What can primary care veterinarians do to provide care to patients with cancer? These approaches can help guide treatment.

Staging is a critical step in the treatment of patients with cancer, but it does not always require referral to a specialist to be performed effectively. Most staging procedures—such as complete blood count, serum chemistry panel, cytologic evaluation of regional lymph nodes, and 3-view thoracic radiographs—are standard diagnostic tests readily available in general practice.

These tools provide essential information about the extent of disease, metastatic potential, and overall patient health, guiding both treatment decisions and client expectations. For example, aspirating a regional lymph node in a dog with a mast cell tumor or obtaining thoracic radiographs in a case of soft tissue sarcoma or osteosarcoma are impactful yet straightforward steps that can be performed in-house. When these results accompany a referral, they not only streamline case management but also reduce client costs and improve continuity of care. By recognizing that cancer staging is based on the same diagnostic principles used in primary care, veterinarians can confidently contribute to accurate diagnosis, timely treatment planning, and collaborative oncology care.

Lymphoma: complete blood count (CBC), serum chemistry, consider 3-view thoracic radiographs with radiologist review

Mast cell tumor: CBC, serum chemistry, consider regional lymph node cytology

Soft tissue sarcoma: CBC, serum chemistry, 3-view thoracic radiographs with radiologist review

Osteosarcoma: CBC, serum chemistry, radiographs of affected limb, 3-view thoracic radiographs with radiologist review

Melanoma: mass measurement and photo, CBC, serum chemistry, 3-view thoracic radiographs with radiologist review, regional lymph node cytology


Performing baseline staging in-house supports faster case turnover, more informed prognostication, and smoother communication with oncology referral centers. Most initial cancer staging can be efficiently and accurately performed by primary care veterinarians, expediting or even in some cases replacing oncology referral and reducing client cost.

is a new blood-based screening/diagnostic panel designed to detect canine lymphoma in serum or whole blood. It reports the presence or absence of lymphoma-associated circulating biomarkers and, when positive, can provide a B- vs T-cell phenotype classification in some cases.

Sensitivity: Approximately 79% for dogs with lymphoma in IDEXX’s internal validation

Specificity: Approximately 99% vs healthy controls and dogs with inflammatory disease/other cancers in the same internal data set

Sample: single blood draw (serum or whole blood); interference from mild to moderate hemolysis, lipemia, or icterus is reportedly minimal.

Intended use cases highlighted by IDEXX: Dogs suspected of having lymphoma; cancer screening for apparently healthy at-risk dogs (IDEXX suggests integration within wellness panels for older dogs).

Cost/rollout: IDEXX promotes the test as low cost (advertised as starting around US $15 as an add-on). It has been available in the US and Canada since March 2025.

If lymphoma is suspected clinically (lymphadenopathy, constitutional signs, cytology suspicious): Cancer Dx can be run on the blood sample as a noninvasive adjunct, but positive results still require confirmation with cytology/biopsy/flow/polymerase chain reaction tests for antigen receptor rearrangement (PARR) as clinically indicated. A negative result does not rule out lymphoma because sensitivity is less than 100%.

If used for screening (as an add-on in older or at-risk dogs): Discuss with owners that the test increases the chance of detecting lymphoma earlier, but it is not a guarantee. Explain the possibility of false negatives and what you’d do if the test is positive (confirmatory diagnostics, staging conversation).


The IDEXX Cancer Dx is a practical, low-cost blood test that helps detect canine lymphoma earlier and, in some cases, supplies phenotyping information useful for initial case planning. It’s a reasonable adjunct for dogs with clinical suspicion and an attractive screening add-on for older or at-risk dogs—but it is not diagnostic by itself. Use positive results to prompt confirmatory diagnostics such as cytology/biopsy/flow cytometry/PARR, and use clinical judgment for negative results because sensitivity is not 100%. Consider the current evidence base (IDEXX internal validation data only), and watch for independent peer-reviewed studies as they emerge.

Immunophenotyping (determining B-cell vs T-cell origin) is now considered a standard part of lymphoma diagnosis because it directly influences prognosis and treatment expectations. Multiple studies confirm that dogs with T-cell lymphoma have shorter survival times and lower response rates to standard CHOP chemotherapy compared with dogs with B-cell lymphoma.

In one study, T-cell lymphoma had only an approximately 50% response rate to single-agent doxorubicin vs nearly 100% for B-cell lymphoma.

T-cell protocols incorporating alkylating agents, such as lomustine (CCNU), have shown partial responses in approximately 60% of cases and complete responses in 17%.

Modified multiagent protocols (eg, L-MOPP, CCNU-based CHOP variants) may offer benefit, but toxicity and practicality limit their use in general practice.

A prospective study comparing CHOP with or without the investigational agent AT-005 in T-cell lymphoma demonstrated similar response rates (approximately 65% complete response [CR]) and median progression-free survival (64-103 days), confirming that outcomes remain inferior to B-cell lymphoma.

Most informative test of all those available; confirms B cell vs T cell and provides additional prognostic markers that can indicate grade and expected behavior

Can be performed on tissue aspirate (ie, lymph node, organ) or fluid (ie, blood, effusions, cerebrospinal fluid)

Requires live cells in media and overnight shipping

Available at multiple academic and reference laboratories

Can be performed on both cytology and biopsy samples

Only confirms B-cell vs T-cell status; does not provide grade

Available at most academic and reference laboratories

Available at some academic and reference laboratories


Primary care veterinarians can play a crucial role by determining lymphoma immunophenotype before referral and treatment initiation, allowing the care team and pet owners to have a more informed and directed conversation about treatment options and expected prognosis.

 CHOP-based therapy remains standard; potentially good long-term prognosis

 Expect shorter remission; consider referral or alternate protocols

Cytologic grading of mast cell tumors (MCTs)

Traditional histologic grading remains the gold standard, but cytologic grading is validated as a noninvasive, predictive tool when tissue biopsy isn’t feasible or clinically indicated. Studies have shown that specific cytologic features—including mitotic figures, multinucleation, nuclear atypia, and karyomegaly—strongly correlate with histologic grade and outcome. 

Cytologic grading predicted histologic grade in 94% of cases.

Cytologic grading carries an 88% sensitivity and 94% specificity relative to histopathology.

) are 25 to 39 times more likely to result in death within 2 years.

Images courtesy of Casey J. LeBlanc, DVM, PhD, DACVP/Eastern VetPath

 Cytologically low-grade MCT on the stifle of an 8-year-old spayed female Labrador mix. Note the many well-granulated mast cells exhibiting minimal variability in cell or nuclear size (minimal anisokarysis). 

Cytologically high-grade MCT on the thigh of a 5-year-old spayed female French bulldog. Note the many poorly to few well-granulated mast cells of variable cell and nuclear size (mild to moderate anisokaryosis).


For general practitioners, cytologic grading provides a rapid, low-cost prognostic tool that can guide surgical planning and inform prognosis. Communicate with the reference laboratory to ensure that cytologic grading can be provided for MCT submissions.

Noninvasive diagnosis of transitional cell carcinoma (TCC)

mutation detection assay) represents one of the most impactful molecular diagnostics in veterinary oncology. Independent studies have identified a single-point mutation (V595E) in the canine 

 gene that is present in approximately 85% of TCC/urothelial carcinoma cases but absent in benign or inflammatory bladder conditions.

This assay detects the mutant DNA in urine sediment, allowing the following:

Noninvasive diagnosis without aspirate, cystoscopy, or surgical biopsy

Early detection, often months before clinical signs

Monitoring for response to treatment and early detection of recurrence

A secondary test now detects an additional approximately 10% of previously negative cases. The test is offered through Antech Diagnostics (BRAF-PLUS; Sentinel Biomedical platform).

Consider this test for any dog with persistent hematuria, pollakiuria, or suspicion of a urinary tumor.

Submit a free-catch or catheterized urine sample for CADET 

 testing before pursuing more invasive diagnostics such as prostatic wash for cytology, cystoscopy, or biopsy.

This test eliminates the need for needle aspiration of urinary tumors, a known risk for tumor seeding.

This test is 100% specific, so it can be performed in dogs with known or suspected urinary tract infection without concern for a false positive result.

Oncologic therapies available in primary care practice

Verdinexor is an oral anticancer medication conditionally approved by the FDA for the treatment of lymphoma in dogs. It belongs to a novel class of compounds known as selective inhibitors of nuclear export (SINEs), which work by trapping tumor suppressor proteins inside the nucleus, thereby restoring normal control of cell growth and promoting cancer cell death.

For the primary care veterinarian, verdinexor offers an important at-home treatment option for canine lymphoma, particularly when referral for multiagent chemotherapy is not possible or when a client prefers palliative care that still provides measurable clinical benefit.

In a multicenter phase 2 study of dogs with both B-cell and T-cell lymphoma, verdinexor achieved a clinical benefit rate of 55% (stable disease or better), with a median duration of benefit of 71 days (range 21-273 days). Notably, T-cell lymphoma cases, which are often less responsive to traditional chemotherapy, still showed a 71% clinical benefit rate.

 Commonly reported adverse effects are mild and include transient loss of appetite, lethargy, or gastrointestinal upset, which can often be managed symptomatically.

This makes verdinexor a reasonable monotherapy option for the following:

Dogs that cannot undergo intravenous chemotherapy

Patients that have relapsed after CHOP-based treatment

Owners seeking palliative oral therapy that maintains quality of life

How SINEs work with other chemotherapy agents

In addition to its single-agent activity, the SINE drug class has shown synergistic and sensitizing effects when combined with other chemotherapeutics, such as doxorubicin and platinum-based agents. These effects may help the following:

Sensitize lymphoma cells to respond better to chemotherapy

Reverse or delay drug resistance that develops after cytotoxic treatment

Verdinexor vs prednisone: Impact on drug resistance

Historically, prednisone has been used for palliative treatment of lymphoma, but glucocorticoids can induce multidrug resistance (MDR) by increasing P-glycoprotein expression in lymphoma cells, reducing the efficacy of subsequent chemotherapy and worsening prognosis.

In contrast, verdinexor is not a substrate for P-glycoprotein, meaning it should not promote MDR or interfere with future chemotherapy response. In clinical studies, dogs receiving prednisone alone survived an average of 4 to 7 weeks, whereas verdinexor therapy offers a longer median benefit with potentially improved quality of life.

Articles

Multiple approaches to cancer treatment can be initiated by primary care veterinarians.

Understanding oncology diagnostics and therapeutics

Cynthia Otto discusses head dunking research that made her a finalist for the AKC research awards

Cynthia Otto discusses head dunking research

interview, Cynthia M. Otto, DVM, PhD, DACVECC, DACVSMR, discusses research conducted at the Penn Vet Working Dog Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her team developed a voluntary head dunk procedure for dogs, a low-resource cooling technique that study results showed can block the typical 5-minute temperature spike post exercise in working dogs. That work has made Otto and her team finalists for the American Kennel Club’s Canine Health Discovery of the Year Award for the technique’s real-world potential to reduce heatstroke risk.

A simple, trained 30-second head dunk rapidly cools overheated dogs

Learn how to perform this technique by watching the video below:

Cynthia M. Otto, DVM, PhD, DACVECC, DACVSMR

: The start of the story goes way back. I have clinical expertise in emergency and critical care as well as sports medicine, and in the emergency [department] we would see way too many cases of heatstroke. What we know from the research and the literature is that heatstroke is one of those preventable causes of morbidity, mortality, and injury in our working dogs, but also across the board. So, we’ve been really thinking about how to address this heatstroke risk in dogs when they’re in environments where they are potentially at risk, and they have to keep doing things.

Over the years, we’ve looked at hydration and different cooling mechanisms, and it came to the point where we know that jumping in a pool of water is great...but that can’t always happen. I was working with some conservation detection dogs in Zambia...in a really hot environment. We can’t just take a break. We have to keep working. [We were trying to find] a way to cool off…we can’t carry enough water to fill a pool. The rivers are dangerous because there are crocodiles, hippopotamuses, and [other] things that would potentially put the dogs at huge risk. How do we try to cool these dogs?

We wanted to look at field-relevant cooling, things that you could take with you to do in a place where you might not have the resources. We had previously done a couple of studies. We know that dogs get really hot within 10 minutes of just running back and forth about 25 yards between 2 people to catch a ball or a toy, and they get really hot. It might surprise a lot of veterinarians. It certainly surprised me. The first time we looked at the temperatures of these dogs after they’d either been working in an actual search-and-rescue training or even this little exercise, their temperatures got up to about 105 to 106 °F, which is considered heatstroke, but these dogs weren’t experiencing heatstroke. They were still able to function fine.

To try to reframe that and figure that if they might be closer to risk of heatstroke, how do we prevent that? How do we prevent that from progressing? In this particular study, we tested field-ready approaches. One of them was using those cold chemical ice packs you might carry while hiking; you snap them, and they get cold. We put those under the collars on the dogs. We didn’t shave the dogs or anything. We just relied on what would naturally happen.

A second approach was to take a towel and wet it with cold water—this was 72 °F water, basically room temperature—but when you’re in 90 °F, 72 °F is cold. We wet those towels and tried one under their armpits because we discussed wetting dogs on their bottom half where there’s less fur; that might be a better place to cool them. We tried one wrapped around their neck because we also know that cooling blood going to the head can be effective. Then we tried a technique we’d been using at the Working Dog Center for quite a while to help dogs flush out their eyes and noses: having them voluntarily dunk their head into a little pool or bucket of water to get a treat or a toy. We call that the head dunk. It’s a voluntary head dunk because we train the dogs to do it, and they think it’s a fun game.

We didn’t have much confidence it would work, but it turned out that by dunking their head into this cold water—again, the water was 72 °F, not freezing, just room temperature—the usual pattern after you stop exercising is that your temperature continues to rise for about 5 minutes. That blocked that rise in temperature, and it really dropped their temperatures. Part of our cooling mechanism in dogs is panting, but panting requires evaporation of saliva and fluids in the respiratory tract. When it’s too hot and too humid, you can’t evaporate well. There’s a lot of blood flow to the head that allows for some cooling by heat exchange through breathing: You breathe out hot air, and heat moves from the oral cavity and the head to the environment. When we cool the head, they might drink a little bit during this, but not much. We actually measured how many times they lapped the water. It cooled their mouth, the roof of their mouth, their head, and their face.

We didn’t have them dunk far enough to get their ears wet because we didn’t want to fill their ears with water. Thermal cameras showed their ears as bright red—a lot of heat is being lost through the ears—but mostly we were looking at what was happening in their face and mouth, and the impact was quite remarkable. It can be done in a limited environment; it doesn’t require a huge amount of water, and it doesn’t take much training. Often, we’ve had a couple of puppies in demonstrations like this—a puppy who had never done this before, literally within 5 minutes, it was dunking its head. Some dogs take a little longer; they’re less excited about it, but it’s a really great technique not only for cooling but also for flushing eyes and noses.

We’re big advocates of low-stress handling and cooperative care, so anything that helps with cooperative veterinary care is fantastic. Cooling is really important in the field; flushing eyes and noses can be important in the field and in the veterinary clinic environment. We published a video in JAAHA/JAFFMA (video tutorials), open access, freely available, and it goes step by step on how to train this and when it’s appropriate to use it and when not to use it. Certainly, if a dog is already in heatstroke, that’s too late. We want to do this before they reach that point. We want dogs that are mentally appropriate and showing signs of heat stress, which, again, is worth reminding everybody that there are physical signs of heat stress regardless of what [the dog's] temperature is. Their eyes narrow, their tongues gets long, sometimes there’s more ropey saliva; they pant excessively, the commissures of the mouth are retracted, their ears may be retracted, they may be less motivated to return on a retrieve, or they might be seeking shade. All of those signs tell us the dog is feeling the effects, and we need to stop the activity and actively cool them. We also looked at what happens if we just stop the activity and let them rest in the shade. It doesn’t do much, and it takes a long time for them to come back down. So we want to actively intervene and actively cool them.

Videos

Otto breaks down the physiology and field data behind the head dunk technique and why active cooling is preferable to passive rest in hot conditions.

Cynthia M. Otto reports research showing the benefits of a trained head dunk to prevent heatstroke in dogs

Veterinary professionals at Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Veterinary Sciences in Bangkok successfully performed a pacemaker implantation on Pepsi, an 8-year-old domestic shorthair cat, making it the first in Thailand’s history.

Pepsi, an 8-year-old domestic shorthair cat, became the first feline patient in Thailand to have pacemaker surgery (Image courtesy of Chulalongkorn University Small Animal Hospital (Bangkok Animal Hospital))

Pepsi experienced frequent fainting spells up to 4 times a day, caused by severe cardiac arrhythmia. She was initially brought into the Chulalongkorn Small Animal Teaching Hospital with lethargy, weakness, and sudden collapse, accompanied by muscle stiffness and occasional vocalizations.

 During primary testing, it was noted that she possibly had a neurological or cardiac issue, but medication did not improve her condition. After being examined further, she was diagnosed with a severe cardiac arrhythmia.

Pepsi’s condition stemmed from a blockage of electrical signals between the heart’s chambers, which prevented blood from reaching the brain. In feline patients, these arrhythmias are rare and often occur in older animals. Pepsi’s team was able to confirm through 24-hour Holter monitoring, which is a more accurate tool than standard electrocardiogram testing.

“Normally, a cat’s heart beats about 140 to 220 times per minute, regulated by natural electrical impulses,” Anusak Kijtawornrat, DVM, PhD, said.

 “When the signal is blocked, the heart stops contracting effectively, causing syncope. Such cases are uncommon—around 10% of feline cardiac cases—but are more prevalent in older cats.”

For feline patients, implanting a pacemaker can be challenging because cats have smaller veins and thinner heart muscles, unlike canine patients in whom the pacemaker lead can be inserted through the neck. Because of these challenges, the standard technique is too risky and could potentially puncture the patient’s heart.

Images courtesy of Chulalongkorn University Small Animal Hospital (Bangkok Animal Hospital)

The surgical team needed to open the cat's chest cavity between the ribs to access the heart directly. They then attached the pacing lead to the heart’s surface and connected that to a small generator implanted under the abdominal muscles.

 The procedure in its entirety took 1 hour and involved a multidisciplinary team working in close coordination.

“This method is more complex but safer for small animals,” Kijtawornrat said.

 “It was an improved technique from our previous feline case just 2 weeks earlier. Switching from a diaphragmatic approach to a thoracic one made the implantation easier and more accurate.”

Pepsi’s pacemaker device is the same model that is used in humans. It was customized with appropriately sized leads, and for Pepsi, the pacemaker had been donated and sterilized for reuse. Following the procedure, Pepsi made a quick recovery. She no longer faints, she interacts energetically with her owner and the other cats at the home, and she eats normally. She visits the hospital every 3 months for follow-ups but overall lives a normal life.

Feline patients who undergo this surgery can live a normal life, albeit with some minor restrictions. Owners whose pets have had this procedure must inform their veterinarians before MRI scans. A minor lead dislodgement occurs in approximately 1% to 2% of patients, but it can be corrected surgically.

A major veterinary medicine advancement for Thailand

Although this procedure has been practiced outside of Thailand for years, it is rare in Thailand due to the specialized training requirements, diagnostic challenges, and equipment costs.

“This success showcases Thailand’s readiness to perform advanced procedures at an international level,” Kijtawornrat said. “Chulalongkorn’s veterinary faculty now has the expertise, technology, and multidisciplinary collaboration to match global standards.”

Kijtawornrat urged clients to seek immediate veterinary care for their pet if they show signs of weakness or fainting.

Chula veterinarians perform Thailand's first pacemaker implant in a cat. News release. Chulalongkorn University. November 24, 2025. Accessed December 3, 2025. https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/chula-veterinarians-perform-thailands-first-pacemaker-implant-in-a-cat-302624230.html 

Panlee S. Chula veterinarians achieve national first with pacemaker implant in a cat. Chulalongkorn University. November 14, 2025. Accessed December 3, 2025. https://www.chula.ac.th/en/highlight/271336/

This groundbreaking achievement was made possible by veterinarians from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Veterinary Science.

Thailand makes history with nation's first cat pacemaker surgery

The veterinary relief management platform Serenity Vet has launched a subscription service. The new service allows veterinary clinics and hospitals to manage relief veterinarian staffing by viewing doctors’ availability in real time and handling scheduling, booking, and compensation payments.

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.

The new Serenity Vet subscription model offers veterinary practices a centralized hub for all their relief staffing operations, which can streamline workflows, improve cost efficiency, and simplify administration while allowing administrators to book their existing network without incurring service fees, according to a news release. The subscription also includes automated invoicing, payment processing, and shift scheduling, with a shift fill predictor tool driven by artificial intelligence (AI), profitability planning tools, and market-based rate data.

Kat Reardon, DVM, a practicing relief veterinarian and lead veterinarian for the AI scribe ScribbleVet, wrote in a 

article that AI is best used to augment the human touch that is central to veterinary care but can benefit both practices and staff. “When thoughtfully integrated, AI can streamline operations, reduce cognitive load, and improve client service, all while empowering veterinary teams to do more of what they do best: deliver compassionate, hands-on care,” Reardon said.

Relief practice allows veterinarians to thrive

A viable career path for many veterinary practitioners, relief work is trending upward and proving to be a viable career path for many veterinary 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, which is also increasing.

Many relief veterinarians rely on service providers to help find and manage shifts. Although 210 of 239 respondents of a 2023 survey for relief veterinarians reported it easy to find relief work, most of these surveyed professionals also indicated they have a regular client base of hospitals and shelters.

“Sometimes the biggest problem isn’t finding new relief veterinarians—it’s managing the ones you already have a relationship with. Clinics spend too much time juggling schedules, chasing invoices, and coordinating communication across multiple channels. The subscription solves this by offering a single platform to manage the entire process, end to end. Since Serenity doesn’t dictate pricing, clinics can continue using the rates they’ve already agreed on with their relief veterinarians,” Andrew Ciccolini, DVM, cofounder and chief veterinary officer for Serenity Vet, said in a news release.

Compensation for relief veterinarians and technicians varies across the industry.

 However, Serenity Vet allows practices hiring relief staff to retain control over compensation rates, terms, and network composition while removing the need to coordinate staffing across disconnected tools and processes, according to the company.

Veterinary groups operating across multiple locations can utilize Serenity Vet’s features for a centralized relief staffing under one system. Group administrators gain visibility into staffing performance, fulfillment rates, and spend across clinics while each location retains the autonomy to manage its own roster, according to Ciccolini.

Practices can subscribe to Serenity Vet at no cost with a single relief veterinarian. Pricing begins at $299 a month for up to 3 relief veterinarians from the clinic’s existing network, and additional staff coverage from Serenity Vet’s broader relief pool is available at the cost of a standard service fee.

Can AI reduce charting burden and support better client communication?

Ciccolini A. Serenity Vet introduces a subscription for managing existing relief veterinarians with no per-shift fees. News release. Serenity Vet. December 1, 2025. Accessed December 3, 2025. 

https://serenity.vet/blog/serenity-vet-introduces-a-subscription-for-managing-existing-relief-veterinarians-with-no-per-shift-fees/

Crossley KC. Relief practice allows veterinarians to thrive. 

. February 17, 2025. Accessed December 3, 2025. 

https://www.dvm360.com/view/relief-practice-allows-veterinarians-to-thrive

Reardon K. How AI can boost productivity without replacing staff. 

. May 15, 2025. Accessed December 3, 2025. https://www.dvm360.com/view/how-ai-can-boost-productivity-without-replacing-staff

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

The new service from Serenity Vet allows veterinary clinics and hospitals to manage relief staffing tasks with assistance from AI and automation

Subscription service launches for veterinary relief management platform

Artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as a practical tool for busy veterinary teams, especially as documentation demands continue to grow. At the same time, the term itself has become a buzzword attached to almost every marketing gimmick. How can clinicians separate fact from fiction and determine what really works? In a recent 

 interview, CoVet cofounders Yannick Bloem, CEO, and Mike Mossop, DVM, CVO, discuss real-world applications of AI documentation for veterinary teams. Their insights focus on tangible gains such as faster, more accurate medical records; smoother handoffs; and more time for patient care.

Editor’s note: This dvm360 Q&A has been lightly edited and consolidated from a verbal interview to better fit a written format while retaining the substance of the original conversation.

: What is CoVet, and what problem were you trying to solve?

 CoVet is an AI copilot, a digital assistant built specifically for veterinarians rather than for the practice as a whole. Our foundation is documentation: turning exam room recordings into structured medical records with speech to text. But we’re building much more—reminders, interactions with practice management systems (PIMS), and clinical support tools—all designed to make the vet’s job easier and more efficient.

: How can AI save time and reduce burnout in practical terms?

 Vets spend hours on documentation. In many clinics, that’s a few extra hours every night. CoVet can cut that down to minutes. Practically, that means clinicians get home on time, see 1 or 2 additional patients per day in some cases, and deliver better-quality documentation. The downstream effects are lower burnout, lower turnover, and a better client experience because the clinician can give full attention to the client during the visit.

: You mentioned bedside manner. How does AI actually improve client interactions?

 When note-taking is automated, vets don’t have to split attention between typing and talking. That yields fuller, more focused conversations, and clients leave with clear visit summaries. Fewer callbacks for clarification mean happier clients and less follow-up work for staff.

: Accuracy and hallucination are big concerns. How do you manage those risks?

 There are 2 use cases to separate. For clinical reference content, we source information from vetted veterinary data providers and present citations so clinicians can verify the source. For documentation, like turning a consult into a record, the clinician remains the final arbiter. We have an in-house medical team that reviews outputs and a board of consulting specialists to refine the system for specialties. Importantly, our telemetry shows that, on average, 95% of the generated record is left untouched, though clinicians always validate before finalizing. We also learn from user feedback and continually improve the models.

: Is CoVet flexible for multidoctor clinics and for nonveterinarian staff?

 Yes. Practices can standardize templates across the team or allow individual customization. That flexibility is valuable for locums or vets who work in multiple clinics. The system follows the clinician. And it’s not only for vets: Technicians, CSRs [client service representatives], and clinic managers use CoVet for history taking, call summaries, meeting notes, billing handoffs, and more. When a vet subscribes, the entire team can be involved through free support accounts.

: How much does integration with PIMS matter?

 Integrations are important, and we’re building real API [application program interface] integrations with many systems. We also provide a Chrome extension for cloud-based PIMS that speeds workflows even without a full integration. But the majority of users derive large efficiency gains without full integration. The core value (the 95% of gains) is available even before the last percent of automation provided by a direct API.

: What should clinics ask vendors during demos?

 Ask who owns and controls the data and how they are stored and used. Ask what percent of generated notes is edited and what counts as an edit. Confirm whether clinical recommendations include citations and how hallucinations are managed. Ask which PIMS are supported and whether features are available to nondoctor staff. Finally, check security and compliance—encryption at rest/in transit—and get those guarantees in writing.

: Any common misconceptions about AI you want to clear up?

 You don’t need a full clinic overhaul to start using AI. Small steps work. Also, data usage fears are valid. However, some vendors (including us) explicitly state that user data are owned by the practice and not used to train external models without consent. Lastly, a tool that’s only 80% right won’t stick. Clinicians need the system to be 90% to 95% correct in tone, structure, and content for daily adoption.

Edward, a 2-year-old, 30-lb wolverine, was born at ZooMontana in Billings in 2023 and later transferred to the San Francisco Zoo in California that year. In May 2025, Edward’s caretaker noticed that his right eye was cloudy and reported it to the zoo’s veterinary team.

Edward's left eye just before surgery (Image courtesy of UC Davis College of Veterinary Medicine)

“We were surprised to see what appeared to be a cataract forming in the eye of such a young animal,” said Nick Dannemiller, DVM, DACZM, clinical veterinarian at the zoo and a board-certified specialist in zoological medicine.

 “So, we called an ophthalmologist to further evaluate Edward’s condition.”

The team then called in Katie Freeman, DVM, MEM, DACVO, who officially diagnosed Edward with a mature cataract in the right eye and a small one in his left. In August 2025, a surgery was successfully performed to remove the cataract in his right eye. This left Edward farsighted.

“In a cataract surgery, the contents of the lens, which normally refract light to the retina, are removed because they have become clouded, obscuring vision,”  Freeman explained.

 “In humans, and even in cats and dogs, there are manufactured replacement lenses made specifically for those species. At the time of Edward’s first surgery, there were no artificial lenses made for a wolverine.”

Based on his diagnosis, Edward would need cataract surgery on his left eye eventually. Because she knew Edward would not do well being farsighted in both eyes, Freeman set out to find a solution. She reached out to a former mentor, Christopher Murphy, DVM, PhD, DACVO, who called a friend and human optometrist, Donald Mutti, OD, PhD. They had spent years working together to create intraocular lens measurements for various birds, including a falcon and an eagle.

“The amount of farsightedness in Edward’s eye without an implant would be extremely high,” Mutti said.

 “A high level of farsightedness in a person is about 10 diopters [D], units of optical power. My guess is that Edward was at about a level of 50 D, where he’d be able to see whether lights were on or off and maybe some gross motion, but there would be no capability for detail vision in Edward’s eye.”

Together, the vision specialists began working on calculating the specific measurements of Edward’s custom-made lens. Within the clinic, Freeman and a colleague performed high-resolution ultrasound and corneal measurements using a keratometer they borrowed from Micro Medical Devices. This helped them determine corneal dimensions and curvature. With the measurements, they were able to analyze and calculate the corneal curvature, length of the eye, size of the natural lens, and where the lens would sit post surgery.

The team settled on an optical power of 100 D for Edward’s lens after many  calculations and consultations with the lens manufacturer, an-vision. In comparison, cats are 53.5 D on the scale, dogs are normally 41 D, and human lenses vary based on individual calculations.

 Katie Freeman, DVM, MEM, DACVO, performing surgery on Edward.

In November 2025, Edward underwent his second cataract surgery on his left eye, and Freeman successfully implanted a custom-made lens. At the time, it was determined that the best course of action was to leave the right eye without a replacement since the eye was doing very well, and wolverine eyes are sensitive to procedures.

“Before the first surgery, he was very mistrusting of doing anything on the right side of his body,” said Dannemiller, about evaluating Edward’s vision. “After the surgery, we believe he can see a bit better, albeit aphakic, because he was more willing to present his right side during training activities. And now, after the second surgery, we notice improvements in his overall vision.”

Each day, Edward receives 2 to 3 eye drops, and with the help of his trainers, he voluntarily receives them. The team noticed that his vision had improved when he successfully outhunted Molly, a female companion he enjoys being around, for a small rodent that accidentally found its way into the exhibit.

Wolverines can live 5 to 10 years in the wild and 15 to 20 years under human care. There are only about 30 wolverines in zoos and wildlife centers across North America, and they are listed as a threatened species under the US Endangered Species Act.

 Habitat and climate change are the primary threats to the species, and it is estimated that 300 wolverines remain in the contiguous United States.

Groundbreaking eye surgery performed on wolverine at San Francisco Zoo. News release. University of California, Davis. November 26, 2025. Accessed December 2, 2025. 

https://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/news/groundbreaking-eye-surgery-performed-wolverine-san-francisco-zoo

Smith A. North American wolverine receives federal protection as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. News release. US Fish & Wildlife Service. November 29, 2023. Accessed December 2, 2025. 

https://www.fws.gov/press-release/2023-11/north-american-wolverine-receives-federal-protection-threatened-species-under

A 2-year-old male wolverine received the groundbreaking surgery after zookeepers noticed his eye was cloudy. 