subsequently limit animals severely affected with clinical signs.

The number of websites that demonstrated images of BCPs in the current study was high. In most large practices, a marketing individual or group is responsible for creation of the website, and this may not have input from any clinical staff. Some of the images from observed from large corporate practices appeared to be the same image, despite purportedly representing different hospitals, suggesting a centralized marketing approach or use of stock images. Other potential limitations include that some images were apparently from the COVID-19 era, suggesting less frequent updates. Often the specialty pages did not clearly appear to represent the specialty being promoted, such as a veterinary criticalist performing an otic exam and a stuffed toy tiger undergoing a CT examination. Veterinary practices concerned about the health issues of BCPs should consider the prudence of displaying images of BCPs on their web pages. Marketing arms of practices should partner with clinicians about images displayed.

Most popular dog breeds. American Kennel Club. Accessed July 17, 2025. 

Packer RM, Tivers MS. Strategies for the management and prevention of conformation-related respiratory disorders in brachycephalic dogs. 

 (Auckl). 2015;6:219-232. doi:10.2147/VMRR.S60475

De Decker S, Rohdin C, Gutierrez-Quintana R. Vertebral and spinal malformations in small brachycephalic dog breeds: Current knowledge and remaining questions. 

. 2024;304:106095. doi:10.1016/j.tvjl.2024.106095.

Foster E, West N, Butterfield S, Rusbridge C, Crawford A. Respiratory compromise in French bulldogs presented with intervertebral disc extrusion. 

. 2023;193(12):e3603. doi:10.1002/vetr.3603. Epub 2023 Nov 8.

Scansen BA. Advances in the treatment of pulmonary valve stenosis. 

. 2023;53(6):1393-1414. doi:10.1016/j.cvsm.2023.05.013

Packer RM, Hendricks A, Tivers MS, Burn CC. Impact of facial conformation on canine health: Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome. 

. 2015;10(10):e0137496. doi:10.1371’journal.pone.0137496

Pound L, Farrow M, O'Neill D, Deane DJ, Packer RMA. 'All I do is fight fires': Qualitative exploration of UK veterinarians' attitudes towards and experiences of pre-purchase consultations regarding brachycephalic dogs. 

. 2024;194(7):e3897. doi:10.1002/vetr.3897. Epub 2024 Feb 20.

Paul ES, Coombe E, McGreevy PD, Packer RMA, Neville V. Are brachycephalic dogs really cute? Evidence from online descriptions. 

. 2023;36(4):533-553. doi:10.1080/08927936.2023.2176590

Ujfalussy DJ, Bognár Z, Molnár M, Miklósi Á, Kubinyi E. The difference between two brachycephalic and one mesocephalic dog breeds' problem-solving performance suggests evidence for paedomorphism in behaviour. 

. 2023;13(1):14284. doi:10.1038/s41598-023-41229-8.

Help stop ‘pugmania’, brachy group tells Disney. 

Herzog HA, Elias SM. Effects of winning the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on breed popularity. 

. 2004;225(3):365-7. doi:10.2460/javma.2004.225.365.

Paul ES, Packer RM, McGreevy PD, Coombe E, Mendl E, Neville V. That brachycephalic look: Infant-like facial appearance in short-muzzled dog breeds. 

Federation of European Companion Animal Veterinary Associations. Accessed July 17, 2025. 

https://www.fecava.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Brachycephalics-letter-for-media_2023.pdf

Priority areas. Canadian Veterinary Medical Association. April 2023. Accessed September 15, 2025. 

https://www.canadianveterinarians.net/policy-and-outreach/priority-areas/extreme-conformations/#:~:text=The%20CVMA%20is%20currently%20working,seen%20in%20some%20brachycephalic%20animals

Why are we here? Vets Against Brachycephalism. Accessed September 15, 2025. 

Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society. Facility certification. Accessed September 15, 2025. https://veccs.org/facility-certification/

Veterinary Committee on Trauma website. American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care. Accessed September 15, 2025. 

Celebrities who love French bulldogs: Lady Gaga, Resse Witherspoon, Megan Thee Stallion and more. 

Weekly. January 13, 2022. Accessed October 30, 2025. 

https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/pictures/celebrities-and-their-french-bulldogs-w201651/

Navarro M. After movies, unwanted Dalmatians. 

. September 14, 1997. Accessed October 30, 2025. 

https://www.nytimes.com/1997/09/14/us/after-movies-unwanted-dalmatians.html

Ghirlanda, S., Acerbi, A., & Herzog, H. (2014). Dog Movie Stars and Dog Breed Popularity: A Case Study in Media Influence on Choice. 

. 2014;9(9):e106565. doi:10.1371/journal.prone.0106565

Martinez GR. Lady Gaga does not have to pay $500,000 reward to woman involved in dognapping case, judge rules. 

October 4, 2023. Accessed October 30, 2025. 

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/lady-gaga-no-500000-dollar-reward-jennifer-mcbride-dognapping-lawsuit-los-angeles-french-bulldogs-robbery/

Articles

An independent review of veterinary advertising found a high number of digital images showing certain canine breeds. 

Is advertising brachycephalic pets a help or a hindrance to their welfare?

On this sponsored episode of The Vet Blast Podcast presented by dvm360, Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, welcomes Emmanuel Fontaine, DVM, MSc, PhD, DECAR,  to discuss pediatric care and nutrition

Royal Canin sponsored podcast

, presented by dvm360 at our Fetch National Harbor conference, host Adam Christman, DVM, MBA; and Emmanuel Fontaine

DVM, MSc, PhD, DECAR, sat down to talk about pediatric care and nutrition for the puppies and kittens coming into veterinary clinics. Throughout the episode, Fontaine and Christman talk about the importance of regular veterinary visits, significance in nutrition for these patients, with statistics to match, and more. 

Below is a partial transcript, edited lightly for clarity.

: I know we're talking about having the clients come in often during the puppyhood phase. How can veterinarians communicate the value of multiple pediatric visits to owners who may see them as optional?

: I think we need to reframe the conversation, and we should not present those pediatric visits as checkups. We should present them as an investment for the future health of those puppies and kittens. Earlier, we talked about this new framework that is recommended by the growth chart studies. And I think all those touch points, all those assessments, should be seen as a way to pick up early on potential problems like behavioral issues, early growth, development problems, and nutritional gaps. And if we pick those [up] early, we can correct them, while if we don't, they might lead later on to more health problems during adult life, and especially more costly treatment. 

So I always tell pet owners that those visits during the pediatric phase, they're kind of an insurance policy for their pets future, and by doing that, they will optimize and really help improve the health of their future adult dog or adult cat.

: Yeah, you want to be more proactive than reactive, and that's how you can do that.

I fully agree. And I think you know, pet owners want what's best for their puppies and kittens during this period; they're more receptive to everything we want to offer, and we can offer a lot. I mean, in my presentation yesterday, I was talking about a case I had 15 years ago, and I had this golden retriever in consultation, and I was super excited, and there was so much I wanted to share about the health of this puppy, because I thought, "Oh, those owners, they are new to this. They have to hear about this." And that I had 15 minutes to do my consultation. I couldn't cover everything. In the end, I had to wrap up the consultation, and they were really upset because I didn't answer what they were coming for. I think communication with pet owners is critical during this period. 

: And it's not just about the message we want to share in veterinary medicine. It's not just about vaccines, deworming,…and nurturing. There are plenty of other stuff that they want to learn, like emotional well-being, the well-being of their pets. Nutrition, how do we properly feed, which is critical during this period. All of that should be integrated in a real content calendar that we should develop in our clinics, to feed them properly.

Podcasts

Adam Christman, DVM, MBA; and Emmanuel Fontaine, DVM, MSc, PhD, DECAR, take a deep dive into veterinary pediatrics and nutrition in this episode of The Vet Blast Podcast, presented by dvm360.

Advancing pediatric nutrition: Strategies for puppies and kittens

A modern veterinary care company opened a center in Overland Park, Kansas. Meanwhile, Chewy Vet Care debuted a new location in Chandler, Arizona—its first clinic to feature a viewing window for treatments. In Norfolk, Virginia, an award-winning dog day care unveiled a new facility owned by a local family with a passion for dogs.

Chewy Vet Care Chandler (Chandler, Arizona)

Chewy Vet Care Chandler interior. (Image courtesy of Chewy)

Chewy Vet Care recently opened a new clinic in Chandler, Arizona. The practice, located in the larger Phoenix metropolitan area, is the first Chewy Vet Care location with a viewing treatment window that allows clients to observe their pets receiving treatment in real time during appointments.

In addition to a viewing treatment window, Chewy Vet Care Chandler features personalized room monitors that show photos of clients’ pets, care team, and visit details. Visits also include features such as Polaroid photos, selfie mirrors, and exam rooms named after pets. According to Chewy, the clinic was developed by veterinarians with pets and their families in mind. The practice uses warm lighting, soft colors, nonslip floors, and pet-friendly materials for a calming and welcoming environment.

"We are thrilled to bring Chewy Vet Care to Phoenix,” said Mita Malhotra, president of Chewy Health. “It is an exciting moment for pet health care as more pet owners are treating their pets' health and wellness as highly as their own. Especially in Phoenix, as the region is consistently ranked as one of the most pet-friendly cities in the country, with one of the highest rates of pet ownership per household. We look forward to delivering the personalized care and convenience that our customers have come to love and expect from Chewy, now in a best-in-class veterinary practice."

Petfolk Veterinary and Urgent Care (Overland Park, Kansas)

Petfolk has announced the opening of a new veterinary location in Overland Park, Kansas. The new practice marks the veterinary care company’s 35th pet care center in the US, and it is the 13th location they have opened this year.

The center was designed with transparent glass walls for visibility and features open-concept spaces to keep pets and caregivers together. According to Petfolk, its veterinary team uses Fear-Free methods to help reduce stress in patients. Services offered include wellness visits, urgent care, surgery, and dental care.

“Petfolk is the future our city has been waiting for. A new era of veterinary medicine, supporting pets, pet parents, and vets alike,” Kayla Walden, a Petfolk business partner, said in a company release.

 "I am honored to help lead our veterinary team into an era that prioritizes transparency, compassionate service, and genuine connections with pets and their families."

The dog wellness franchise Dogtopia opened a new location in the Ghent neighborhood of Norfolk, Virginia, earlier this fall. In addition to dog day care, the 7500–sq-ft facility offers boarding and spa services and houses a pet nutrition store.

The new location is owned by a local family and features indoor climate-controlled playrooms with compressed rubber flooring to lower the impact on dogs’ paws and joints. According to Dogtopia, dogs are supervised by professionally trained “canine coaches,” with rooms set up for dogs of similar size and play style. 

"We've always loved dogs, and we're thrilled to bring Dogtopia's safe, fun, and engaging environment to Norfolk-Ghent," Chip Sutelan, one of the day care’s owners, said in a news release.

 "Our goal is to provide exceptional care for dogs while creating a welcoming community for their owners. We're also excited to offer the Earthwise store here, giving pet parents access to premium nutrition and wellness products in the same convenient location."

Petfolk expands in Kansas City metro with new Overland Park location. News release. Petfolk. October 14, 2025. Accessed October 29, 2025. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/petfolk-expands-in-kansas-city-metro-with-new-overland-park-location-302583708.html 

Local family opens leading dog daycare in Norfolk. News release. Dogtopia. September 16, 2025. Accessed October 29, 2025. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/local-family-opens-leading-dog-daycare-in-norfolk-302557757.html 

The latest updates relating to animal care establishments and platforms.

Clinic center: New Chewy Vet Care clinic features viewing treatment window

A new clinical study will evaluate a first-in-class immuno-enhancing therapy supported by the proprietary Fc-fusion protein platform Ambifect from Akston Biosciences Corporation. The intramuscular injection therapy targets PD-L1 in dogs with solid tumors.

Rocco, an 11-year-old Dutch shepherd, is the first participant in a study to evaluate Akston's new Ambifect immuno-enhancing therapy targeting PD-L1 in dogs with solid tumors.

The study was launched by Akston in partnership with Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine in West Lafayette, Indiana. It’s first patient is Rocco, an 11-year-old Dutch shepherd dog. Rocco was first diagnosed with high-grade soft tissue sarcoma in 2025. After surgery, the dog’s tumor returned, leading Rocco to go back to Purdue University for treatment. There, Rocco recently received the first dose of the trial therapy, according to Akston.

Led by Shawna Klahn, DVM, and Nikolaos Dervisis, DVM, in the Purdue Werling Comparative Oncology Research Center, the trial aims to assess the safety and tolerability of the therapy in canine pets with naturally occurring cancer. Secondary objectives of the trial are to identify initial signals of efficacy and explore biomarkers for response. According to Akston, the trial will enroll client-owned dogs with a variety of solid tumors, including soft tissue sarcoma, melanoma, and mast cell tumor, among others.

"By leveraging our proprietary platform, we believe we can effectively transform the dog's own immune system into a durable anticancer defense, reducing the number of treatments needed and dramatically improv[ing] access to lifesaving veterinary care. This study is an important step in bringing advanced checkpoint inhibitor therapy to more dogs at a fraction of the cost of traditional biologics," Todd Zion, PhD, cofounder and CEO of Akston, said in a news release.

The Ambifect platform is designed to improve scalability and expand availability of cancer immunotherapy to a broader population of pets, including those previously unable to access or tolerate conventional monoclonal antibody treatments. This common platform enables the company to develop therapeutic candidates that interact with parts of the immune system related to the target disease while minimizing the effects off-target.

Most Innovative Award at the 2023 Animal Health Corridor Summit

 The platform’s versatility was demonstrated with the development of insulin drug products for canine and feline patients with diabetes that were designed to be injected once a week.

The Ambifect version of the new trial drug builds on Akston's anti–cPD-L1 monoclonal antibody, designed to target and block the cPD-L1 protein on cancer cells, which is currently in clinical trial for dogs with bladder cancer.

 This drug is anticipated for conditional approval by the US Department of Agriculture in 2027.

Global veterinary pharmaceutical specialist acquires innovative insulin programs

Akston pioneers a new generation of cancer therapy for dogs in clinical trial launch. News release. Akston. October 29, 2025. Accessed October 29, 2025. https://www.akstonbio.com/in-the-news/akston-pioneers-a-new-generation-of-cancer-therapy-for-dogs-in-clinical-trial-launch/ 

Zion T. Emerging companies: Akston Biosciences. Presented at: 2023 Animal Health Corridor Summit; August 28-29, 2023; Kansas City, MO.

Akston Biosciences receives 2023 Most Innovative Award at Animal Health Summit. News release. Akston. August 31, 2023. Accessed July 30, 2024. 

https://www.akstonbio.com/akston-biosciences-receives-2023-most-innovative-award-at-animal-health-summit/

Crossley KC. Animal health therapeutic development platform demonstrates versatility. 

. March 12, 2024. Accessed October 29, 2025. 

https://www.dvm360.com/view/therapeutic-development-platform-demonstrates-versatility

Akston Biosciences Corporation partnered with Purdue University to develop a drug targeting PD-L1 in dogs with solid tumors.

Akston launches clinical trial for novel canine cancer therapy

Jackie Dueñas, DVM, shares her tips for clients during the holidays

Tips for pet treats during the holidays

The holidays bring joy, visitors, and lots of food. This means extra chances for pets to be tempted and for well-meaning guests to offer table scraps. Jackie Dueñas, DVM, shares practical, easy-to-follow guidance to keep treats safe, healthy, and still fun this season. These tips help you protect your clients' pets from common holiday hazards while keeping them included in the celebrations.

1. Treats are bonding, but don’t equate food with love

Treats can be a sweet way to bond with pets, but food does not have to equal love. Clients should stick with treats made for them. 

Chocolate, grapes, raisins, garlic, onion, and fatty foods—staples of the holidays—can cause serious digestive issues. Instead, set out a jar of pet-safe treats so guests can spoil your pet the right way.

Always consider whether a pet has dietary restrictions or special nutritional needs. If the pet is on a special diet, check whether their pet food company makes matching treats so you can keep them aligned with their nutritional goals. 

With these tips for mindful treating, clients can keep their pets healthy and happy while letting them be part of the holiday joy.

Videos

Keep clients' pets safe (and still spoiled) this holiday season with these quick treat tips from Jackie Dueñas, DVM.

Treating well: Practical tips for pet-friendly treats

A monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapy with a 3-month dosing interval for relieving pain associated with feline osteoarthritis (OA) will be available in Europe in 2026. Marketing authorization for relfovetmab (Portela; Zoetis) has been granted by the European Commission, according to a Zoetis news release,

 making it the first long-acting anti–nerve growth factor (NGF) mAB therapy for cats to be made accessible by prescription in Europe.

The marketing authorization—similar to an FDA approval in the US

—follows a recommendation issued by the European Medicines Agency's Committee for Veterinary Medicinal Products (CVMP) on September 10, 2025.

The committee’s recommendation for marketing authorization was based on a positive benefit-risk balance of the safety and efficacy data submitted by Zoetis.

“The benefits of Portela are significantly improved scores as assessed by cat owners using client-specific outcome measures, and reduced pain as assessed by veterinarians using a categorical pain assessment. These improvements were consistent over a 270-day period,” CVMP wrote in its opinion summary.

Rob Polzer, PhD, executive vice president and president of research and development at Zoetis, said the marketing authorization represents a “pivotal advancement” for pain management in cats. “Portela’s long-acting antibody properties and its unique binding site to NGF now provide veterinarians and cat owners across the European Union with another innovative, approved option to manage osteoarthritis-related pain. This milestone reflects our continued commitment to advancing innovative therapies that enhance the health and well-being of companion animals,” Polzer said in the news release.

OA is very common in cats, affecting mobility and quality of life.

Although less than 20% of felines are diagnosed with OA, up to 40% of cats have clinical signs of the chronic and progressive joint disease, while many other cases go undiagnosed.

“The statistics show that about 60% of cats over the age of 6 [years] have x-ray evidence of arthritis, and 90% of cats over the age of 12 [years] have radiographic [OA]," Kristin Kirkby Shaw, DVM, PhD, MS, DACVS-SA, CACVSMR, founder of Canine Arthritis Resources and Education, said in a 

“Osteoarthritis in cats is often underestimated because they’re so good at hiding pain. Behavioral changes are frequently seen as ‘just getting older’ when they may in fact be signs of long-term discomfort. New therapies that provide lasting pain relief without daily administration are a real step forward—for cats, their owners, and veterinarians,” Marieke Knies, DVM, DECVIM, internal medicine specialist in the Netherlands, said in the release.

Relfovetmab targets anti-NGF, a mediator of OA pain and inflammation, with a single injection. A 9-month field study in Europe demonstrated the effectiveness of the drug in relieving pain associated with OA. The study also showed that relfovetmab was well-tolerated by patients, including felines with kidney disease at IRIS stages 1, 2, or 3.

The most reported adverse effects of relfovetmab are immediate pain upon injection and dermatitis. Less common adverse effects include pruritus, skin scabs, injection site swelling, and injection site hair loss, according to CVMP.

Relfovetmab is designed to support long-term comfort and mobility for cats, and with the benefit for pet owners that now only need to bring their cats in for an injection once every 3 months, according to 

Richard Goldstein, DVM, DACVIM, DECVIM-CA

, global chief medical officer and head of medical affairs at Zoetis. “We look forward to providing veterinarians with another innovative tool, adding to our wide feline portfolio, to help them improve the quality of life for the cats in their care,” Goldstein said in the release.

Zoetis receives European Commission marketing authorization for Portela (relfovetmab) to alleviate pain associated with osteoarthritis in cats. News release. Zoetis. October 29, 2025. October 29, 2025. 

https://investor.zoetis.com/news/news-details/2025/Zoetis-Receives-European-Commission-Marketing-Authorization-for-Portela-relfovetmab-to-Alleviate-Pain-Associated-with-Osteoarthritis-in-Cats/default.aspx

Crossley KC. Developmental drug for feline pain takes a step forward in Europe. 

https://www.dvm360.com/view/developmental-drug-for-feline-pain-takes-a-step-forward-in-europe

A look at the European Medicines Agency. FDA. August 9, 2025. Accessed October 29, 2025. 

https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/animal-health-literacy/look-european-medicines-agency

Committee for Veterinary Medicinal Products. Summary of opinion: Portela. European Medicines Agency. September 10, 2025. Accessed October 29, 2025. 

https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/smop-initial/cvmp-summary-positive-opinion-portela_en.pdf

Kirby Shaw K, Bautista-Alejandre A. Feline arthritis remains underdiagnosed. 

. May 22, 2025. Accessed September 12, 2025. 

https://www.dvm360.com/view/feline-arthritis-remains-underdiagnosed

Zoetis' relfovetmab product is a long-acting anti–nerve growth factor monoclonal therapy for cats.