Pet Industry News
The deals, launches, and strategic moves behind the brands and operators shaping the industry.
Escalade Buys ASL Solutions, Betting on Pet Hard Goods
Escalade, the public sporting goods company behind Goalrilla and STIGA, has acquired ASL Solutions, a founder-owned manufacturer of insulated dog and cat houses. The deal, terms undisclosed, hands Escalade a rotational molding capability it didn't have before and marks its first move into pet hard goods.
JustFoodForDogs Doubles Down on the Vet Counter as Fresh Food Goes Mass
JustFoodForDogs expanded its Veterinary Support Diet portfolio to seven prescription SKUs on August 17th, two and a half months after hiring a CEO tasked with chasing grocery distribution. The move deepens a vet-channel moat that's getting more contested as Royal Canin enters fresh therapeutic diets.
Whisker's TikTok Shop Bet Lands as Rivals Undercut Its Price
Whisker opened an official TikTok Shop storefront on August 17th, the first phase of a broader social commerce push, as its TikTok impressions grew 300-fold in a year. The move comes as BISSELL undercuts the Litter-Robot 4 by $300, testing whether a category leader benefits from a platform built for challengers.
Gamgee Raises $4M for AI-Designed Dog Cancer Vaccines
Gamgee, founded after entrepreneur Paul Conyngham built a computationally-designed mRNA cancer vaccine for his own dog, has raised a $4M seed round led by Founders Fund. The company is betting personalized manufacturing, not a single approved drug, is the moat in veterinary oncology.
Vetspire Splits From Thrive, Lands a Battery Ventures Backing
Vetspire has spun out of Thrive Pet Healthcare's orbit with a growth investment from Battery Ventures and a new CEO, Zachary Seely. The AI-powered practice management platform, used by more than 800 veterinary hospitals and clinics, will operate independently while Thrive remains a customer. The deal tests whether AI-native vet software can draw institutional capital without a strategic parent underwriting it.
PetMeds Revenue Falls 20% as Takeover Fight Drags On
PetMeds' first-quarter revenue fell 19.9% to $41.0 million and cash reserves dropped to $13.1 million, even as the company narrowed its net loss to $6.1 million from $34.2 million a year earlier. The results land as an unsolicited $3-a-share buyout offer from SilverCape Investments remains on the table and a $37 million sale-leaseback of its headquarters awaits closing.
FDA Clears Zoetis Drug for Screwworm as Outbreak Spreads North
The FDA granted Zoetis an emergency use authorization for Simparica Trio to treat New World screwworm in dogs, the first product cleared specifically for the threat. Texas has already begun requiring treatment before dogs cross certain lines, putting boarding facilities, transporters, and border-state vet practices under a new compliance mandate.