A team of United Kingdom investigators will study oronasal mucosal melanoma (OMM) for the benefit of canines and humans. The product is funded with £250,000— about $342,300 USD—in support from donations to the Humanimal Trust’s Cancer Discovery Fund.

OMM is the most common oral cancer in canines, yet this aggressive neoplasm is rare in humans. However, there are similarities in biology, clinical presentation and histopathological features between the canine disease and human OMM.

Dogs with OMM survive less than a year, on average, according to the Humanimal Trust. Breeds at higher risk of the disease include poodles, golden retrievers, labradors, rottweilers, Yorkshire terriers, cocker spaniels, chow-chows, Scottish terriers and dachshunds.

“Cancer does not discriminate between species. Approximately 1 in 4 dogs, 1 in 3 cats, and as many as 1 in 2 humans will develop cancer during their lifetime. Thanks to our generous supporters, we’re able to fund this vital research that will advance our understanding of cancer in both humansandanimals, ensuring all species benefit equally and simultaneously, something we call reciprocity,” Joe Bailey, CEO of Humanimal Trust, said in a news release.

According to the Humanimal Trust, the disease behaves almost identical across species. Surgery is frequently used for treatment and can be combined with radiotherapy, chemotherapy or immunotherapy. The OMM study funded by the charity has the potential to transform the OMM treatment landscape for both dogs and humans, according to the Humanimal Trust.

The project will be led by investigators from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and NHS Lothian, a Scottish health organization. At the University of Edinburgh;, Kelly Blacklock, PhD, BVM&S, DECVS, SFHEA, PGCert, FRCVS, a professor of small animal soft tissue surgery; E. Elizabeth Patton, group leader and personal chair of chemical genetics; and Mark Stares, senior clinical research fellow and honorary consultant in medical oncology; will lead the project.

“This research builds on work made possible by the Kennel Club Charitable Trust, whose support has been pivotal in advancing our understanding of comparative oncology. With the backing of Humanimal Trust, we are now in a position to take this work further, which has the potential to directly benefit both dogs and people,” Blacklock, said in a news release.

One previous study led by Blacklock evaluated whether canine OMM could inform a human disease equivalent. Investigators found a conceptional advance that canine OMM and human OMM are the same disease from 2 subtypes.

“These 2 distinct transcriptional subtypes have potential therapeutic implications… Our findings are important for personalized therapeutics for individual patients and for facilitating patient stratification that may inform clinical trial design and outcomes,” the study’s authors wrote in 

The Humanimal Trust was founded by Irish veterinary surgeon Noel Fitzpatrick, MVB DSc(Hon), DUniv, CertSAO, CertVR, DACVSMR, DECVSMR, DSS (Orth), MRCVS, a founding partner of the school of veterinary medicine at Surrey University School of Veterinary Medicine in Guidford, England, and managing director of the Fitzpatrick Referrals.

 The Cancer Discovery Fund was launched in 2024, and the OMM project reflects a milestone for the charity and its mission of advancing medical research for all species.

“This research project is a shining example of One Medicine in action: collaborative, inclusive science that embraces the biological connections we all share, rather than focusing on the differences. By breaking down the barriers between human and veterinary medicine, we can speed up progress for everyone—creating a future where no life is left behind,” Fitzpatrick said in a news release.

UK charity launches pioneering cancer research to help humans and dogs. News release. September 17, 2025.

Humanimal Trust launches pioneering cancer research to help humans and dogs. Humanimal Trust. September 17, 2025. Accessed September 17, 2025. 

https://humanimaltrust.org.uk/humanimal-trust-launches-pioneering-cancer-research-to-help-humans-and-dogs/

Dagli MLZ, Nagamine MK, Ikeda TL, et al. Identification of mutations in canine oral mucosal melanomas by exome sequencing and comparison with human melanomas. 

October 15, 2024. Accessed September 17, 2025. 

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-74748-z

Blacklock KLB, Donnelly K, Lu Y, et al. Oronasal mucosal melanoma is defined by two transcriptional subtypes in humans and dogs with implications for diagnosis and therapy. 

. 2025;265(3):245-259. doi:10.1002/path.6377

Professor Noel Fitzpatrick. Humanimal Trust. Accessed September 17, 2025. 

https://humanimaltrust.org.uk/professor-noel-fitzpatrick-2/

Articles

The pioneering research was launched by the Humanimal Trust, a United Kingdom charity.

New cancer study aims to help both animals and humans

Chewy Vet Care recently announced the opening of a new center in Atlanta, Georgia, marking their fourth practice in the Atlanta area. Meanwhile, a clinic formerly known as Animal Diagnostic Clinic has relocated to a 23,000-sq-ft facility and is now operating under a different name. And, in Oakdale, California, a real estate company specializing in veterinary properties acquired a veterinary center for $6 million.

Continue reading to learn more about these updates.

VCA Dallas Animal Specialty Hospital (Dallas, Texas)

VCA Dallas Animal Specialty Hospital. (Image courtesy of VCA Animal Hospitals)

Animal Diagnostic Clinic in Dallas, Texas, is moving to a new location across the street from its previous location and under a new name, VCA Dallas Animal Specialty Hospital. The new facility is 23,000 sq ft and is the first Mars Veterinary hospital in the US to be Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Gold certified.

The center will offer various services, including internal medicine, cardiology, medical and radiation oncology, emergency and critical care, surgery, and neurology. VCA Animal Hospitals says the center plans to offer oncology and radiology treatment beginning on September 29 and has plans to provide 24-hour emergency care in 2026. Features of the new location include ventilation support, 24-hour hemoperfusion for acute toxicities, emergency surgeries, minimally invasive surgeries and procedures, cancer treatment using blood apheresis, an in-house blood banking program, a clinical trial program, and a Varian Edge radiation machine.

"These additions not only elevate our level of care—they expand what's possible for pets in critical need," Matthew Dann, hospital administrator at VCA Dallas Animal Specialty Hospital, said in a news release.

Oakdale Veterinary Group (Oakdale, California)

Last month, Terravet Real Estate Solutions announced a $6 million acquisition of a facility run by Oakdale Veterinary Group (OVG) in Oakdale, California. The construction of the 12,861-sq-ft facility was completed in May 2023, although the practice has been operating for more than 45 years.

"OVG's new facility is one of the most advanced veterinary properties in the Central Valley, and securing it ensures long-term stability for a practice that has provided trusted care to generations of Oakdale pet owners," Daniel Eisenstadt, CEO of Terravet, said in a company news release.

The new building has 10 exam rooms, 3 surgical suites, large surgery theaters, a CT imaging unit, and kennels without bars. It also has improved treatment areas, outdoor spaces for pets, and a spacious lobby.

Chewy Vet Care Midtown (Atlanta, Georgia)

Chewy Vet Care Midtown exam room. (Image courtesy of Chewy)

Chewy Vet Care has opened a new location in Midtown Atlanta, Georgia. The new clinic, which is Chewy Vet Care’s fourth center in the Atlanta region, provides wellness checkups, urgent care, surgery, vaccinations, certain diagnostics, and more.

The location has 3 exam rooms with integrated workstations, a combined pharmacy, and a lab area on-site with a “vertical lab” prototype designed by Chewy Vet Care to help save space, Chewy told 

. According to the organization, the clinic also has personalized room monitors displaying the patient’s photo, care team, and visit details. An online pet portal is also available to clients for access to records, prescriptions, and updates.

VCA Animal Hospitals' Animal Diagnostic Clinic relocates and opens as VCA Dallas Animal Specialty Hospital. News release. VCA Animal Hospitals. September 16, 2025. Accessed September 17, 2025. 

https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vca-animal-hospitals-animal-diagnostic-clinic-relocates-and-opens-as-vca-dallas-animal-specialty-hospital-302557978.html

Terravet completes $6 million acquisition of Oakdale Veterinary Group's purpose-built facility in California's Central Valley. News release. Terravet Real Estate Solutions. August 28, 2025. Accessed September 17, 2025. 

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250828367605/en/Terravet-Completes-%246-Million-Acquisition-of-Oakdale-Veterinary-Groups-Purpose-Built-Facility-in-Californias-Central-Valley

Chewy Vet Care Midtown. Chewy Vet Care. Accessed September 17, 2025. 

https://www.chewy.com/vet-care/vet-near-me/ga/atlanta/811-peachtree-st-ne-suite-1a

The latest updates relating to animal care establishments and platforms.

Clinic center: Veterinary clinic relocates to 23,000-sq-ft facility, and more 

, a honeybee research organization, determined the cause of the mass honeybee colony collapse earlier this year was virus-infected, miticide-resistant parasitic mites. The USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Bee Research Laboratory found high levels of deformed wing virus A and B as well as acute bee paralysis in all recently USDA-sampled bees.

 The USDA ARS also stated that these viruses are responsible for the recent honeybee colony collapses and losses across the country.

"While viruses are a likely end-stage cause of colony death, other stressors such as nutritional stress and agrochemicals may have also played significant roles," the researchers wrote.

The researchers also screened Varroa mites from the collapsed colonies, and they found signs of resistance to amitraz in “virtually all” collections, which highlights a need for new parasitic treatment strategies.

The colony collapse culminated in a loss of 1.7 million colonies, which represents more than 60% of commercial beekeeping colonies since the summer before. The USDA also estimates that the financial impact of the collapsed colonies is $600 million.

Alarming honeybee colony losses across the US are confirmed

“Our nation’s food supply thrives, and is sustained, by the work of our pollinators,” said Joon Park, Acting ARS Administrator, in a USDA release.

 “USDA scientists continue to research major stressors and new parasite treatment strategies, which will help reduce the agricultural challenge presented by the Varroa mites in honey bee colonies.”

In January 2025, commercial beekeepers in the US started reporting mass honeybee die-offs. A month later ARS researchers collected bee and colony samples from California and other Western US states prior to almond pollination to analyze parasites and pathogens. Researchers found that in both pooled samples, viruses were indicated from the surviving colonies and individual bees were showing behavioral morbidities.

. conducted a survey that gathered data from 842 beekeepers, which represented about 1,956 million colonies, making up 72% of the honeybees in the US. The findings of the survey at the time it was conducted, between June 2024 and February 2025, found an average loss of 62%, which has surpassed historical trends.

“Initial survey results of colony losses suggest that commercial beekeepers may have lost in excess of 60% of their bees. The scale of these losses is completely unsustainable,” said Zac Browning, a fourth-generation commercial beekeeper and board chairman of Project 

“Honey bees are the backbone of our food system, pollinating the crops that feed our nation. If we continue to see losses at this rate, we simply won’t be able to sustain current food production. The industry must look inward and outward for solutions to chronic bee health failure.”

Won C. USDA identifies cause of recent mass honey bee collapse. American Veterinary Medical Association. Published September 15, 2025. Accessed September 17, 2025. https://www.avma.org/news/usda-identifies-cause-recent-mass-honey-bee-collapse?utm_source=delivra&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=todays-headlines-news

USDA Researchers Find Viruses from Miticide Resistant Parasitic Mites are Cause of Recent Honey Bee Colony Collapses. News release. US Department of Agriculture. June 2, 2025. Accessed September 17, 2025. 

https://www.ars.usda.gov/news-events/news/research-news/2025/usda-researchers-find-viruses-from-miticide-resistant-parasitic-mites-are-cause-of-recent-honey-bee-colony-collapses

Lamas Z, Rinkevich F, Garavito A, et al. Viruses and vectors tied to honey bee colony losses. 

. Published online June 1, 2025. doi:https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.05.28.656706

Survey reveals over 1.1 million honey bee colonies lost, raising alarm for pollination and agriculture. News release. Honey Bee Health Coalition. February 20, 2025. Accessed April 24, 2025. 

https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org/survey-reveals-over-1-1-million-honey-bee-colonies-lost-raising-alarm-for-pollination-and-agriculture/

The ‘worst bee die-off in US history’ was caused by a virus-infected, miticide-resistant parasitic mites. 

USDA pinpoints cause of recent mass honeybee collapse

During an interview with Zachary Wright, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology), at the 2025 Fetch National Harbor conference, he shared more information with 

 about some promising new cancer screening tests, including their pros and cons, as well as what attendees took away from his lecture during the conference.

 My name is Dr Zach Wright. I'm a veterinary medical oncologist and the medical director at VCA Dallas [Animal Specialty Hospital] in Texas. I also chair the Mars Veterinary Health Oncology Advisory Board.

 What are some of the most promising new cancer screening tests, and how do they differ from traditional methods?

I think all the cancer screening tests are promising. The most promising—I'm not sure I'm willing to go on record for that yet because I think we're still working through it. Traditional cancer screening is on top of a physical exam, in routine blood work, routine imaging, thoracic radiographs, abdominal ultrasound—maybe that's a partial or full body CT scan. That's really how we have been screening to date. All these newer, essentially, liquid biopsies are intended to use fluid—whether that's blood, urine, or effusions—to try and find a malignant diagnosis through those mechanisms.

So they all have pros and cons. They all have different price points. They have different shipping and time delays. Again, I'm not willing to say which one is best. I think all of them have potential, and I think many of them will have different use cases as we start to sort through this. Some of them will be used more for true cancer screening [in] healthy dogs, and some of them—maybe from an oncology perspective—will be more utilized for disease response evaluation and for us to trend those patients a little more.... But I think they're all exciting, and they're all, in my opinion, generally going to be an easier part of our clinical workflow compared to the older methods.

What are the most significant takeaways from your lecture on emerging oncology breakthroughs, and why?

 I think the most important part about emerging breakthroughs is that there are breakthroughs. There's a lot about cancer in general—but specifically [in] veterinary medicine—that we don't have the answers to. For me, it's really encouraging that I can design this lecture, frankly, every year, and it's new content. There are a lot of start-ups and a lot of larger companies that are focusing on veterinary cancer, both diagnostics and therapeutics. So to me, the biggest take-home is that the industry is paying attention and recognizes the need to push things forward, not a specific breakthrough in and of itself.

There's a lot of cancer for us to both diagnose and to treat, and all the tools that are available to us probably are underserving us compared to the human oncology experience. We've got a long way to catch up, so every year, we're ticking off a few of the boxes that help us get to the higher level of care that we need to be providing our patients.

Learn more about cancer screening tests, including some of the latest ones, and more in this interview with Zachary Wright, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology).

Q&A with Fetch Faculty: Zachary Wright, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology)

The Senior Dog Veterinary Society (SDVS) and veterinary product developer Virbac are collaborating to advance education and awareness of mobility in aging canines, and solutions backed by science for improving outcomes for these patients. The company has been named a “gold-level” sponsor for the society,

 which recognizes Virbac as a key educational and content collaborate for SDVS, according to a spokesperson’s email to 

“Mobility is at the heart of quality of life for senior dogs, especially as they are living longer,” Gio Abruzzini, president and CEO, said in a news release.

 “At Virbac, we are committed to helping senior dogs stay active and maintaining the human-animal bond by providing veterinary professionals and pet owners with products that support joint and muscle strength and endurance.”

Joint conditions such as osteoarthritis (OA) and injuries affect a patient’s quality of life. “We know OA is a degenerative disease, which means that the initial symptoms are not evident to most owners until the dog is much older. So recognizing that when that dog tears their ACL, once they recover from their TPLO, they may not be limping,” Leilani Alvarez, DVM, DACVSMR, said in a recent episode of dvm360’s 

“Any time there is an injury to the joint,…that's the time that you want to intervene. Start your supplementation, make sure you do activity modification to avoid that high impact activity, but make sure they stay active and still moving and walking on a daily basis. Make sure that they're an ideal body weight,” Alvarez continued.

Skeletal muscle atrophy also affects a dog’s quality of life by impairing activity, strength, endurance, and overall health. A highly prevalent canine condition, skeletal muscle atrophy can be caused by a variety of factors that include advanced age, malnutrition, chronic kidney disease, cancer, congestive heart failure, a sedentary lifestyle, obesity, osteoarthritis, critical illness, and joint injuries.

According to Virbac, the company’s “clinical innovations” will be brought into the SDVS platform to provide veterinarians exposure to “timely, evidence-based insights about mobility care for senior dogs.” Virbac offers a portfolio of mobility products that includes the joint health supplement Movoflex Advanced Soft Chews and the muscle function support product 

. SDVS brings to the collaboration a network of veterinary professionals and advocates for senior dogs.

The partnership aims to create educational resources, social media content and sponsored events to encourage veterinarians to provide early intervention for mobility issues, help dogs stay active longer, and empower pet owners to make informed decisions regarding canine care, a Virbac spokesperson told 

“Every senior dog deserves a life of health, happiness and comfort,” said Monica Tarantino, DVM, MBA, a founder of SDVS, said in a news release.

 “By joining forces with Virbac, we can elevate the conversation around muscle atrophy, a challenge that has been overlooked for too long, and equip veterinarians with innovative solutions that truly improve the day-to-day lives of aging pets and their families.”

Canine craniodorsal hip luxation: management and treatment.

Virbac and Senior Dog Veterinary Society announce collaboration to advance canine mobility. News release. September 15, 2025.

Alvarez L, Christman A. Looking back at Pet Mobility Awareness Month. 

https://www.dvm360.com/view/looking-back-at-pet-mobility-month

Ebert SM, Nicolas CS, Schreiber P, et al. Ursolic acid induces beneficial changes in skeletal muscle mRNA expression and increases exercise participation and performance in dogs with age-related muscle atrophy. 

. 2024;14(2):186. doi:10.3390/ani14020186

Virbac and the Senior Dog Veterinary Society are combining resources to provide innovation, insight and educational resources for the industry.

New partnership aims to advance senior canine mobility

Photo: Adene Sanchez/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock

State and federal officials have confirmed the highly pathogenic avian influenza strain H5N1 in a dairy cattle herd in Nebraska, the US Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced on September 15.

 The detection marks the first known case of avian influenza in the state.

“APHIS is working closely with the Nebraska Department of Agriculture to conduct additional on-farm investigation, testing, and gathering of additional epidemiological information to better understand this detection and limit further disease spread,” the federal agency wrote in its announcement.

Genetic testing by the National Veterinary Services Laboratories revealed the virus belongs to the 2.3.4.4b clade and the B3.13 genotype, which have been associated with the current outbreak of H5N1 in US dairy cows. According to the APHIS, officials were able to detect the virus through state tracing and investigation after H5N1 was found in milk samples collected as part of a premovement surveillance required under a federal order issued by the USDA in April 2024.

The federal requirement mandates that lactating dairy cows be tested for H5N1 before being shipped across state lines.

 to mandate that raw milk samples nationwide be collected and submitted to the USDA for H5N1 testing.

Only a small number of H5N1 cases have been detected in livestock this year, although 17 states have experienced bird flu infections since the outbreak started in March 2024.

A veterinarian’s role in bird flu client education

The APHIS said the detection does not affect the safety of the commercial milk supply or pose a risk to consumer health. “The...[FDA] is confident that pasteurization is effective at inactivating H5N1 and that the commercial, pasteurized milk supply is safe,” the APHIS wrote.

 “Dairies are required to send only milk from healthy animals into processing for human consumption.”

According to the agency, milk from impacted animals is being kept out of the commercial milk tank or destroyed to prevent it from entering the human food supply.

As the fall migratory bird season approaches, the APHIS advises dairy farms to adopt stronger biosecurity measures and immediately report any livestock with clinical signs to their state veterinarian. State veterinarians should also be notified of unusual sick or dead wildlife animals, the agency said.

Clinical signs of H5N1 in dairy cattle include low appetite, decreased milk production, and abnormal appearance of milk, which may be thickened or discolored. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, the outbreak has impacted lactating cows the most.

The bird flu threat beyond the herd: Felines in the crosshairs

Still, livestock are not the only animals at risk. Domestic cats and wild feline species are especially susceptible to H5N1. Clinical signs of infection in these animals can include fever; lethargy; respiratory distress; anorexia; reddened or inflamed eyes; neurologic signs such as tremors, seizures, incoordination, or blindness; and death.

“Cats are a really good measure of where bird flu is in the community because they could be serving as sentinels. They could [catch] this virus through hunting outside and eating an infected bird, for instance, or [through] drinking raw milk or eating raw meat,” Deborah Thomson, DVM, founder and executive director of the nonprofit organization One Health Lessons, told 

Recommendations for veterinarians evaluating feline cases of H5N1

Since December 2024, there have been reports of at least 5 raw cat food products that have been suspected or confirmed to be contaminated with H5N1.

 from exposure to the virus through contaminated raw cat food or raw milk.

Last year, avian influenza was also identified in 

“If you suspect that a cat or another patient has H5N1, then it is best to have them in the isolation ward, contact your local public health authority, and ask them what the protocol [is] for that moment. When it comes to bird flu or any other emerging infectious disease, rules can change quite often, so just stay up to date and contact your local public health authority,” Thomson said.

USDA confirms highly pathogenic avian influenza in dairy herd in Nebraska. News release. US Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. September 15, 2025. Accessed September 16, 2025. https://www.aphis.usda.gov/news/agency-announcements/usda-confirms-highly-pathogenic-avian-influenza-dairy-herd-nebraska

Federal orders. US Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. July 30, 2025. Accessed September 16, 2025. 

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/livestock/federal-order

Bautista-Alejandre A. Unpasteurized milk will now be tested in effort to tackle H5N1 in dairy cattle. 

. January 6, 2025. Accessed September 16, 2025. 

https://www.dvm360.com/view/unpasteurized-milk-will-now-be-tested-in-effort-to-tackle-h5n1-in-dairy-cattle

Avian influenza virus type A (H5N1) in US. dairy cattle. American Veterinary Medical Association. September 15, 2025. Accessed September 16, 2025. https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/animal-health-and-welfare/animal-health/avian-influenza/avian-influenza-virus-type-h5n1-us-dairy-cattle

Bautista-Alejandre A. FDA releases guidance to prevent bird flu risk in cats. 

. December 18, 2024. Accessed September 16, 2025. 

https://www.dvm360.com/view/fda-releases-guidance-to-prevent-bird-flu-risk-in-cats

Bautista-Alejandre A. Recommendations for veterinarians evaluating feline cases of H5N1. 

. August 28, 2024. Accessed September 16, 2025. 

https://www.dvm360.com/view/recommendations-for-veterinarians-evaluating-feline-cases-of-h5n1

Thomson D, Bautista-Alejandre A. Cats as H5N1 indicators in the community and response steps. 

. August 12, 2025. Accessed September 16, 2025. 

https://www.dvm360.com/view/cats-as-h5n1-indicators-in-the-community-and-response-steps

McCafferty C. Raw cat food tests positive for H5N1. 

. September 4, 2025. Accessed September 16, 2025. 

https://www.dvm360.com/view/raw-cat-food-tests-positive-for-h5n1

McCafferty C. Additional cat food company announces recall over H5N1 concerns. 

. March 18, 2025. Accessed September 16, 2025. 

https://www.dvm360.com/view/additional-cat-food-company-announces-recall-over-h5n1-concerns

McCafferty C. WSDA and ODA identifies raw pet food as source of bird flu infections. 

. February 18, 2025. Accessed September 16, 2025. 

https://www.dvm360.com/view/wsda-and-oda-identifies-raw-pet-food-as-source-of-bird-flu-infections

Bautista-Alejandre A. Several cat deaths reported following bird flu exposure through raw pet food and milk. 

. January 16, 2025. Accessed September 16, 2025. 

https://www.dvm360.com/view/several-cat-deaths-reported-following-bird-flu-exposure-through-raw-pet-food-and-milk

Coppock Crossley K. Researchers find avian influenza in New York bobcats. 

. April 3, 2025. Accessed September 16, 2025. https://www.dvm360.com/view/researchers-find-avian-influenza-in-new-york-bobcats

Since the outbreak started in March 2024, dairy cattle in 17 states have been infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1.