The Connector | August 2026

Welcome to The Connector. Fetching the freshest animal health news.

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Embracing The In Between

As a parent of a college student, I’ve come to appreciate the unique challenges and opportunities of living in the “in-between” — that space between holding on and letting go. This reflection explores how these transitional seasons show up not only in our families, but also in our careers, businesses, and personal growth, reminding us that uncertainty is often where our greatest development takes place.


Industry News

CERES TAG Partners With USDA to Deliver Predator Deterrence via Smart Livestock Ear Tags

Felixvet Introduces Praziquantel Tablets 23 mg for the Removal of Tapeworm Infections in Cats

CatsOnly Veterinary Services Launches to Close the Feline Veterinary Care Gap

CATalyst Council Releases Second Edition of “Puppocalypse, Kitten Craze” Report, Confirming Its Veterinary Visit Forecast Through 2035

Zoetis Announces Agreement to Acquire VitalRADS, Accelerating Diagnostic Capabilities

Felixvet Introduces Firocoxib Chewable Tablets for Dogs for the Control of Osteoarthritis and Postoperative Pain

Study from Merck Animal Health Reveals Opportunity to Increase Feline Vaccination Through Knowledge Sharing Between Veterinarians and Cat Owners

Mars Appoints Christina Ruggiero as North America Regional President for Pet Nutrition Business

Boehringer Ingelheim Achieves Human Animal Bond Certification

808 Ranch Names Jared Wareham VP of Ag Operations

Parnell Expands PropofolVet Multidose Offering With New 50 mL Presentation

VANE Announces Investment in PawPay

Virbac Reaches $500K in Donations for U.S. Animal Charities

Royal Canin Expands Access to Therapeutic Nutrition in Amazon’s Stores

USDA Announces Phased Reopening of Southern Ports for Livestock Trade

Purina and Senior Dog Veterinary Society Collaborate to Advance Nutrition Care for Aging Dogs

Elanco Releases 2025 Impact Report, Demonstrating How Animal Health Helps Meet Society’s Growing Needs 

Merck Animal Health Supports Future Poultry Veterinarians With $50,000 in Scholarships

FDA Issues Emergency Use Authorization for Drug to Prevent New World Screwworm in Multiple Species, Including Sheep, Cattle, Goats, and Swine

Ranchbot Raises Over US$15 Million Series B and Establishes U.S. Holding Company to Accelerate Global Growth

Elanco’s CLiK™ Extra (dicyclanil topical suspension) Wound Spray Receives FDA Emergency Use Authorization for Application on or Around Wounds for Prevention of New World Screwworm in Variety of Livestock and Captive and Captured Wildlife Species 

Boehringer Ingelheim Spotlights Next Generation of Veterinary Researchers

Boehringer Ingelheim Expands Equine Health Pipeline With Acquisition of Evax AG

Merck Animal Health Announces USDA Approval of INNOVAX® ND-IBD-ILT

Zoetis Receives Emergency Use Authorization for Simparica Trio® (Sarolaner, Moxidectin, and Pyrantel Chewable Tablets) for Treatment of New World Screwworm Infestations in Dogs and Puppies

CERES TAG and University of Wyoming Launch New Mountain Grazing Research

Shelter Pets Get an Encore as Josh Hutcherson Returns With Hill’s Pet Nutrition for NBCUniversal Local’s Clear The Shelters

Hill’s Pet Nutrition Appoints Wendy Boise as Executive Vice President of People


Embracing The In Between

As the parent of a college student, I am discovering what it really means to live in the in-between.

When they’re away at school, they seem like independent adults. They need space to make their own decisions, but they still reach out for guidance when life gets complicated. They are building lives of their own while still relying on the foundation that home provides.

Then they come home for breaks.

Suddenly, the shoes are back by the door, the dishes are in the sink, and the house feels full again. The everyday routines return almost effortlessly. Between the ordinary moments are the unexpected conversations about life, relationships, purpose, and the future. Those conversations are a reminder that while they are becoming independent, they haven’t completely left the nest.

And then, almost as quickly as they returned, they leave again.

I’ve realized that this season isn’t about holding on or letting go. It’s about learning to live in the space between the two.

The more I reflected on this, the more I recognized how often life asks us to navigate these in-between seasons.

Professionally, these seasons appear in countless ways. You realize you’ve outgrown your current role, but the next opportunity hasn’t yet arrived. An entrepreneur works tirelessly to grow a business, balancing today’s realities with tomorrow’s vision while raising capital and building value. An organization evolves, outsourcing some functions while integrating new systems, trying to create harmony without losing momentum.

Wherever we encounter these seasons, they are bound to be challenging. Relationships change. Families grow in new directions. Priorities shift. We find ourselves no longer who we were, but not yet fully who we’re becoming.

The in-between is rarely comfortable.

It often feels uncertain because the familiar is behind us and the future remains just out of reach. We naturally want clarity, a roadmap, or reassurance that we’re moving in the right direction. Instead, we’re often asked to trust the process before we can see the outcome.

But perhaps that’s exactly what growth looks like.

Growth is rarely found in the moments when everything feels settled. It happens during the transition when we’re learning new skills, redefining our identity, strengthening our resilience, and discovering capabilities we didn’t know we possessed.

The in-between isn’t evidence that you’re stuck. More often, it’s evidence that you’re growing.

So, if you find yourself in one of these seasons, personally or professionally, give yourself grace. Celebrate the progress that isn’t yet visible. Be patient with the uncertainty. Trust that not every chapter is meant to feel complete while you’re living it.

Because one day, you’ll look back and realize the in-between wasn’t simply something to endure. It was where you grew into the person and the leader you were becoming.