The Most Impressive New Pet Products I Saw At The World’s Biggest Veterinary Expo

DogTV is a 24/7 streaming service designed for, you guessed it, dogs. It uses science-backed visuals and audio to appeal to dogs’ senses, with the intent of providing a means of relaxation or enrichment—particularly beneficial for pups who may experience separation anxiety when left alone. I’ve been a subscriber for a while, and although DogTV has been around for several years now, the platform has integrated a lot of really innovative new features: for instance, programming specifically for reactive dogs that doesn’t show other animals, and “Unleashed By DogTV,” programming for humans that includes behavior tips and expert advice. 

I’ve had mixed results with pups’ reactions to the service over the years, with some absolutely enthralled and others who don’t seem to pay it any mind, but you can check it out for yourself to see if it’s something that your dog enjoys. Subscriptions are available for $10 a month or $75 for the year. 

In addition to saving time spent cleaning up after your cat, automatic litter boxes are an excellent way to track your cat’s bathroom habits—but if you don’t have the space (or the budget) for one, or your cat has mobility issues that prevent them from comfortably getting in and out of such a device, you might want to consider the Petivity ​​Smart Cat Litterbox Monitor System​. You place it under your existing litter box, and it provides a host of insights about your kitty’s elimination habits. 

It’s especially useful for multi-cat households: It can track up to five cats, and a separate device is recommended for each litter box in the home. The Petivity Litter tracker can help provide information about whether your cat, for instance, is struggling to urinate or defecate, and if they enter the litter box multiple times without actually eliminating anything—providing crucial context for any potential health issues. 

Wuffes is a pet care brand most commonly known for its line of customer-favorite hip and joint chews for dogs. Its newest product is a portable laser therapy wand that provides low-level laser treatment to help stimulate blood flow and promote quicker healing in dogs with injuries and even bacterial infections, and it’s also designed to soothe discomfort due to mobility issues. (My personal veterinarian suggested laser treatment for an incision that was not healing well after my dog needed surgery to remove a foreign body; while this was done at my vet’s office and not with an in-home device, it did speed up the healing process noticeably.) 

The Wuffes laser wand is said to reduce aches and pains within 10 to 15 minutes as well as reduce inflammation and regenerate damaged tissue. You should always consult with your vet first, but this tool may be a particularly good choice for pets experiencing arthritis, IVDD or spinal injuries, or a torn ACL/CCL.

I’ve been using ElleVet for years for my dogs; it’s the only CBD brand that my veterinarian recommends, as it has high standards for the production of its hemp-derived products. The brand adheres to CGMP (Current Good Manufacturing Practice) guidelines for human pharmaceutical supplement manufacturing, in fact, and also has an in-house lab.  The brand has just launched hemp CBD chews for cats, formulated to help mitigate mobility issues like arthritis as well as stress—if your kitty is fearful of things like storms or car rides, for instance. While my cats don’t have a need for these supplements, at least yet, I do have firsthand experience with ElleVet’s Calm & Comfort Chews, which have helped reduce my dog’s stress levels during car rides and other excitable events as well as its soft chews, for my dogs who lived with chronic pain in their senior years.

If you’re interested in feeding your dog fresh food but they need to be on a prescription diet for a particular health issue, the options can be few and far between. Wynwood Dog Food, which has been producing fresh dog food for over 10 years, including a line of prescription formulas, recently launched two new prescription diets: low-fat digestive support (for dogs with fat intolerances and/or food aversions) and weight and mobility support (for dogs who need to lose weight and/or have chronic hunger or mobility challenges). All of Wynwood’s recipes are AAFCO-compliant, made with 100% human-grade ingredients and formulated under the guidance of board-certified veterinarians and veterinary nutritionists.

Water fountains can be especially beneficial for cats, who are notorious for being consistently dehydrated: A source of constantly running water can be enticing for kitties who are typically water-averse. A new device on the scene is the Vasa Pet Water Fountain, which promises an easier cleanup and a more hygienic setup overall than current fountains on the market, thanks to the fact that it’s designed without a pump; instead, it’s powered by a wheel. This means it’s simpler to clean (every piece that comes in contact with water is dishwasher safe), and you don’t have to worry about a pump clogging or getting slimy. Returns for a refund are permitted within 60 days, and the brand also provides a lifetime guarantee on the wheel caps and wheel holders. 

If you have a dog whose anal glands tend to get full often, I feel your pain: You know how awful that pervasive smell can be, and it may also cause your pup to feel regular discomfort. Unfortunately, this is an issue that’s common for my dog Gizmo (and was for my old pup as well), and giving him Glandex Advanced Vet Strength chews daily has helped immensely; while they still get full every so often, the frequency is noticeably much less since getting him started on these. 

These Glandex supplements, which use pumpkin and other fibers to promote natural gland expression, have been around for years, but what’s new this year is the brand’s line of “Max Vet Strength” chews available only via your veterinarian. If your dog is struggling with this issue (and you’re struggling with that foul smell), you may want to ask them about this product if the advanced formula isn’t doing the trick.

Gut health is having a moment, as they say, and just like in humans, an analysis of your pet’s microbiome can give you a lot of important information about their overall health. AnimalBiome is known for its line of gut health supplements, and now the brand has also introduced gut health tests for both dogs and cats. The tests provide details about any bacterial overgrowths and imbalances as well as your pet’s unique gut flora and overall gut health. You just send in a stool sample; the instructions and packaging make the process very simple. I’ve tried this kit myself and am awaiting the results of my dog’s microbiome analysis; I’ll update this piece once I receive them.

Inhalers designed for dogs and cats have been around for a while, and although Trudell is a premier, tried-and-true brand in this product space, the company—which has been around for over a century—continues to innovate upon previous models of its products. (When stopping by the Trudell booth, I was told that a dog who uses an inhaler regularly got so excited to see them that he sat down and wagged his tail excitedly, because he associated getting his inhaler meds with treats.) 

It offers options for both cats and small and large dogs (and even horses), all of which are designed with a soft, non-stick mask to make the experience comfortable for your pet and not tug at their fur. Hundreds of customer reviews attest to how this product has improved their pet’s quality of life, for those who have chronic bronchitis, a collapsed trachea or asthma, among other health issues.

Long-lasting chews have myriad benefits for dogs: They’re a great way to provide your pup with mental stimulation and engage their natural instinct to chew, helping them with stress relief and promoting dental health (and saving your furniture) along the way. When my 75-pound American bully gets a little antsy in between walks, a chew always works to ease his anxiety and give him some enrichment. But if you have a pup with food allergies or aversions, it can be tough to find options that aren’t poultry-, pork- or beef-based. 

I stumbled upon these lamb collagen chews from Dogginstix, available in a variety of shapes to suit your pup’s preferences, including these new doughnut-shaped ones. They’re a great choice to buy in bulk if your dog is allergic to other proteins, and lamb collagen is a natural source of glucosamine and chondroitin, which can particularly benefit seniors and dogs with joint issues.