VitalVET is developing veterinarian-prescribed, long-acting endocrine therapies designed to improve healthspan and quality of life in aging dogs. Our lead program focuses on neutered male dogs experiencing age-related declines in muscle mass, mobility, strength, and vitality.
As pets live longer and owners seek higher standards of care, VitalVET aims to address a major unmet need through innovative therapies that support healthy aging and functional longevity.
Canine Health Impact
Estimated 25M Dogs Are Affected By Conditions Where Testosterone May Help
Key Clinical Reasons for Testosterone Restoration
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Urinary Incontinence: Treating chronic urine leakage that sometimes develops after the loss of hormonal regulation of the bladder, often when other treatments fail.
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Behavior Issues: Addressing, in some cases, severe anxiety, extreme fear, loss of confidence, or cognitive dysfunction syndrome that emerged post-neutering.
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Orthopedic Conditions: Addressing loss of muscle mass (sarcopenia) and reduced mobility, such as cruciate ligament tears or joint limping.
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Metabolic/Endocrine Imbalances: Addressing rapid weight gain and obesity, as well as mitigating the effects of high luteinizing hormone (LH) levels that can occur when testosterone is removed.
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Chronic Disease Management: Potentially improving conditions like atopic dermatitis or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that may worsen due to the metabolic change, though this is part of emerging, research-based veterinary protocols.
Canine Market
Estimated 31M Dogs are Neutered in US
Dogs
A recent safety study of testosterone restoration in neutered dogs was conducted on a small group (12 dogs) to assess safety and dosing, not prevalence, showing it is possible to restore testosterone levels in such animals - SpringerLink's
Testosterone therapy in dogs is currently considered a specialized treatment. There is no large‑scale survey showing how many of the ~85 million dogs in the U.S. receive testosterone therapy annually
Pet Owners
66% of owners of chronically ill pets reported spending up to $250/month managing chronic conditions – Money Magazine
AG: Equine Market
Estimated 9M Horses
Key Details Regarding Testosterone and Hormones in Horses
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Stallion fertility & breeding support
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Performance conditioning & muscle recovery
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Aging gelding energy & muscle decline
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Medical/geriatric therapy
Estimated Horses Receiving Testosterone/ Anabolics Annually
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Stallion fertility: 150k–250k
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Performance conditioning: 300k–500k
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Medical/geriatric therapy: 150k–300k
TOTAL: 600k–1.0M horses/year
AG: Bovine Market
Estimated 100M Injections Per Year
Approximately 80% of feedlot cattle in the United States are treated with growth-promoting hormones, which includes testosterone.
Key Details Regarding Testosterone and Hormones in Cattle
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Method of Administration: Testosterone and other steroid hormones are typically administered to cattle as small, controlled-release pellets (implants) placed under the skin on the back of the ear.
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Types of Hormones: The FDA has approved six hormones for cattle growth: three natural (testosterone, progesterone, estradiol) and three synthetic.
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Purpose: These hormones are used to enhance feed efficiency, increase muscle growth, and reduce the cost of production.
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Usage Context: While "80% of U.S. cattle" generally refers to feedlot cattle receiving hormone implants, this does not mean 80% receive pure testosterone, but rather a combination of hormone products, which often includes testosterone and/or synthetic alternatives like trenbolone acetate.
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Dairy Cows: The use of growth hormones is generally associated with beef production, though about 20% of U.S. dairy cows may receive a different hormone, rBGH, to increase milk production.