Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common condition seen in canine patients, and management can be challenging. “We cannot take a cookbook approach,” David Dycus, DVM, MS, CCRP, DACVS-SA, founder and orthopedic surgeon at Fusion Veterinary Orthopedics, said during a recent session at the 2025 Fetch dvm360 Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina.

 Instead, Dycus encourages veterinarians to obtain a definitive diagnosis of OA and create a management plan that is patient-specific.

OA is the No. 1 cause of chronic pain in dogs and can have a large impact on both the patient's and the owner's quality of life. Dycus reminded veterinarians that, because it is an inflammatory disease that occurs secondary to other disease processes, it can occur in dogs of any age. A recent study of patients between 8 months and 4 years of age found that nearly 40% had radiographic evidence of OA.

 Of these, 60% had concurrent clinical signs of OA.

As some clinical signs of OA can be subtle, it is essential to ask owners specific questions to determine the presence or absence of clinical signs.

The diagnosis of OA requires multiple pieces of information, including the following:

 Most patients with OA have a chronic, slowly progressive history of lameness or alterations in their mobility. Patients presenting with a history of acute lameness often have some degree of injury, though they may be at risk of future development of OA.

 This includes objective gait evaluation (ideally using a numerical scale), assessing range of motion and presence or absence of pain in the joints, and comparing muscle mass in the limbs, which can indicate disuse.

Radiographs aid in the diagnosis of OA and are the minimum imaging technique needed for a diagnosis, but they should not be the only consideration. This is particularly important as some patients can have radiographic evidence of OA that is not yet causing clinical signs.

For some patients, the OA diagnosis may be speculative (based on history and physical examination alone) if the owner is unable or unwilling to pursue radiographs. Dycus encouraged veterinarians to carefully consider the potential adverse effects of any medications or treatments that are considered in these cases.

Finally, Dycus recommended using the Canine OsteoArthritis Staging Tool (COAST) to determine disease severity. This tool takes input from the veterinarian and owner to determine the stage of OA for patients with clinical signs and helps to identify dogs with OA risk factors that could benefit from early intervention.

Ultimately, “OA is a total management disease,” Dycus said. “Our primary focus in patients with OA should be on modulating, mitigating, and/or eliminating inflammation.” By doing this, we can work to improve patient quality of life, improve pain, decrease the severity and frequency of flare-ups, improve daily activity, and improve the human-animal bond.

Multimodal management is essential. OA affects the entire joint, not just a single part, so treatment should focus on the entire joint. Additionally, Dycus noted that many patients will present with flares of OA. Management of a patient during a flare is different than long-term management, particularly when it comes to exercise levels.

COAST stage 1 includes patients with risk factors but no clinical signs of OA or pain on examination. These patients are usually puppies or young adults. Radiographic changes may or may not be present.

For these patients, Dycus recommends establishing a baseline strategy to promote joint health and delay the onset of OA. This strategy should include the following:

Preventing obesity is the ideal strategy. For patients who are already overweight, controlling pain is essential before starting a weight loss plan that includes exercise.

 Although time running and playing in the yard can be helpful, clients should work with their pet to build up to 20 to 30 minutes of walking on flat ground twice daily.

 These may include nonslip flooring, adding rugs, or installing ramps to reduce strain on joints.

 These have been shown to modulate inflammation. For joint health, the recommended dose is higher than for other diseases (DHA/EPA 150-175 mg/kg/day).

Polysulfated glycosaminoglycan (Adequan Canine; American Regent Animal Health):

 This has been proven to support joints in dogs. Dycus recommended administering the product at the label dose (2 mg/lb intramuscular injection twice weekly for 4 weeks). Once 8 injections have been administered, dosing can be discontinued.

Joint supplements can be considered part of this strategy; however, Dycus cautioned veterinarians that the FDA does not regulate supplements. He recommended looking for supplements with quality control programs, including third-party testing, that contain ingredients known to modulate inflammatory responses and that test those ingredients in vitro.

As clinical signs of OA begin to develop in young to middle-aged dogs, these patients may present with pain on examination and may have radiographic changes. At this stage, Dycus recommended continuing the baseline management strategy previously outlined but reducing daily exercise, especially during times of pain. Additionally, he added the following therapies to the management plan:

Repeating the polysulfated glycosaminoglycan treatment at the label dose every 6 months. "This is not a loading dose; this is the dose,” Dycus said, adding that ongoing injections between the series are not necessary.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the most effective oral pain relievers available. Dycus typically starts with 1 to 4 months of NSAID therapy.

For patients in this category, Dycus recommended rechecking 2 to 4 weeks after instituting therapy to ensure a positive response. As long as the patient is responding well, he rechecks every 6 weeks until the patient returns to their baseline management plan. Long-term management of these patients includes evaluating COAST and an orthopedic examination every 4 to 6 months.

For patients who are refractory to the initial treatment plan, additional options include short-term addition of amantadine, formal rehabilitation therapy for 4 to 6 weeks, shockwave therapy, and intra-articular injections with platelet-rich plasma, steroids, or synthetics.

Middle-aged to older patients with consistent to worsening clinical signs, pain on examination, decreased range of motion in their joints, and radiographic changes of OA are typically COAST stage 3 to 4. These patients should still have a baseline plan, but it will likely need to be modified to account for mobility limitations that may interfere with daily exercise.

In addition to the regular polysulfated glycosaminoglycan series and daily NSAIDs, patients may need long-term amantadine, intra-articular injections, and maintenance rehab. Dycus shared that the addition of gabapentin (> 10 mg/kg 3 times per day) or pregabalin (2-4 mg/kg twice a day) may be helpful, though there is limited evidence for efficacy with regard to joint pain.

For patients who are having significant pain flares or not improving, subcutaneous ketamine injections can be considered. Bedinvetmab (Librela; Zoetis) could also be considered to help break the pain cycle. One strategy is administering 2 to 3 injections, then returning to maintenance NSAID use.

Dycus stressed the importance of setting appropriate expectations with owners of dogs with OA. This is a progressive disease that will worsen over time despite our best efforts. Owners should be prepared for this and understand that the management plan will evolve over time as the patient’s baseline changes.

Additionally, owners should be prepared for flare-ups of the disease process and know how to recognize these events. The faster an owner recognizes a flare, the faster an intervention plan can be instituted.

“I’m a big fan of educating owners,” Dycus said, though he cautioned against giving too much information at once. Instead, he recommended providing owners with additional resources, such as websites like caninearthritis.org and caninearthritis.co.uk, that they can explore after the appointment.

“There’s never going to be only 1 thing to manage osteoarthritis,” Dycus said. Canine patients can present with risk factors or clinical signs of OA at any age. Using a tool like COAST can help to identify these patients and institute a patient-specific management plan that can decrease inflammation within the joint and improve overall patient quality of life.

Dycus D. A patient specific approach to osteoarthritis management. Presented at: Fetch dvm360 Conference; March 14-16, 2025; Charlotte, NC. 

Enomoto M, de Castro N, Hash J, et al. Prevalence of radiographic appendicular osteoarthritis and associated clinical signs in young dogs. 

. 2024;14:2827. doi:10.1038/s41598-024-52324-9

Cachon T, Frykman O, Innes JF. Face validity of a proposed tool for staging canine osteoarthritis: Canine OsteoArthritis Staging Tool (COAST). 

. 2018;235:1-8. doi:10.1016/j.tvjl.2018.02.017

Articles

Many therapies exist for osteoarthritis, but the best approach is multimodal and patient-specific.

Make a patient-specific plan for canine osteoarthritis

According to the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), research has indicated that a timely referral for a patient’s condition can extend their survival time, improve their quality of life, and lead to more favorable perceptions from clients.

 Last month, the AAHA released the 2025 AAHA Referral Guidelines to provide veterinary practices with a framework for managing referral cases, including the most complex ones.

“What excites me most about these guidelines is their comprehensive yet practical approach to streamlining the referral process,” Genesis Jones, DVM, co-chair for the 2025 2025 AAHA Referral Guidelines, wrote in an AAHA announcement.

 “For the first time, we’re providing a detailed roadmap that benefits everyone involved—primary care teams [PCTs], specialty care teams [SCTs], and, most importantly, our patients and their families.”

The new guidelines outline 3 referral collaboration models

 Discussions between veterinary professionals focused on sharing general insights without addressing individual patient cases

Professional-to-professional consultations: 

More in-depth discussions that focus on specific cases and involve a PCT seeking advice from a specialist without transferring care

A formal process that transfers direct patient care to a SCT for the management of a particular condition

Additional takeaways from the guidelines include the value of a web-based portal and the importance of the PCTs’ continued involvement with the client and patient. A dedicated web-based portal can improve communication in referral cases through shared access to medical records, completed and pending diagnostics, and patient updates.

Moreover, PCTs should remain engaged with the client and patient, as ongoing involvement is a top predictor of positive client feelings toward the referral process.

 According to the AAHA, a study by the Collaborative Care Coalition found that clients valued their referring veterinarian’s continued engagement and openness to working alongside other veterinary professionals, with client perceptions being 6 times more likely to improve post-referral.

The AAHA also recommends documenting and communicating with the SCT about any completed and/or pending tests and procedures to prevent duplication. The organization also advises veterinary practices make clients aware that the SCT may need to repeat certain diagnostic and monitoring tests.

The guidelines also emphasize the importance of teleconsultation, recognizing it as an essential tool in adapting to modern veterinary practices.

When it comes to keeping communication effective between PCTs and SCTs, the AAHA suggests designating single points of contact—this referral coordinator position could be handled by either a veterinary technician or a customer service representative.

 The organization also recommends establishing expectations for follow-up care, as well as using technology for transparency, record-sharing, and collaborative case management.

In its document, the AAHA also emphasizes the importance of remembering to talk about the referral process with the client. The conversation should also include a discussion on referral cost estimates. “In many instances (e.g., internal medicine, dentistry, surgery cases), the primary care team may not be able to provide accurate estimates prior to the specialist’s assessment. Normalizing conversations about cost and providing at least the referral fee and any other expected tests/procedures will help clients deal with the potential stress of finding out about referral costs,” wrote the AAHA in its guidelines’ introduction.

“What makes me particularly optimistic about these guidelines is their potential to transform how we think about referral relationships. They’re not just about improving processes—they’re about building stronger professional relationships, enhancing patient care, and ultimately creating better outcomes for everyone involved,” wrote Jones.

“As our profession continues to evolve, these guidelines will serve as a foundation for stronger collaboration between primary and specialty care. By working together more effectively, we can ensure that our patients receive the comprehensive, coordinated care they deserve while supporting their families throughout the journey,” she continued.

2025 AAHA Referral Guidelines. American Animal Hospital Association. February 25, 2025. Accessed March 24, 2025. 

https://www.aaha.org/resources/2025-aaha-referral-guidelines/

Jones G. Transforming veterinary collaboration: A sneak peek at the upcoming 2025 AAHA Referral Guidelines. American Animal Hospital Association. February 21, 2025. Accessed March 24, 2025. 

https://www.aaha.org/trends-magazine/publications/sneak-peek-at-the-upcoming-2025-aaha-referral-guidelines/

AAHA releases guidelines for veterinary specialist referrals. American Veterinary Medical Association. March 3, 2025, Accessed March 24, 2025. 

https://www.avma.org/news/aaha-releases-guidelines-veterinary-specialist-referrals?utm_source=delivra&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=todays-headlines-news

For the first time, the new guidelines offer a roadmap for everyone involved, including primary care teams and specialty care teams

AAHA releases 2025 guidelines for effective veterinary specialist referrals 

 Lindsay Starkey, DVM, PhD, DACVM (Parasitology), shares emerging concerns regarding resistance to heartworm prevention

Video interview with Lindsay Starkey, DVM, PhD, DACVM (Parasitology)

During an interview with dvm360, Lindsay Starkey, DVM, PhD, DACVM (Parasitology), shared some insights into the current state of heartworm preventive resistance in veterinary medicine, what to be asking clients if a 'good client' has a heartworm-positive dog, and more. 

Lindsay Starkey, DVM, PhD, DACVM (Parasitology)

: I wish I had a really good handle on what was going on, I wish anybody had a really good handle on what was going on, honestly. What we know is it happens, and we can't necessarily predict where, although we do tend to see more cases of it in that geographic region where heartworm is most endemic, right? But it is getting transported around. It is showing up in places like Canada and the West Coast, like nontraditional heartworm places, and so I think we just need to be cognizant that these preventives that we have are really, really good, and they work [mostly] all of the time, especially when we're talking about run of the mill heartworm, but if we have a mosquito carrying a resistant isolate, which we can't predict or really know, then these preventives have all been shown to fail to a certain extent, some more than others. There's still one molecule that stands out as being the strongest, if you will, at fighting against resistant harm.

Using integrated strategies, vector control, reducing mosquito populations, using products that can keep mosquitoes from biting, or lifestyle management that can keep mosquitoes from interacting with our dogs—all of that really helps reduce that overall risk, whether or not it's resistant heartworm or susceptible heartworm, but it is out there, and we do need to have it in the back of our minds, especially when we have a patient come into our clinic where a heartworm-positive diagnosis is surprising. They've been on prevention, and this is a good client, this is a healthy pet, and they're positive. What's going on here? 

And the first thing is to just fact-check that test, right? Maybe it's a false positive, but if you get your confirmatory test back, now, I'm asking questions of... were we truly compliant or not? And really getting down to some very pointed questions, like, did we ever miss a dose, or could the animal have spit it out right? Like, we need to know these things. And if all of that still seems like everything was done correctly, then we question the efficacy of the drug. And I think that's fair, once we've gone through that kind of algorithm, because we do know these drugs can fail.

Videos

Lindsay Starkey, DVM, PhD, DACVM (Parasitology), shares more on the current state of heartworm preventive resistance in veterinary medicine, and what to be on the lookout for 

Understanding and combating heartworm preventive resistance

Photos courtesy of Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

William Murphy, PhD, BS, was named the 2025 Southeastern Conference Professor of the Year

An animal genetics investigator at Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) in College Station has earned the highest award for faculty in US college athletics’ Southeastern Conference (SEC). William Murphy, PhD, BS, has been named the 2025 SEC Professor of the Year, in recognition of his teaching record, research and service in higher education.

“What an incredible honor to represent my institution and the SEC in this way,” Murphy said in a news release.

 “I am deeply grateful for the support of Texas A&M throughout my career and to the SEC for this recognition of my academic efforts.”

Winners are selected by the SEC provosts from among the 16 SEC Faculty Achievement Award recipients announced in February 2025. “The SEC Faculty Achievement Awards allow us to celebrate and highlight the remarkable contributions of outstanding faculty members on our campuses,” Greg Sankey, SEC commissioner, said in a news release.

 “While we recognize 16 exceptional individuals each year, they stand as representative of the excellence and dedication demonstrated by all SEC faculty.”

Murphy is the Professor of the Year award’s third Texas A&M recipient, since it was first presented in 2012. He joins Karen L. Wooley, PhD, BS, a polymer chemist; and Marcetta Y. Darensbourg, PhD, BS, an inorganic chemist, who are both nationally recognized experts in the field of chemistry. All 3 of these Texas A&M honorees are members of the National Academy of Sciences.

William Murphy, PhD, BS, is a research of animal genetics. 

At Texas A&M, Murphy is the James E. Womack University Professor of Genetics in the VMBS’ Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences and a University System Regents Professor, who was recently appointed to lead a new Center for Comparative Genomics in animal genetics at Texas A&M. Through his work as a genomicist, Murphy studies the structure, function and evolution of an organism’s entire genome, or its entire DNA complement, according to Texas A&M. This work aims to improve understanding of the genetic basis of a species’ traits and diseases.

Murphy’s research using comparative genomics to describe and understand evolutionary processes in mammals that result in different species, adaptations and overall biological diversity, contributed to his selection as the SEC Professor of the Year. This work has helped redefine the mammalian tree of life and transform scientists’ understanding of biology, especially through his research on the domestic cat genome, according to Texas A&M.

"Dr Murphy is one of the most influential scholars in his field worldwide. His groundbreaking work in comparative genomics has not only redefined our understanding of mammalian evolution but also illuminated the complexities of feline genetics, paving the way for advancements in both science and medicine,” John R. August, BVSc, MS, the Carl B. King Dean of Veterinary Medicine, said in the release.

 “His dedication to unraveling the mysteries of the genome is matched by his dedication to educating and mentoring the next generation of genomicists; we could not be prouder to see his remarkable contributions recognized by the SEC.”

According to Texas A&M, Murphy earned his PhD in biological sciences at The University of Tulsa in Oklahoma before becoming a postdoctoral researcher and senior scientist studying genomic diversity at the National Institutes of Health’s National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland. The author of more than 170 articles published in peer-reviewed journals, Murphy also serves as the editor-in-chief of the 

Throughout his career, Murphy’s work as included participation in the Zoonomia Project, an international consortium of scientists that studies mammalian genomic data to answer questions about human evolution. One Zoonomia Project study led by Murphy used the genomes of 241 species to find an answer to the question of when mammals diversified in their evolutionary timeline over the past 100 million years. This finding—that mammals were experiencing species diversification before the mass extinction that wiped out nonavian dinosaurs—supports animal and human health outcomes, according to Texas A&M.

Additionally, Murphy is regarded as an expert in feline evolution and genomics. His work includes research that has helped scientists better understand what makes different cat species unique, including how they have adapted to their environments.

Sankey expressed that the SEC was proud to have Murphy and other distinguished faculty represent it. "Dr Murphy's commitment to innovative scholarship, excellence in teaching and dedicated service embodies what it means to be the SEC Professor of the Year," he said in a news release.

Price C. Texas A&M researcher Wiliam Murphy named 2025 SEC Professor of the Year. News release. Texas A&M University. March 24, 2025. Accessed March 24, 2025. 

https://stories.tamu.edu/stories/tamu-researcher-william-murphy-named-2025-sec-professor-of-the-year/

SEC honors outstanding educators with faculty achievement awards. News release. Southeastern Conference. February 24, 2025. Accessed March 24, 2025. 

https://www.secsports.com/news/2025/02/sec-honors-outstanding-educators-with-faculty-achievement-awards-2025

Texas A&M research redefines mammalian tree of life. News release. Texas A&M University. April 27, 2023. Accessed March 24, 2025. 

https://vetmed.tamu.edu/news/press-releases/zoonomia/?highlight=zoonomia

William Murphy, PhD, BS, was selected by SEC provosts for the recognition, from among 16 previous achievement award recipients

Animal geneticist is awarded Southeastern Conference faculty honor

From March 14-16, 2025, veterinary professionals, dvm360 staff, and other industry leaders headed to Fetch Charlotte for a weekend full of learning, networking, and fun! Even though the conference has come to a close, the dvm360 coverage of the event has not. Dvm360 had created this list of videos, articles, and other conference events here to provide an inside look at what was going on at Fetch Charlotte, including a 

Dvm360’s full Fetch Charlotte coverage is available 

Attendees listening to a keynote address during Fetch Charlotte (Image courtesy of Walter L Brown Jr, BS, RVTg, VTS (ECC))

Critical thinking and anesthetic monitoring

During an interview with dvm360, Amanda Shelby, RVT, VTS (Anesthesia; Analgesia), shared the importance of considering a patient’s history, comorbidities, and anticipated complications along with monitoring equipment readings to achieve patient safety and optimal anesthetic management.

“Yeah, so in a clinical situation under anesthesia, or in a patient that's sedated, or one I'm getting prepared to put under anesthesia, as soon as we induce a patient, or even when we give a medication, the three key things that, you know, we don't need to make this super complicated, the three key things: does it have a pulse? Is it breathing?” Shelby said during the interview.

“What is its level of anesthetic depth? And that probably relates more to already being unconscious. But is it going to jump up and leave the table, or are we on a pathway towards undesirable outcomes from there? It's attaching monitoring equipment and learning about what that monitoring equipment tells you and perhaps what it doesn't tell you, and then always being able to reach under there and look at your patient,” she continued.

Understanding pharmacodynamics in amphibians

Jb Minter, DVM, MS, DACZM, director of animal health and chief veterinarian at the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro, North Carolina, explained Pharmacodynamics and its relation to amphibians, which was part of this lecture at the conference.

“Pharmacodynamics in amphibians, again, very, very evolving field of study. So pharmacodynamics refers to the study of how drugs affect the body, including the mechanism of action, and the relationship... between the drug concentration and the effect of that drugs. So it's enhanced by a lot of different factors. So metabolism: amphibians have a low metabolic rate, and this is going to affect how the drugs are processed and eliminated, so got to take that into consideration,” Minter explained during the interview.

A surgeon's approach to owner communication

Brian Sutherland, DVM, DACVS-SA, in a preconference interview, explained that when talking to clients about their pet that needs surgery, it can be a scary process for them, so transparency is crucial. Throughout the interview, Sutherland explained that the risk benefit he does for himself in regards to the patient, he shares with them to help them be fully educated and informed on the procedures their pet may be getting.

“I think my general approach is to be as open and honest as possible with owners. These are often challenging and sometimes high-risk procedures, and I think owners need to be very, very well educated on that. And a lot of times these procedures are things that aren't performed very often. And so despite someone being, you know, the most experienced, like my mentor in Colorado, one of the most experienced heart surgeons in the world for veterinary patients, still there are things that he has not done hundreds of, you know. So there are definitely certain procedures where we don't do that often and have less experience with and I think it's very important that we're...open and honest with owners about that,” Sutherland expressed.

When to perform a crown amputation vs a full true tooth extraction

In an on site interview with Heather Duncan, DVM, DAVDC, founder and CEO of Crown Veterinary Dental Specialists in Charlotte, North Carolina, provide insight into when a crown amputation is needed instead of a full true tooth extraction as well as an overview of the procedure and how it should be done.

“So a time that you could do a crown amputation, versus true extraction of a tooth is when you see that there is no root structure left. So we don't have anything that looks like a root. There's no periodontal ligament traceable around that root. There's no root canal, you know, chamber, anything, left in that root. That's when you can do a crown amputation for a tooth. You're still going to lay your mucogingival flap like you would normally. You're going to remove as much as of a root that there is, even if there's a little one up at the top, and then do your crown amputation. And then you're going to release a tension-free flap, suture that back into place, just like you would a regular extraction,” Duncan explained to dvm360.

Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, chief veterinary officer, dvm360, taking selfies with attendees during the 2025 Fetch Charlotte conference.

Advances in veterinary oncology: From a melanoma vaccine to genetic testing

To kick off Fetch Charlotte, Phil Bergman, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Oncology), shared some of the recent and relevant advances in veterinary oncology to the attendees, including a new, highly effective drug for nausea and vomiting; a vaccine for melanoma; and a pharmacogenetic test related to ‘white feet don’t treat.’

“...it’s easy for clients to know what overt vomiting is, but if you ask them, ‘Did Fluffy have any nausea over the last 3 weeks?’ invariably, they'll say ‘no.’ But if you actually arm them with what nausea looks like in the dog, then all of a sudden they say, ‘Yes, oh yeah, I do remember Fluffy walked up to the food bowl, kind of licked their lips, walked away—kind of like the waterfalls we have when we're nauseous,” said Bergman during his session.

Chronic kidney disease in cats: Hypokalemia, signs, the exam, and staging

In older cats, one of the most common diseases they face is chronic kidney disease, making it an important thing for veterinary professionals to understand. During his lecture at Fetch Charlotte, Christopher G. Byers, DVM, DACVECC, DACVIM (SAIM), CVJ, provided attendees with a comprehensive lecture on these diseases in feline patients, which included understanding signs of hypokalemia in patients with CKD, the clinical presentation of the disease, and more.

Understanding phobia and anxiety in patients

Christopher Pachel, DVM, DACVB, CABC, owner and lead clinician at the Animal Behavior Clinic in Portland, Oregon, took the stage at Fetch Charlotte to educate attendees with an overview of noise phobia and anxiety in canine patients. Through the article, dvm360 highlighted Pachel’s points on intervention strategies that professionals can use to help mitigate emotional and physical stress of these patients.

“Individual differences in learning history and experiences, socialization, and stimulus exposure context can significantly influence the development of these and other coping strategy variations,” Pachel said to attendees during his lecture. . In helping an animal manage their fear, phobia or anxiety, he noted that “there isn't a one-size-fits-all [solution] here.”

Veterinarian follows a call to dermatology

On day 2 of Fetch Charlotte, Joya Griffin, DVM, DACVD, star of television’s Nat Geo Wild unscripted show 

, shared how one of her first patients and their need for an “extreme makeover” led her down the path of veterinary dermatology. Throughout the lecture, Griffin took attendees on the same journey she went on during her career, begining as a child growing up in Ohio and living across the street from her science teacher, who was also a veterinarian.

“He was really an integral in my life and my development as a young student,” Griffin said. “And then I also had the example of a Black veterinarian in Dayton, Ohio, who we would take our pets to, and they would do our vaccines for us. And that was really kind of a great experience too…Seeing that really allowed me to see the possibility for myself in veterinary medicine, and so my parents supported me, and they pushed me forward.”

Did you miss Fetch Charlotte, or were you there and missed sessions you really wanted to attend? Do not worry, Fetch Charlotte will soon be available on Fetch on Demand! Fetch On-Demand delivers expert-led veterinary continuing education on your schedule. With CE on your own terms, you can access top-tier sessions anytime, anywhere—whether at home, in the clinic, or on the go. 

Now that Fetch Charlotte 2025 has ended, check out this exclusive collection of must see and read videos and interviews 

Fetch Charlotte 2025 wrap up 

Career advancements in the veterinary and animal care fields bring new opportunities for personal growth and the growth of the organizations these professionals serve. As individuals step into new roles, they have the opportunity to help shape the future of the industry with their leadership and expertise.

The following individuals are being spotlighted in this week’s “Paws and profits” column:

Alex Faynberg, FSA, MAAA, executive vice president and head of Healthy Paws

Alex Faynberg, FSA, MAAA. (Photo courtesy of Chubb INA Holdings)

Alex Faynberg, FSA, MAAA, recently assumed the position of executive vice president and head of Healthy Paws—a pet insurance company. With more than 20 years of experience in the insurance industry, Faynberg will be responsible for growing the company’s market presence. In his prior role, Faynberg was the division president of Chubb Workplace Benefits, the company who owns Healthy Paws.

"Alex's deep experience and knowledge in both benefits and insurance will enhance Healthy Paws' mission to help pet owners care for their pets' health," David Lupica, vice president of Chubb Group and president of Westchester, said in a company release.

"His track record and strategic vision makes him the ideal candidate to expand and grow Healthy Paws' business."

Brük Herbst, MBA, CEO, Ellie Diagnostics

Ellie Diagnostics, a veterinary reference laboratory, appointed Brük Herbst, MBA as its new CEO. Herbst has a history in global diagnostics, commercial strategy, and leadership. In his most recent role, herbst was the president of global diagnostics at Covetrus.

"I am honored to join Ellie at such an exciting time in its journey," said Herbst in a news release.

 "Ellie has already established itself as an innovator in the veterinary diagnostics space, and I look forward to working with this talented team to drive strategic growth, strengthen partnerships, and continue delivering exceptional value to our customers."

Sabrina Simmons, MBA, chief financial officer, Petco

Sabrina Simmons, MBA. (Photo courtesy of Petco, The Health + Wellness Co)

Three new leaders have joined Petco’s executive team. Among the new appointees is Sabrina Simmons, who is the company’s new chief financial officer. Simmons has more than 20 years of financial experience at the executive level. In her previous roles, she was the executive vice president and chief financial officer of Gap. Currently, Simmons is part of the Board of Directors of Columbia Sportswear Company and Coursera. Inc.

"I am honored to join Petco as chief financial officer and look forward to working closely with... the leadership team in creating long-term value for our shareholders," said Simmons in a company release.

 "I believe deeply in the company's mission to improve the lives of pets and pet parents and see significant opportunity to strengthen our leadership position in the category."

Michael Romanko. (Photo courtesy of Petco, The Health + Wellness Co)

Michael Romanko, chief customer and product officer, Petco

Petco’s second new appointee is Michael Romanko, who is assuming the role of chief customer and product officer after holding executive-level roles throughout the c-suite for consumer brands. In his new role, Romanko will oversee marketing, customer insights, product development, global sourcing and owned brands. In his previous role, Romanko was the chief merchandising and marketing officer at Five Below.

"Petco has long been an industry leader known for making a difference in its customers' lives," said Romanko.

 "I am excited about what this new role unlocks to elevate the Petco brand, including the opportunity to source new, unique and trendy products while delivering a completely new experience for our customers."

Jack Stout. (Photo courtesy of Petco, The Health + Wellness Co)

Jack Stout, chief merchandising officer, Petco

With more than 20 years of merchandising, planning, category management, and logistics experience in senior roles in the consumer goods industry, Jack Stout has been appointed Petco’s chief merchandising officer. In a previous role, Stout was the executive vice president and chief merchandising officer at 7-Eleven. 

“I am thrilled to be a part of Petco at such a pivotal time for the company as we work to strengthen retail fundamentals and improve our merchandising capabilities," said Stout.

 "There is so much opportunity to build on Petco's strong foundation and I look forward to even deeper partnership with the leadership team as we work to realize our full potential as a best-in-class retailer

Westchester, a Chubb Company, appoints Alex Faynberg head of Healthy Paws Pet Insurance. News release. Chubb INA Holdings. February 27, 2025. Accessed March 20, 2025. https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/westchester-a-chubb-company-appoints-alex-faynberg-head-of-healthy-paws-pet-insurance-302387638.html

Ellie Diagnostics appoints Brük Herbst as chief executive officer. News release. Ellie Diagnostics. February 25, 2025.

Petco strengthens leadership team with appointment of three proven executives. News release. Petco, The Health + Wellness Co. February 18, 2025. Accessed March 20, 2025. https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/petco-strengthens-leadership-team-with-appointment-of-three-proven-executives-302379444.html

New leadership moves at Petco, Ellie Diagnostics, and Healthy Paws