Strengthening the human-animal bond

Jennifer Miller, DVM, medical strategic lead of dermatology at Elanco Animal Health, recently spoke with dvm360 about being selected for the 2026 Purdue University Distinguished Alumni Award,¹ the advancement of a canine parvovirus monoclonal antibody (Trutect; Elanco), other monoclonal antibody and dermatology therapies, and the FDA approval process. She also discussed her passion for the human-animal bond and her efforts to promote it. In this video, the first in a series from the interview, Miller discusses the strength of the human-animal bond and how it relates to dermatology care for dogs.

The following is a lightly edited transcript of the video:

Jennifer Miller, DVM: We've seen this strengthening of the human-animal bond. We see more and more animal owners thinking of their pets as family members and not just the pets that are staying outside. They're in the home, they're sleeping in the bed. They are an integrated part of the family, with such strong relationships between animal owners and [their] pets.

We know a lot of those pets have chronic conditions, like having a chronic itch. We need [dermatology] solutions offered to veterinarians that work well and work quickly to provide that fast relief for these dogs. Also, whenever you're an animal owner…managing a complex [chronic] condition with multiple treatments…that really goes into caregiver burden.

I'm really excited, and I think that animal owners and veterinarians should interface on what kind of solutions we need for these pets that are now family members. Managing these chronic conditions to decrease that complexity for animal owners, hopefully to decrease that caregiver burden, and [those] that are working well and working quickly to provide that relief for their pets.

Reference

Crossley KC. Purdue University celebrates 5 veterinary medicine alumni. dvm360. May 1, 2026. Accessed May 5, 2026. https://www.dvm360.com/view/purdue-university-celebrates-5-veterinary-medicine-alumni