Wrap up: The pet insurance gap persists even as enrollment grows, and other news

Happy Friday, dvm360 readers! Fresh off the 2026 AVMA Convention in Anaheim, this week's lineup pairs a hard look at the insurance gap with clinical guidance and practice-level insight from the show floor.

Leading things off, a new NAPHIA report found that US pet insurance enrollment rose 9% in 2025, yet more than 95% of the country's cats and dogs remain uninsured even as veterinary costs keep climbing, with gastrointestinal issues, ear infections, and skin conditions driving many of the claims that were filed.

Here is what else came out this week on dvm360.com:

• Ellen Behrend, VMD, MS, PhD, DACVIM (SAIM), spoke with dvm360 during the 2026 AVMA Convention to make the case that SGLT2 inhibitors are safer, easier to use, and often cheaper for owners than many practitioners assume, in this Q&A on patient selection, ketone monitoring, and diet in cats with diabetes.
• On this week's episode of The Vet Blast Podcast presented by dvm360, Ori Stollar M.Sc., DVM, DACVB, joins host Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, to break down 5 stress signals in dogs and cats that are easy to miss in the exam room, and when it's time to refer to a behaviorist.
• At the AVMA Convention, Anita Patel, DVM, senior director of clinical excellence at IndeVets, explained why transparency and solution-oriented feedback from technicians, veterinarians, and practice managers can shape better organizational decisions.
• In this week's Paws and profits, Fear Free named its first chief veterinary officer, Exubrion Therapeutics promoted a new chief commercial officer, and Phillips Pet Food & Supplies announced a CEO transition.
• And in clinic news, a $15 million animal shelter has been proposed for Ellis County, Texas, following last year's SPCA closure, while Chewy Vet Care opened its first North Florida practice in Jacksonville.
• And more!