Bringing muscle to the mobility conversation

Skeletal muscle plays a vital yet often overlooked role in canine mobility. More than just structural support, muscles power movement, influence metabolic health, and are key to maintaining quality of life, especially as dogs age. As veterinary care continues to extend life span, the focus must shift toward supporting health span, with muscular health at the center. Emerging innovations like ursolic acid, a naturally derived compound, are redefining the way we approach canine mobility. Shown to improve muscle performance and resilience, it offers a new path forward in mobility management. Although joint support remains an important part of the equation, it’s time to evolve and integrate muscle health as an essential part of a comprehensive mobility strategy.

Understanding canine sarcopenia: More than just aging

Muscle atrophy, particularly age-related sarcopenia, is a common but underdiagnosed condition in aging and recovering dogs. Affected dogs exhibit weakness, reduced stamina, and diminished participation in daily activities. Sarcopenia also has compounding effects: Reduced activity leads to further disuse and worsening muscle degradation.

Muscle atrophy is a prevalent, multifactorial condition in dogs starting as early as 7 to 8 years.

Dogs aged 7 to 12 years may lose 15% to 20% of muscle function.

Sarcopenia contributes to decreased mobility, reduced independence, and poorer outcomes post injury or surgery.

Despite its prevalence, sarcopenia is not addressed with any approved pharmacologic treatment in veterinary medicine. Physical therapy helps, but adherence and accessibility vary. A nutritional or supplement-based approach could revolutionize how we manage and support canine mobility.

Ursolic acid: A muscle-specific bioactive with translational potential

Ursolic acid is a pentacyclic triterpene compound found in fruits and herbs such as apples, basil, rosemary, and sage. Originally studied for its anti-inflammatory and anticatabolic properties, it was identified through gene expression screening as a potent inhibitor of muscle atrophy across species. In dogs, ursolic acid modulates muscle atrophy at the genetic level, influencing mRNA expression to:

Decrease transcripts associated with muscle degradation

Increase transcripts linked to muscle integrity and repair

Improve mitochondrial function and protein synthesis

These molecular effects translate to measurable functional benefits. In a placebo-controlled study with 20 aging dogs, those receiving ursolic acid showed significant increases in exercise participation and improvements in T-maze performance correlated with increased muscular endurance.

Clinical data: What the 60-day study tells us

 in 2024 evaluated a novel dietary supplement featuring 24 mg/day of ursolic acid in senior dogs weighing less than 30 lb with mild to moderate age-related muscle loss. After 60 days, the following was observed.

Ursolic acid significantly reduced mRNA expression of key muscle atrophy markers.

There was increased expression of mRNAs related to exercise tolerance and muscle health.

One hundred percent of dogs with low baseline activity improved their exercise participation. 

T-maze latency significantly decreased, indicating enhanced endurance and coordination.

Even at 5 times the effective dose, no adverse effects were observed in clinical examinations, blood chemistry, complete blood count, or urinalysis panels.

The product in practice: Introducing URSOLYX™ Soft Chews

Virbac’s URSOLYX™ Soft Chews were developed in collaboration with Emmyon, a biotechnology firm specializing in muscle research. Formulated with a proprietary coating to improve bioavailability 4-fold in dogs, these soft chews are: 

With a high safety profile, URSOLYX Soft Chews present an easy, evidence-based tool for veterinary teams to integrate into geriatric, postoperative, and orthopedic protocols.

Veterinary mobility protocols traditionally emphasize joints, but proper functional mobility requires joint 

 muscle health. Emerging data call for a multimodal approach that includes:

Supplements for joint support (eg, MOVOFLEX® Advanced Soft Chews with eggshell membrane) and muscle support (eg, URSOLYX™ Soft Chews with ursolic acid) 

Clinical integration: Protocol suggestions 

Veterinarians can consider URSOLYX™ Soft Chews in cases of:

: Start URSOLYX™ Soft Chews at least 4 weeks before a major orthopedic surgery to support muscle reserves.

Science with muscle: The future is functional 

As veterinary professionals, we strive to provide the best quality of life for our patients. With innovations like URSOLYX™ Soft Chews, we can move beyond simply maintaining joint health. We can restore muscle strength and promote functional independence, possibly extending the health span of our patients.

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. 

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

Additional references available upon request.

Articles

Targeting muscle at the molecular level: How ursolic acid is redefining canine mobility support 

In its “Case of the Month,” the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) highlighted the case of a newborn foal, named Quincy, who presented with a broken jaw. Later X-rays showed that the foal had completely displaced fractures of both of her mandibles, which had left her unable to nurse, according to UC Davis.

Quincy was taken to UC Davis after her breeder, Amanda Johnson, owner of Johnson Livestock—a boutique American Quarter Horse breeding facility in Gilroy, California—found Quincy, then 5 days old, in the barn with a bloody jaw hanging out of place. Quincy’s veterinarian, who was out of town, recommended Johnson take Quincy to UC Davis.

“She was out of town but took the time to discuss the situation with me,” said Johnson in a UC Davis report.

“She suggested I take Quincy to UC Davis. They would have the latest techniques to fix the jaw and give Quincy the best outlook for her future as a performance horse.”

X-rays showing Quincy's broken jaw. (Images courtesy of UC Davis)

Quincy was admitted to the Equine Internal Medicine Service after arriving at UC Davis’ William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. Despite the fractures in her mandibles, Quincy appeared alert, responsive, and in good health, according to UC Davis.

 Due to Quincy’s inability to nurse because of her fractured jaw, the team at UC Davis placed a nasogastric tube for feeding. At the hospital, Sandra Valdez, DVM, DACVS, DABVP (Equine), faculty of UC Davis, manually reduced the fractures and applied a bandage to the wound to provide short-term stabilization until Quincy was admitted to surgery.

Once cleared for surgery, the team with the Diagnostic Imaging and Anesthesia Services performed a CT scan to classify the fracture and help guide surgical planning. 

After the team talked to Johnson, it was decided that they would stabilize Quincy's fractures with external fixators. Her fractures were then reduced by Scott Katzman, DVM, DACVS-LA, associate professor and chief of service alongside Bridget Ratliff, DVM, with David Orozco-Lopez, DVM—both UC Davis surgery residents. Moreover, locking compression plates were placed on the exterior of Quincy’s face. Accurate fracture reduction and proper placement of the external implants were consequently confirmed with intraoperative fluoroscopy.

The external fixators placed to stabilize Quincy's jaw. 

According to UC Davis, Quincy recovered smoothly from anesthesia and was able to resume nursing just one day following surgery.

 She remained hospitalized for one week, after which she was discharged and continued recovery at home.

X-rays taken at 2 recheck visits confirmed that she was healing properly. Five weeks post-surgery, the fixators were removed. The injury occurred in late February, and Johnson has since reported that Quincy’s recovery is complete.

According to UC Davis, Johnson started Johnson Livestock by acquiring mares from a Wyoming ranch that had earned the American Quarter Horse Association’s prestigious Best Remuda Award. The award recognizes ranches that raise outstanding American Quarter Horses and is the oldest and most distinguished ranching award.

Quincy’s mother, Buckin Bay Rose, is a 12-year-old mare by Playboys Buck Fever—a 1999 buckskin stallion that earned the title of National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA) Supreme Reined Cow Horse. Her father, or sire, is Call Me Mitch, is the second highest earning horse in the NRCHA’s history.

Warren R. Surgeons repair newborn foal’s broken jaw. University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. May 28, 2025. Accessed June 3, 2025. 

https://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/news/surgeons-repair-newborn-foals-broken-jaw#:~:text=UC%20Davis%20equine%20surgeons%20placed,Katzman%20and%20surgery%20residents%20Drs

The filly was 5 days old when she was found with a bloody jaw hanging out of place

Newborn foal undergoes surgery to repair fractured mandibles

Join Aaron Shaw, OTR/L, CHT, CSCS, as he demonstrates a quick exercise to help prevent back injuries

Wellness Tip of the Week: Protecting your spine

Last week, Shaw shared advice on setting boundaries at work to support a healthy and long career. The full video can be accessed 

This week, healthspan coach Aaron Shaw, OTR/L, CHT, CSCS, discusses the importance of finding and engaging one’s core muscles to help support the spine during movement in veterinary settings. In the video, Shaw demonstrates a quick exercise that can help decrease the risk of back injury when bending over or lifting something up.

Below is the video transcript, which has been lightly edited for improved clarity:

Welcome to the Tip of the Week with Coach Aaron Shaw—and Eddie. Today, we are going to find our core. Now, what is the core? I hear that all the time, and it's important with ergonomics and body mechanics, we need to find the muscles that surround our spine to give our spine some support when we're doing all this lifting, pushing, pulling, moving around, taking care of our patients.

It's a simple way to find our core. First, what I want you to do, take a deep breath, relax a little bit.

Second thing I want you to do—you do this from standing—I want you to think about standing up as nice and tall, like there's a string that’s coming from the top of your head. It's pulling you up, elongating your spine.

From here, what I want you to think about doing is taking your belly button and just gently pulling it in towards your spine a little bit. You're not trying to really crunch down on your abs or anything like that, it's just a little bit of tension.

So you're up nice and tall, pulling in your abdominals, your belly button just a little bit. You should still be able to breathe just fine. If you can't breathe, you're going too hard. So, it's just pulling it in, just a little tiny bit, keep that there.

So, what you're doing with just this light core engagement is you are activating the muscles that surround your spine. Now, if you can do this intermittently, practice doing this, holding that contraction, that light contraction, even just for 5 seconds, then relax. Do that several times throughout the day. Maybe practice holding it a little bit longer—not more intense, just a little bit longer duration—you're going to start to really program your brain to know where your core is and then when you go into doing an activity where you need to bend over, lift something up, pick something up, push or pull something, think about that; think about pulling that belly button in just a little bit, keeping your spine elongated.

And what you are doing is decreasing your risk for back injury. So, it's safety first, protect your spine, find your core and give it some practice.

Videos

Join Aaron Shaw, OTR/L, CHT, CSCS, in this video as he demonstrates a quick exercise to help prevent back injuries

Synchrony has officially released its 2025 Pet Lifetime of Care Study, which works to provide clients more information on how much owning a pet could cost as well as ways owners can be better financially prepared. Since originally being conducted in 2022, the study surveyed almost 5000 dog and cat owners in the United States, but, for the first time, included hamster, guinea pig, rabbit, and other pet owners.

The research, conducted on behalf of CareCredit, Synchrony’s pet and veterinary financial solution, was to build more awareness for the cost of caring for a pet and how to help clients be more financially prepared. The findings showed a gap between the perceived and actual costs of care. Seventy-four pet owners who participated in the study disclosed they faced unexpected pet care costs over $250, with only 31% admitting they can comfortably manage a major pet expense.

"The best asset you can give your pet is their health. The profound bond we have with them drives us to prioritize their health and happiness," expressed Courtney Campbell, DVM, DACVS-SA, founder of Stitches Veterinary Surgery, in an organizational release.

 "Preventive care is the bedrock of a vibrant life. If we can prevent costly emergencies before they start, we can help ensure a lifetime of joy and comfort for our multispecies family members."

Some trends from the study compared with the study in 2022 include:

For dogs over 15 years, the cost rose from $21,125 to $60,602.

For cats over 15 years, the cost rose from $20,073 to $47,106.

For small companion animal expenses, based on a 6-year life span, the cost rose from $7600 to $14,938.

Besides normal costs of care, unexpected bills can cause some concerns for pet parents, another trend that is on the rise since the 2022 study. In 2022, 1 in 3 pet owners had financial worries related to expenses, and now nearly 1 in 2 worry in 2025.

 With this rise in concern also came an increase in wanting financial solutions such as pet insurance and credit cards. The survey found that of the participants, 58% have used a credit card for care, but only 20% had a dedicated savings or insurance for pet owners.

"Pets enrich our lives in countless ways, and it's natural for pet owners to want to provide them with the best possible care. Our research shows that while 60% of dog owners, 61% of cat owners, and 59% of 'pocket-pet' owners see them as family, many are unaware of the true financial commitment,” said Jonathan Wainberg, MBA, senior vice president and general manager, Pet, Synchrony.

"At CareCredit we're committed to bridging this gap and empowering pet owners by offering financing solutions that help them to focus on providing the best possible lifetime of care for their beloved companions," he concluded.

Anyone interested in reading the full study can visit the 2025 Pet Lifeline of Care website.

A new synchrony study found that nearly 8 out of 10 pet owners underestimate the cost of care, reaching up to $61,000 during a pet's lifetime. News release. Synchrony. June 2, 2025. Accessed June 3, 2025. 

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-synchrony-study-finds-nearly-8-out-of-10-pet-owners-underestimate-the-cost-of-care-reaching-up-to-61-000-during-a-pets-lifetime-302470666.html

The 2025 Pet Lifetime of Care Study aims to create awareness for the costs of owning a pet 

Study finds most clients underestimate lifetime pet care costs

New veterinary TV show rides with an animal ambulance team

The veterinary team at Ready Vet Go, a mobile veterinary urgent care clinic and pet ambulance in Melbourne, are set to star in an 8-part television series to be aired on Channel 9 Gem. The television program will highlight the team’s emergency response work in the community where they provide veterinary medical care to pets at home.

“The series will give viewers a behind-the-scenes look at a day in our shoes and scrubs as we treat the pets of Melbourne and provide clinical support to pets and referring vets who need help with transporting their animals from hospital to hospital,” explained Paul Cunningham, DVM, MANZCVS (ECC), the co-founder and chief veterinarian of Ready Vet Go, to 

A member of the Ready Vet Go team filming scene from the television series (image courtesy of Ready Vet Go) 

“The program follows our pet patients as we provide critical care, stabilization and paramedicine support, and also the palliative care and humane euthanasia aspect of our service which we are fortunate to be able to provide to pets at their homes.”

Cunningham works in both a clinical and managerial role at Ready Vet Go, alongside his partner and co-founder Nic Saunders, BN/BP. Saunders brought a wealth of knowledge from the human paramedic world where he previously worked, which helped to form the foundation of Ready Vet Go’s veterinary ambulance service in line with current evidence-based human paramedic practices.

It was whilst the duo was working out on the road that they were approached by a local television producer interested to create a factual reality show that would highlight the varied day-to-day work of their service.

“Filming a television show is hard work, especially when doing so with particularly sensitive situations like critical emergencies and emotional pet owners. There are a lot of logistical considerations when shooting footage from within an ambulance or in a pet owner's home,” said Cunningham.

“Ultimately, we were surprised at how often pet owners were enthusiastic about showcasing the particular situation that their pet was dealing with, and viewers will get to see both gut-wrenching and heart-warming moments with the different cases that are featured on the show.”

The television series will be narrated by Yvie Jones, well-known from television programs

 House of Wellness, I'm A Celebrity Australia

“We've met many incredible veterinarians and veterinary nurses during the filming of the television show, and we’re looking forward to a second series where we will be able to highlight our growing team and the great partnerships we've formed with the veterinary care providers of Melbourne,” Cunningham concluded.

A scene from the television series showing the Ready Vet Go team in action

The Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) is holding a raft of member consultation sessions as part of their AVA Transition Project – a strategic approach to making the AVA simpler to engage with, more inclusive, and better aligned with the needs of a modern veterinary profession.

Through the transition project, the AVA will deliver a new all-inclusive membership model, incorporating a reduced membership cost with free access to all special interest groups. There will also be streamlined membership categories to reflect different career stages, work situations and level of involvement.

The AVA will also revamp its website and communications, strengthen the impact of its various branches and special interest groups, and align the organization’s constitution with its future direction.

The VetYogi Collective which provides on-demand and live yoga, meditation, and mindfulness sessions to support veterinary teams in the United Kingdom, Australia and globally, has released its own market research which shows that veterinary professionals highly value workplace wellness initiatives, with many seeking out employers who prioritize wellbeing.

Detailing how yoga, meditation, and mindfulness have been widely recognized as effective tools for reducing stress and enhancing overall wellbeing, the VetYogi Collective highlighted how integrating these practices into veterinary practices offers a holistic and accessible approach to managing the unique stressors of veterinary work – with benefits for veterinary teams, businesses – and ultimately clients and patients.

The 2024 edition of the Animal Health in Australia (AHiA) report, an annual report highlighting updates and innovations of Australia’s animal health system, was published by Animal Health Australia. The report is developed in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, and forms part of Australia’s official submission to the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), showcasing Australia’s favorable animal health status on the world stage.

At their recent annual General Session gathering in Paris, WOAH also launched its inaugural State of the World’s Animal Health Report 2025, which highlights the positive impact of vaccination on a selection of key important animal diseases and challenges – including avian influenza, brucellosis, foot-and-mouth disease, lumpy skin disease, rabies, peste des petits ruminants, and antimicrobial resistance.

Cover of The state of the world's animal health (image courtesy of Phil Tucak, BSc, BVMS)

The report provides a data-driven overview of global animal health, using WOAH’s core data systems to highlight trends, challenges and opportunities, promoting transparency and coordinated action. It also features animal health case studies from across the globe, detailing both challenges and successes. Two Australian veterinarians, Shyuan Seah, BSc, BVMS and the author of this article, were part of the team who wrote the flagship report located on the WOAH website.

Updates on the new veterinary television series which will follow a mobile veterinary urgent care clinic and pet ambulance team; and more veterinary news snippets.  

Veterinary scene down under: Animal ambulance team to star in limited series, plus Animal Health Australia releases annual report

Happy Monday dvm360 readers! For those of you that attended Fetch Nashville, we hope you had as much fun as we did! We also want to give a special thank you to all of our amazing Fetch faculty and fellow dvm360 staff members. None of it could be done without all of you and we are grateful for your hard work and dedication. If you were unable to make the conference, our coverage of the event is still ongoing so make sure you tune in throughout the week to check out session recaps, interviews with faculty, and more!

As you catch up from Fetch Nashville, be sure to look out for these articles, interviews, and podcast episodes coming to dvm360.com this week:

Phil Tucak, Bsc, BVMS, returns to dvm360.com for his latest installment of The Vet Scene Down Under. This month, Tucak discusses updates on a new television show that will feature a veterinary ambulance team, plus other news.

In an interview with dvm360 highlighting what he spoke about at Fetch Nashville, Benjamin Bergstrom, DVM, MS, DACVO, will explain how to differentiate nuclear sclerosis from early cataracts during an ophthalmic exam.

Christian Capobianco, DVM, CertAqV, CVA, joins this week’s episode of The Vet Blast Podcast to talk with our host Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, about what it is like to be a zoo veterinarian.

Synchrony’s recently announced that its 2025 Pet Lifetime Care study is now available! The study shared its key findings, including that nearly 8 out of 10 pet owners underestimate the cost of care for their pet, which can be up to $61,000 during their pet’s lifetime, and more.

Meals on Wheels American and Pet Smart Charities announced that they have distributed its 15 millionth pet meal as part of its initiative to provide meals to homebound seniors and their pets food across the US.

Sneak peek: dvm360 continues Fetch Nashville coverage, and other news 
