This Week in Animal Healh: Chewy to Purchase Modern Animal

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Brakke Consulting’s 
Animal Health News & Notes for April 10, 2026
Copyright © Brakke Consulting
Editor: Christine Merle DVM, MBA, CVPM 
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IN THE NEWS:
Brakke Consulting
Fear Free is Hiring!
Newsletter Feedback Survey

Earning News
ImmuCell
Neogen

Company News
Boehringer Ingelheim
Boehringer Ingelheim (EC)
Bimeda Animal Health
Chewy
CoVet
Cyanotech Corporation
Dechra (UK)
Elanco
Fevara
Founders Fund
Global Eggs
Halter
Modern Animal
Pearl Valley Farms
Pet Pax Co.
Purina’s 9square Ventures
Zivo Bioscience
Zoetis (Dairy)
Zoetis (Equine)

Animal Health News
Global
Canada
China
United Kingdom
United States

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Brakke Consulting
A Note From Our Editor

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Company Earnings Releases

• ImmuCellannounced its preliminary, unaudited first quarter of 2026 sales result of $10.4M, a 28.4% increase versus prior year. (company press release)
• Neogen reported its third quarter fiscal year 2026 financial result with revenue of $211.2M and a 9-month revenue of $645.1M, a 3.6% decrease over previous year. The previously announced sale of its global genomics business to Zoetis is expected to close by the end of second quarter fiscal year 2027. (company press release)

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Animal Health Jobs
 Fear Free is Hiring

Fear Free® didn’t just change the veterinary visit, it transformed the industry by putting emotional wellbeing at the center of care. Now we’re looking for a visionary Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) to guide us into our next chapter.

As a remote, U.S.-based leader reporting to the CEO, the CVO will lead clinical strategy and serve as a key member of the Fear Free Leadership Team. This role connects veterinary science with real-world application, partnering with internal teams, industry experts, and animal care professionals to expand education, adoption, and impact.

If you are a DVM/VMD who brings both strategic leadership and a genuine passion for improving animal welfare and is committed to influencing the future of care and driving meaningful impact on a global scale, we want to hear from you.

To learn more about this role, click here.

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Company News Releases

• Chewyannounced that it will acquire Modern Animal, a 29 clinic, 100,000 membership model veterinary platform, expanding Chewy Vet Care’s footprint when the deal closes in second quarter of 2026. (company press release)
• Boehringer Ingelheim’sAnimal Health manufacturing and research and development site in Athens, Georgia received Carbon Neutral Certification. (company press release)
• Elancoannounced the launch of Advantage Collar for Dogs, an over-the- counter product providing 4 months of protection from fleas, ticks and mosquitoes. (company press release)
• Horses for Mental Healthannounced its continued partnership with Zoetis as the Title Sponsor for its 2026 campaign. (com)
• The FDA approved Gastrobim, the first generic omeprazole for gastric ulcers in horses, sponsored by Bimeda Animal Health. (gov)
• The 2026 Pet Care Innovation Prize, sponsored by Purina’s 9Square Ventures group, went to Pet Pax Co, a Boston based company who created SupplaMelts, a proprietary, dissolving oral thin-film delivery method for supplements. (com)
• CoVetannounced that it has achieved ISO 27001 certification, the leading international standard for Information Security Management Systems. (com)
• Zoetisannounced the launch of CLARIFIDE Plus with additional genetic traits and updates to its Dairy Wellness Profit Index. (company press release)
• Fevara,an international specialist in livestock supplements, has acquired a production facility in Brazil, strengthening their presence in the Brazilian livestock market. (com)
• Halter, a New Zealand startup providing solar-powered collars to manage virtual fencing for cattle, received $220M investment from Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund. (ai)
• Global Eggs, a global egg producer and distributor, has acquired Pearl Valley Farms, a family-owned portfolio of eight brands across shell eggs, egg products and fertilizer. (com)
• Zivo Bioscienceannounced a manufacturing agreement with Cyanotech Corporation for production of its algal biomass for its Zivolife product line. (com)
• EC- Boehringer Ingelheimannounced its support to Ecuador’s commitment to eliminate dog-mediated rabies by 2030 through close collaboration with its Stop Rabies program. (company press release)
• UK- Dechra launched a new Specific Heart & Kidney Support Hydrolyzed dry diet for dogs and cats. (org)

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Animal Health Stock Price Tracker

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Animal Health News

• US- MEDETOMIDINE- The CDC released a Health Advisory regarding detection of medetomidine (known as “rhino tranq’, ‘mede’ or ‘dex’) in the illegal drug supply. (gov)
• US- ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY- The University received a letter of “reasonable assurance” from the AVMA Council on Education and is recruiting for its first class of students this fall. (edu)
• US- NAAVR- The North America Association of Veterinary Receptionists has named Judy Rose Lanier as the executive director. (organization press release)
• US- INCREASING URINARY TRACT STONE- The Minnesota Urolith Center have seen and increase in a rare urinary stone type in dogs, calcium tartrate tetrahydrate, which could be associated with choline bitartrate- a source of choline commonly used in commercial fresh and homemade food for dogs. (vin.com)
• US- UPDATED PLAYBOOK- The USDA released an updated New World Screwworm response playbook, designed to support coordinated, science- based action. (press release)
• US- DRUG TARIFF- A Proclamation by President Trump to impose a 100% tariff on brand-name, patented pharmaceutical products and ingredients exempts animal health drugs. (com)
• GLOBAL- ONE HEALTH SUMMIT- The World Health Organization and its partners brought together global leaders in France for the “One Health Summit” with the intent to turn the One Health approach into action.  Four major actions were outlined as a result of the summit. (organization press release)
• CA- LIVESTOCK VETERINARY SHORTAGE- In the hope of recruiting a veterinarian to rural Alberta, a veterinary clinic founded by local towns and the county was opened. (ca)
• CN- An outbreak of foot-and- mouth disease has been reported in China near the Russian border. (com)
• UK- CREATURECONNECT- A research study from the University of Glasgow featured how technology can enable cross-species experiences using a CreatureConnect ‘system. (university press release)

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Brakke Consulting Viewpoint
How would you rate the state of the industry? Up-due to increased pet populations, overall pet spending and recent strength in some livestock trends. Down- due to decreased veterinary visits, consumer-based pricing concerns, and consolidation leading to job losses.  Lots of mixed signals.

One area that seems to be growing is an explosion of industry groups. There are now associations related to therapeutic categories, groups related to women in the industry, those serving hospitals from accountants and architects to software providers and HR professionals. Undoubtedly, efforts to attract interest from outside the industry’s traditional core are paying off.

We’ve also seen a realignment of conference activity. While some local conferences have shrunk or disappeared, others have emerged. One incomplete list notes about 40 veterinary clinic focused conferences this year alone. And that doesn’t include livestock-related conferences or those focused on the ancillary areas supporting the broader animal health industry.

One that is coming soon is the August Nashville conference organized by Viticus Group, the company behind the Western Veterinary Conference in Las Vegas. What’s motivating this bold move? Is it addressing an unmet need?  Will a central US location later in the year offer an attractive option?  We at Brakke are curious to see the attendance and energy that this debut conference brings.

Jeff Santosuosso
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Your View 
Last week we asked you who you thought would win the men’s and women’s NCAA Basketball Championships. Congratulations to the TWO respondents that correctly choose both the men- Michigan and the women- UCLA.

Here are the rest of the results.

In Jeff’s viewpoint he discussed the WVC Nashville conference’s debut this August, so we want to know your plans to attend.