This Week in Animal Health: Wedgewood Pharmacy Compounded Medication Recall
Animal Health News and Notes · October 23, 2026
Editor: Christine Merle DVM, MBA, CVPM
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Earnings News
- Nestle released its third quarter sales of CHF 22.B (US$27.8) in 2026 with its Petcare category leading the growth at 5.3%, noting especially strong performance in cat. (company press release)
- Virbac released its 2026 Third quarter sales with a 7.9% growth (at constant exchange rate and scope) year to date versus prior year. Growth was seen in both companion animals 8.8% and farm animal 7%. (company press release)
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Brakke Search
Animal Health Hiring Market: We Want to Hear From You!
With unemployment rising, company restructuring, decreasing positions, and increasing job seekers, Brakke Search wants to hear about your experience in today’s market.
Help us understand current employment trends, hiring challenges, and opportunities by completing our short hiring survey.
As a thank-you for participating, the first 50 respondents will be entered into a drawing to win either a free job posting on Animal Health Jobs or complimentary admission to Brakke Consulting’s Industry Overview presentation at VMX or WVC.
Survey Deadline: October 30, 2026
Winners Notified: November 2, 2026
All survey responses will remain anonymous and contact information will not be shared. Results will be featured in upcoming blogs, webinars, and white papers through Animal Health Jobs and the Brakke Consulting Newsletter.
TAKE THE HIRING SURVEY TODAY!
Your perspective matters. Help us better understand the changing animal health employment landscape!
For questions, contact Jeff Santosuosso at Brakke Consulting.
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US Company News
- Zoetis received approval from the FDA for Convenia RTU for Dogs (cefovecin injectable suspension) a ready-to-use treatment for canine skin infections. (company press release)
- Elanco Animal Health announced the appointment of Jamie Preston, previously at Eli Lilly and Company, as Executive Vice President and Chief People officer succeeding Dave Kinard who will retire. (company press release)
- Antech announced the publication of a peer reviewed head-to-head study of Antech’s Accuplex test against IDEXX SNAP 4DX Plus. (company press release)
- Familiar Therapeutic, a biotech company bring medicines first developed for people to dogs and cats, launched with $5M in seed funding round led by Pioneer Fund, Icehouse Ventures and BreakTHRU. (company press release)
- Wedgewood Pharmacy issued a recall of compounded veterinary medications due to inconsistencies in the reliability of certain analytical testing data generated by their laboratory. (company press release)
- Kemin Industries’ KemTRACE Chromium received approval from the FDA to use in broiler breeder chickens and laying hen diets. (avinews.com)
- CatsOnly announced that they have earned Cat Friendly Practice Gold designation for its flagship hospital. (company press release)
- Penn Foster, a provider of online, career-focused education, released a report that showed expanding veterinary technicians’ role to include having them conduct independent technician-led visits could improve access and affordable veterinary care. (press release)
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International Company News
- CA – Odocova Health presented data on their multi-year study of its lead bioactive, MHCR-1, showing that it mimicked the benefits of calorie restriction in dogs without reducing feed intake at the Animal Longevity Summit 2026 in October. (nutritioninsight.com)
- CH – dsm-firmenich announced the two standalone companies, Noviwest and Panvora, that will result from the sale of the Animal Nutrition and Health Business to CVC Capital. (company press release)
- DE – Boehringer Ingelheim and Microsoft announced a strategic AI collaboration to bring safe and effective therapies to patients sooner as well as projects in Animal Health, business processes and technology infrastructure. (company press release)
- UK – ValiRx, a life science company, launched ValiRx Animal Health, a dedicated company to development of oncology therapeutics for companion animals. (company press release)
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Animal Health Jobs
Make Your Voice Heard!
Help us understand the future of our animal health industry by sharing your thoughts, attitudes, career experiences, and industry trends by participating in the 4th Annual Animal Health & Nutrition Industry Attitude Survey! The survey takes just a few minutes, and all responses are confidential.
Plus, you could win! The first 100 respondents will be entered into a drawing for one of ten $20 Amazon eGift cards!
Survey Deadline: October 31, 2026
Winners Notified: November 3, 2026
Survey results will be featured in an industry white paper published in November.
For questions, contact Amanda McDavid at amcdavid@brakkeconsulting.com
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Animal Health Industry News
- US – NEW WORLD SCREWWORM UPDATE- Additional cases in the US have been confirmed including the first is wildlife in an elk in Texas, active cases as of 10.21.26 remain in single digits across two states Texas and New Mexico. Port openings continue as planned.
- US – Washington State University obtained a federal grant up to $40M to lead the Feed the Future Animal Health Innovation Lab, an international effort to expand US livestock technologies and improve animal health and food security in Africa. (University press release)
- US – The Veterinary Infection Prevention and Control Committee of the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians released an updated version of the Compendium of Zoonotic Disease Infection Prevention and Control in Veterinary Personnel. (aaha.org)
- US/CA – A recent published study of feline fecal samples revealed that 6.3% tested positive for Giardia duodenalis and of those 18.5% were positive for potential transmission to humans. (myvetcandy.com)
- FR – France reported the first human case of Shamonda virus which is usually found in livestock. (reuters.com)
- NL – A southern ground hornbill at the Artis Zoo in Amsterdam, Netherlands became the first to have two 3D-printed beak prosthetics. (nypost.com)
- UAE – The Emirates Drug Establishment announced that it will ban the use of ciprofloxacin in its veterinary sector starting November 1, 2026. (gulfbusiness.com)
- UK – The Association of Microchip Database Operators launched a Single Point of Search microchip portal which allows veterinary practices free access to microchip details including pet and keeper details from five of 20 separate national microchipping databases with more to be added. (bva.co.uk)
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Brakke Viewpoint
Understanding and coping with risk starts early in our lives from the first time we ride a bicycle without training wheels, to building up the nerve to ask that girl out. The multitude of early life experiences frames how we process and deal with risk when we enter the business world.
When it comes to risk management in business, it is interesting to see how it plays out in the day-to-day operations. ‘Risk is the seed of change’ Can you imagine the ‘hand ringing’ in Zoetis years ago investing in a new technology called ‘biological therapeutic agents’, an unknown in veterinary medicine at that time? Now we have multi-billion-dollar markets as a result! What a risky move, one might say…
In companies that have a high-risk tolerance, chances are if the business case is sound, and the risks are identified clearly and well thought out, risk is rewarded by backing the play. These companies have some catastrophic failures but also game-changing successes.
In low-risk tolerant companies, you go through multiple reviews and presentations, and the audience stares at each other until a ‘consensus’ is formed. Or they wait till the CEO gives a thumbs up or thumbs down. And some of those companies may eventually disappear.
In my view, those companies that embrace a high-risk tolerance with a robust discipline around the management of risk are the ones that are the most successful and the most sustainable. How is it in your company?
Paul Casady
Senior Consultant
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Your View
Last week we asked how your company has responded to higher costs like diesel. 35% of respondents have absorbed the higher costs reducing profitability, another 17% have each equally raised prices or have reduced other costs to make up for fuel costs, while 10% have passed on a temporary surcharge. The remaining respondents are either waiting to pass along the cost next year or aren’t affected by higher energy costs.
This week Paul shared his belief that high-risk tolerance combined with disciplined risk management results in sustainable and successful companies.
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