The state of specialty care

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The state of speciality care

A recent Trupanion pet insurance report revealed a significant rise in specialty veterinary claims, showing that pet owners are increasingly choosing advanced care.

Neurology and cardiology saw the highest increase in claims, while dentistry and cardiology experienced the most notable rise in costs. The data suggests that insured pet parents continue to prioritize their pets’ health despite financial challenges.

The report, covering data from December 2019 to November 2024, highlights key trends across various specialties. Neurology claims increased by 47% for dogs and 28% for cats, with conditions like meningitis and IVDD being common. Dermatology claims also rose, with mast cell tumors and dermatitis among the top conditions. Cardiology had the highest surge—55% in dogs and 47% in cats—indicating growing concerns about heart health.

Referrals and speciality care have been hot topics recently, as the report was published just a week after the AAHA released their comprehensive 2025 referral guidelines.

The guidelines cover everything from standardized definitions, your role as a the primary care vet before, through, and after referral, and how to have referral conversations with clients.

It is no surprise that studies have shown a timely referral for a patient’s condition can extend survival time, improve quality of life, and increase clients’ positive perceptions of the care received which is why proper referral procedure is so important.

The AAHA provides three key takeaways from the referral guide:

• There are general collaborative conversations, professional-to-professional consultations, and hands-on referrals.

• A dedicated web-based portal can improve referral case communication by providing shared access to medical records, completed and pending diagnostics, and patient updates

• The primary care team’s ongoing involvement with the client and pet during the referral is a top predictor of a client’s positive feelings toward the referral process.

You can read the full 2025 AAHA Referral Guidelines here.

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Checking in on bird flu

Bird flu continues to be the top story of 2025 (and 2024 for that matter), so it’s worth checking in on it every now and then. Here’s the latest:

The USDA announced $1 billion in funding to combat H5N1

The billion dollar plan to combat the avian influenza outbreak includes expanded funding for existing efforts, including enhanced biosecurity, financial relief for farmers, vaccine research, and regulatory adjustments. They are even considering temporary egg imports to help stabilize the price of eggs.

The US may also start vaccinating chickens and cows. Until now, vaccinations were off the table due to the restrictions placed on vaccinated birds by some of the US’s largest trading partners.

Humane World says animal rights are being infringed

Extreme confinement of animals accelerates the spread of diseases like avian flu, yet some industry groups and government officials are using the outbreak and inflation as excuses to weaken protections like California’s Proposition 12. USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins and lawmakers are pushing to remove regulations, despite no evidence that cage-free systems increase flu risk, and more than 200 members of Congress oppose these rollbacks. As Humane World points out, weakening these laws likely serves corporate interests, not public health or economic stability. The Shock Doctrine is everywhere.

Scientists speak with Harvard Medical School on whether we’re on the brink of a massive outbreak

We recommend reading the full interview as the experts in their field brought forward interesting perspective. The short answer: everyone is worried, but there is no consistent agreement on whether avian influenza will become a massive outbreak in the near future. What everyone did agree on is the importance of vigilance and preparedness.

Here is how Jacob Lemieux, HMS assistant professor of medicine and infectious disease specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital closed the article:

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AI for conservation

We’ve covered a lot about AI in veterinary medicine, but another application caught our eye this week: AI is revolutionizing wildlife conservation by providing advanced tools for monitoring, protecting, and managing animal populations.

As the NVIDIA blog (NVDA ( ▲ 6.43% )) shared this week, organizations are leveraging AI-powered predictive models to prevent human-wildlife conflicts, such as helping to reroute elephants away from danger zones. By analyzing vast amounts of movement data, AI enables conservationists to make real-time, informed decisions to safeguard endangered species. Other initiatives use AI-driven monitoring systems to detect abnormal animal behaviors and potential threats like poaching, allowing for rapid intervention.

Beyond direct wildlife protection, AI is also being used for broader environmental monitoring through AI-integrated satellite imagery to detect wildfires, preventing habitat destruction that threatens countless species. AI will almost certainly enhance conservation efforts, but it also means that the role of fieldworkers, who must adapt to an AI-driven approach, will change. As with almost every application of AI, this shift may improve efficiency but also raises concerns about the effectiveness, skill requirements, and potential ethical questions.

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Quick Hits

Here are some of the other stories that caught our eye and we're following this week from around the veterinary world and animal kingdom: