Next week, a BluePearl hospital in California will be relocating to a larger facility. Moreover, last month, a specialty and emergency center in Georgia was purchased by a veterinary management and operations company, with the property being acquired by a real estate group specializing in veterinary properties. Meanwhile, in Oregon, a veterinary referral center has expanded its treatment offerings to include extracorporeal therapies.

Continue reading to learn more about these expansions and updates.

BluePearl Monterey Pet Hospital (Monterey, California)

BluePearl Monterey new location. (Image courtesy of BluePearl Pet Hospital)

A BluePearl Pet Hospital in Monterey, California, will be relocating to a new location in the same city on September 9, according to a recent announcement by the veterinary care provider. Currently, BluePearl operates the only 24-hour emergency veterinary hospital in the local community.

The relocation will allow the hospital to expand from 8000 to 15,000 sq ft and will contain a new computed tomography machine, among other equipment. Current BluePearl Monterey staff members will transition to the new location, and the company noted that additional positions are open.

“Our new hospital will allow us to provide industry leading specialty and emergency veterinary care to more pets in the Monterey area,” Bill Sullenberger, DVM, a specialist in emergency medicine at BluePearl, Monterey, said in the announcement.

 “We are delighted to continue providing the local community with 24-hour emergency veterinary care. We want all pet owners in the local area to know, if and when you need us, no matter the time or day, we are here, and our passionate team is ready to help.”

Dogwood Veterinary Specialty & Emergency (Marietta, Georgia)

Last month, Dogwood Veterinary Specialty & Emergency in Marietta, Georgia was sold in a dual transaction, with Terravet Real Estate Solutions purchasing the property for $3.33 million and Texas-based veterinary management and operations company, Innovetive Petcare, acquiring the practice. In the Marietta area, Dogwood is the only 24/7 emergency veterinary hospital.

According to Terravet, the transaction was a sign-and-close deal.

 The 12,726 sq ft building consists of 17 full-time veterinarians and a total of 70 staff members.

“Facilities like Dogwood play a critical role in their communities by providing the specialized expertise and round-the-clock availability that pet owners depend on during emergencies,” Daniel Eisenstadt, CEO of Terravet Real Estate Solutions, said in a company news release.

 “Expanding our partnership with Innovetive reinforces our commitment to supporting practices that deliver this level of essential care.”

Veterinary Referral Center of Central Oregon (Bend, Oregon)

In veterinary medicine, therapeutic plasma exchange is used to remove toxins from a pet’s plasma, which is then replaced with donor plasma. The therapy is especially useful for treating severe immune-mediated conditions.

 Meanwhile, hemoperfusion filters blood via a cartridge that contains activated charcoal or other materials that absorb toxins.

 Hemodialysis also filters blood, removing waste, toxins, and excess fluids when the kidneys are not functioning properly.

The Veterinary Referral Center of Central Oregon (VRCCO) is expanding its services with the addition of extracorporeal therapies. These new treatments include hemodialysis, therapeutic plasma exchange, and hemoperfusion. According to VRCCO, the facility uses the same dialysis machines used in human medicine.

In a news release announcing their addition of these therapies, VRCCO said it was “honored to be among the few facilities in the US” to offer these treatments that offer hope to patients with certain kidney conditions, immune-mediated diseases, and life-threatening toxicities.

“The Veterinary Referral Center's board-certified specialists encourage pet parents and referring veterinarians to consult with them to determine whether these therapies are appropriate for individual cases,” wrote VRCCO in the news release.

BluePearl Pet Hospital opens new location in Monterey. News release. BluePearl Pet Hospital. August 26, 2025. Accessed September 2, 2025. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/08/26/3139349/0/en/BluePearl-Pet-Hospital-Opens-New-Location-in-Monterey.html

Terravet Real Estate Solutions acquires $3.33 million specialty emergency hospital in partnership with Innovetive in Marietta, Georgia. News release. Terravet Real Estate Solutions. August 7, 2025. Accessed September 2, 2025. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250807606199/en/Terravet-Real-Estate-Solutions-Acquires-%243.33-Million-Specialty-Emergency-Hospital-in-Partnership-with-Innovetive-in-Marietta-Georgia

Veterinary Referral Center of Central Oregon expands life-saving treatment options with extracorporeal therapies. News release. Veterinary Referral Center of Central Oregon. August 12, 2025. Accessed September 3, 2025. https://www.newswire.com/news/veterinary-referral-center-of-central-oregon-expands-life-saving-22621476

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The latest updates relating to animal care establishments and platforms.

Clinic center: BluePearl Pet Hospital in California to relocate, & more

A new awards program for veterinary technicians has been launched. The annual PRN Veterinary Technician Awards recognizes and financially supports remarkable veterinary technicians for their contribution to veterinary medicine.

The award program was created by Pegasus Laboratories, a pharmaceutical based in Pensacola, Florida that develops and manufactures animal health products for chronic conditions in cats, dogs, and horses. The company markets its products under the PRN Pharmacal brand.

“Vet techs play a vital and often underrecognized role in the health and well-being of animals, as well as in the efficient operation of clinics. They bring a diverse set of skills and understanding to every aspect of their work, providing essential nursing care and technical support to their patients,” wrote Pegasus in a news release.

 “Bridging the gap between veterinarians and pet owners, vet techs help communicate care plans and support emotional connections during challenging times. Their contributions are an integral part of the veterinary industry.”

The company said they launched the award to celebrate and honor veterinary technicians who represent professionalism, resourcefulness, and necessity (PRN) in their work.

 Award recipients will also receive financial support that can be used for continuing education, certification, attending conferences, or other career development opportunities. Credentialed technicians working in the animal healthcare industry in veterinary hospitals, shelters, and clinics will be eligible for the award.

Fetch shines the spotlight on 2025 Veterinary Heroes

Peers and supervisors can nominate a technician through an online nomination form. The program also allows technicians to nominate themselves. A $500 Visa gift card will be awarded to one recipient at each of 8 major veterinary trade shows across the United States throughout 2026.

Selected winners do not need to attend the trade shows to receive the award but those who wish to accept it in person will be contacted to confirm attendance.

"At PRN Pharmacal, we are proud to launch this awards program to honor the work vet techs do every day," Keith McGriskin, vice president of marketing at Pegasus, said in the release.

 "Vet techs are the unsung heroes of the veterinary world, providing expert care that keeps clinics running and pets healthy. Through this program, we want to highlight their dedication and bring awareness to the role they play in the lives of animals, pet owners, and the entire veterinary community."

PRN Pharmacal announces veterinary technician awards program to honor exceptional care. News release. Pegasus Laboratories/PRN Pharmaceutical. September 2, 2025. Accessed September 2, 2025. https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/prn-pharmacal-announces-veterinary-technician-awards-program-to-honor-exceptional-care-302542421.html

The PRN® Pharmacal Veterinary Technician Awards. PRN Pharmacal. Accessed September 2, 2025. https://www.prnpharmacal.com/VTA/

The annual PRN Veterinary Technician Awards will honor credentialed technicians who embody professionalism, resourcefulness, and necessity.

New veterinary technician awards program launched

The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) announced the release of its "2025 AAHA One Health Guidelines: Navigating Cross-Disciplinary Partnerships." These guidelines are a historic milestone because they are the first set of guidelines to bring human and veterinary medical professionals together to create a road map for collaboration.

According to an organizational release, this is the first time AAHA has assembled a task force of experts from public health, human medicine, and veterinary medicine to address communication barriers and create strategies that can benefit patients and families by considering pets and humans as a family unit. These new guidelines also address critical needs for veterinary and human medical teams to work side by side in a holistic, family-based approach to health care.

“The highest quality care—for individuals, families, communities, and our shared environments—depends on true interprofessional collaboration. Yet, despite this widely accepted principle, one of the most enduring gaps exists between human and veterinary medicine. The AAHA One Health guidelines aim to bridge that divide, offering both inspiration and direction to support a more connected, effective, and comprehensive model of care,” Brian Sick, MD, MHA, FACP, FNAP, cochair of the AAHA One Health Guidelines, said in the release.

The guidelines give health care professionals practical solutions for scenarios that commonly intersect animal and human health, such as zoonotic diseases, mental health issues, disability accommodations, and family welfare concerns.

Key components of the guidelines include the following

Clear criteria for determining when cases require a One Health approach

Standardized terms and definitions to establish a common language between professionals

Structured protocols for reaching out to other professionals, like social workers, physicians, and medical specialists

Another key component of the guidelines is case studies that cover critical topics in detail for Americans With Disabilities Act accommodations, cognitive function issues in older adult clients, infectious diseases transmissible between animals and people, recognition of intimate partner violence and animal abuse, and tick-borne diseases.

“I am excited to have contributed to the AAHA One Health guidelines, which equip our veterinary health care teams with the essential tools and framework to collaborate with our colleagues in human health care,” said Cheryl Roth, DVM, DABVP (Canine and Feline), cochair of the AAHA One Health Guidelines. “By fostering connections between these 2 fields, we can more effectively address zoonotic diseases, share insights on preventive care for the whole family, and create comprehensive wellness plans that consider the health of both pets and their owners. This collaboration will not only enhance the care we provide to our animal patients, but [it] will also support the families that love them, promoting healthier communities overall.”

Through leveraging resources and responses that currently exist, the guidelines will help enable health care professionals to give more comprehensive care that can address the interconnected health care needs of human and animal family members.

The guidelines are available on the AAHA website and were made possible with support from Merck Animal Health.

Along with these new guidelines, AAHA announced the release of 4 other groundbreaking new Standards of Accreditation for nontherapeutic devocalization, ear cropping, and feline declawing.

 These new standards also mark another historic milestone for the AAHA because these are the first standards in AAHA’s history to touch on these topics. AAHA stated in its release regarding these releases that member practices are expected to now forgo these procedures unless there is an existing clear medical indication. 

The other new standard encourages AAHA-accredited practices to initiate conversations about microchipping at a patient’s first visit. These practices will also be expected to verify the functionality and location of the patient’s microchip annually.

“The American Animal Hospital Association was founded on the belief that small animals are deserving of the highest quality [of] care from industry professionals. We continually assess our standards to ensure they are aligned with current best practices across the profession. We are happy to share that our board of directors has approved these latest standards as part of our commitment to continuous improvement on the journey to excellence,” said Jessica Vogelsang, DVM, AAHA chief medical officer.

AAHA releases groundbreaking One Health guidelines to bridge human and veterinary medicine. News release. American Animal Hospital Association. August 27, 2025. Accessed September 1, 2025. https://www.aaha.org/news/aaha-releases-groundbreaking-one-health-guidelines-to-bridge-human-and-veterinary-medicine/

AAHA launches new Standards of Accreditation. News release. American Animal Hospital Association. July 22, 2025. Accessed September 2, 2025. 

https://www.aaha.org/news/aaha-launches-new-standards-of-accreditation/

The latest guidelines from the American Animal Hospital Association aim to bridge gaps between human and veterinary medicine.


AAHA announces new One Health guidelines 

A national adoption initiative for reptiles and amphibians has been launched by The Healthy Trade Institute (HTI) in partnership with the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine (UTCVM). The Herp Adoption Program was created to address a critical need for owners of these pets to have reputable and humane surrender options, according to the nonprofit HTI.

Photo courtesy of The Healthy Trade Institute

Reptile pet ownership is occurring in approximately 6 million US households. Results of the 2025 American Pet Products Association National Pet Owners Survey also show the number of reptile pet households is about the as households with pet birds and for those owning small animals.

The program offers a solution for surrendered reptiles and amphibians that is backed by science and verifies the health of these pets. It is currently accepting bearded dragons, ball pythons, and amphibians. Future plans include expanding the list of accepted animals with most snake species, excluding Burmese and reticulated pythons, in October 2025, and additional reptile species in 2026.

Pet owners seeking to surrender their reptile or amphibian to the Herp Adoption Program may do so at no charge, other than the cost to ship their animal, if needed, to HTI in Tennessee. Through a partnership with Redline Shipping, HTI offers a 65% discount on overnight shipping for pet owners.

Matt Gray, PhD, president of the HTI, said the organization is proud to launch the “much-needed program” and the partnership with UTCVM. “This is a win-win for the pet trade. We are not only giving surrendered herps the care and attention they deserve, but we are also providing crucial training opportunities that will help shape the next generation of exotic pet veterinarians,” Gray said in a news release.

Each animal entering the unique program receives a veterinary health assessment and is tested for common pathogens that include chytrid, ranavirus, adenovirus, and Cryptosporidium to ensure that every animal rehomed through HTI is healthy. Pathogen testing not only promotes a healthier pet trade but additionally provides peace of mind to new owners.

"This program also protects wild amphibians and reptiles by reducing the likelihood that unwanted pets are released into the wild,” Emi Knafo, DVM, DACZM, a clinical assistant professor at the UTCVM, said in a news release.

 “When owners have responsible alternatives, ecosystems stay healthier and responsible pet ownership is strengthened."

The HTI is seeking donations from the public to help support the Herp Adoption Program. Contributions directly fund veterinary care and pathogen testing as well as housing and food for the pets surrendered to the program.

The Healthy Trade Institute and University of Tennessee partner to launch nationwide Herp Adoption Program, training next generation of veterinarians. News release. Health Trade Initiative. September 2, 2025.

2025 APPA National Pet Owners Survey stats. American Pet Products Association. Accessed September 2, 2025. 

https://americanpetproducts.org/industry-trends-and-stats

HTI nationwide Herp Adoption Program. Health Trade Institute. Accessed September 2, 2025. 

https://healthytrade.org/hti-herp-adoption-program/

The initiative was created through a partnership between the Healthy Trade Institute and the University of Tennessee.

National adoption program for reptiles and amphibians is launched

Physical therapy and rehabilitation tailored specifically for cats can make a significant difference in the well-being of these felines. Cats who are recovering from surgery, have osteoarthritis, are overweight, or are healing from nonsurgical injuries may see improved mobility, faster recovery, and an overall improved quality of life, according to Michael H. Jaffe, DVM, MS, CCRP, DACVS. Jaffe, an associate professor of small animal surgery at Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine, led a Fetch dvm360 Conference lecture on the topic this past weekend in Kansas City, Missouri.

Other benefits of rehabilitation therapy include

Promoting early weight-bearing and return to function

Reducing pain, inflammation, and swelling

“I always say that with surgery, we put the pieces together, but physical therapy and rehab get the parts moving again. I think there's a lot of truth to that,” Jaffe said during his presentation.

Pet owners and practice owners who may not have specialized rehabilitation equipment can perform massage therapy on cats, Jaffe explained. This type of therapy promotes blood flow to the muscles, improves connective tissue strength and tendon elasticity, reduces some muscle spasms, and lowers stress and anxiety. According to Jaffe, massage therapy is also beneficial for breaking down adhesions.

“As far as lymphatic flow, that's important because any edema that may form in the tissue, or certainly distal to the tissue, can be mobilized pretty quickly in terms of promoting that blood flow and improving the lymphatics to help drain some of that edema that's forming in the interstitial space,” he said.

In patients who have undergone surgery, Jaffe explained that this therapy should be started within the first 24 to 48 hours after the procedure. Some patients may even receive massage therapy before undergoing more intensive rehabilitation protocols, Jaffe noted. Additionally, clients can be taught to perform massage therapy on their pets at home.

When it comes to the massage technique, Jaffe said he likes to isolate 1 joint at a time rather than doing a bicycle movement or the “accordion movement where you grab the foot and pull the leg forward and back and forward and back.

“I really don't like to work on more than 1 joint at a time because with activities like the bicycle motion or the accordion motion, you are working all the joints at 1 time, and not every joint is going to be capable of the same mobility as others,” Jaffe said. “To try to prevent injuries, I think it's best to work each individual joint by itself: Hold the stretch for just a second or 2 and then...release it so we don't injure the patient.”

As Jaffe explained, hot compresses cause vasodilation, promoting blood flow to tissues and increasing their metabolic rate. Heat therapy also increases the release of histamines, bradykinins, and prostaglandins, which may help lower inflammation in the tissue that is being warmed.

“This does also have the benefit of improving flexibility of fibrous tissue, so [for the] joint capsule that may be a little bit contracted, it's going to loosen things up a little bit,” Jaffe said.

Patients with chronic diseases, such as osteoarthritis or back pain, will benefit from this form of therapy. According to Jaffe, heat therapy also improves lymphatic flow and can help decrease swelling and edema in tissue. Jaffe suggests applying a warm compress beginning at approximately 24 or 48 to 72 hours after a surgical procedure.

“Initially, we're going to use our cold compresses to try to reduce some of the pain and inflammation at the surgery site following surgery. We'll certainly do cold compresses on our incision, but [for] the muscles that we've manipulated and moved around and that have developed injuries, we're going to want to do warm compresses on those to try to improve that blood flow and promote healing,” Jaffe said.

“I often use [heat therapy] as part of our warm-up prior to any massage, passive range of motion, or other exercises,” Jaffe said. “I like to use it to help decrease some of the muscle tightness prior to when we do our stretches and help decrease any muscle spasms as we work our muscles and take them through range of motion.”

Jaffe warns against using heat therapy for tumors because the blood flow to the tissue could promote metastasis. Other contraindications include open wounds, patients with severe cardiac insufficiency, and acute inflammation—for which cold compresses should be used in the first 48 to 72 hours post surgery. Additionally, veterinary professionals and pet parents at home should be careful when using hot compresses in areas with decreased or absent sensation, as well as with making sure the temperature is not too hot that it can burn the pet.

Unlike heat therapy, cold therapy causes vasoconstriction, decreasing edema formation and helping to lower inflammation and hematomas that may form from an acute injury, Jaffe explained.

“A lot of times when we're putting a pet through a fairly vigorous workout with our rehab protocols, we're going to ice them down afterward,” Jaffe said. “We're going to use our cold compresses to decrease any pain, muscle spasms, or muscle injury that may have occurred during our rehab session.”

Ice packs can be used for cold therapy, but caution should be taken not to put the packs directly on the cat’s skin. Instead, the ice packs should be wrapped in a towel to prevent cold shock or injury to the patient’s skin. Each session, Jaffe explained, should last no longer than 10 to 15 minutes. However, sessions can be repeated approximately every 4 hours as needed.

Jaffe MH. Feline physical therapy and rehabilitation. Presented at: Fetch dvm360 Conference; August 22-24, 2025; Kansas City, MO.

Michael H. Jaffe, DVM, MS, CCRP, DACVS, talked about the benefits of feline physical therapy and guidelines to keep in mind during his lecture at Fetch Kansas City.

Massage, heat, and cold therapy in feline rehabilitation

To help readers stay up to date with the latest innovations in the veterinary and pet care spectrum, 

 has curated a list of recent product and technology launches.

The following were highlighted in dvm360’s July/August magazine issue:

The Benebone Bounce line is designed for interactive play and built to withstand fetching, tugging, and bouncing. The collection features the gentle-chewing Bone, Ball, Tug, slow-feeding Cone, and treat-dispensing Pawbler. The Benebone Bounce line is available for purchase at Tractor Supply, specialty pet stores nationwide, and benebone.com.
Image courtesy of Benebone LLC

Dry dog food for skin and digestive health

Wellness Pet Company is offering new dry dog food recipes for dogs with skin and gastrointestinal issues. The Wellness CORE+ Sensitive Skin & Stomach and Wellness Complete Health Sensitive Skin & Stomach foods are formulated with highly digestible ingredients, including salmon and dietary fiber. They also contain pre-, pro-, and postbiotics as well as ω-6 and ω-3 fatty acids from salmon oil. Both foods avoid beef, chicken, and wheat, which are common allergens to dogs.
Logo courtesy of Wellness Pet Company

The Pawfit Lite by Pawfit is a location and real-time activity tracker for cats and small dogs and is the smaller, streamlined sibling of the Pawfit 3 series trackers. The product, which is 100% waterproof, is designed for pets with a weight of 6 lb or more. It features sound, temperature, and removal alerts; virtual fences; and LED light. Additionally, it is supported by a 4G network.
Image courtesy of Pawfit

Gentamicin, posaconazole, and mometasone furoate otic suspension (Mometamax Single) by MSD Animal Health is an FDA-approved, single-dose, in-clinic product for canine patients with otitis externa. The product is indicated for the treatment of Malassezia pachydermatis, Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. It features 3 active ingredients: gentamicin, posaconazole, and mometasone furoate. Mometamax Single is not intended for patients with known tympanic membrane perforation or with known or suspected hypersensitivity to the product’s active ingredients. The product is for use in dogs only and should be administered by a veterinary professional.
Logo courtesy of MSD Animal Health

Logo courtesy of PetIQ, LLC, and VIP Petcare

VIP Petcare’s new My Pet Portal allows pet owners to access all their pet’s health documents and records in one place. The platform also sends automated reminders for rabies and other vaccinations. Additionally, clients can RSVP for upcoming clinics and access pet care resources through the portal. The My Pet Portal will also allow clients to refill heartworm medication and flea and tick treatments, manage autoships, and more.
Logo courtesy of PetIQ, LLC, and VIP Petcare

Image courtesy of IDEXX Laboratories, Inc

The Catalyst Cortisol Test by IDEXX Laboratories measures real-time quantitative cortisol concentrations in dogs to support the diagnosis of Addison disease and Cushing syndrome. It also supports the management of Cushing syndrome in canine patients. The test is the third new assay on the Catalyst platform within a year and expands options for in-clinic cortisol measurement. The test can be integrated with IDEXX Vetlab Station and VetConnect PLUS and can run alone or with additional chemistry tests using a single sample.

A roundup of the latest products and innovative technology in veterinary medicine.