New York has joined the Federal Trade Commission and twelve other states in a lawsuit seeking to stop Covetrus from acquiring MWI Veterinary Supply. The Attorney General's Office announced the case November 13, alleging that the transaction would substantially reduce competition among distributors that provide medicines, equipment and other supplies to veterinary practices.
Covetrus and MWI are two of the three largest distributors serving veterinary clinics nationwide, according to the state. The complaint alleges that a combined company would control more than half of the relevant distribution markets. That is an allegation to be tested in court, not a final judicial finding that the transaction violates antitrust law.
Veterinary distributors operate between manufacturers and clinics. They assemble large catalogs, manage warehouses and delivery networks, provide purchasing systems and compete through price, rebates, service and account support. Independent clinics and multi-state practice groups may use the distributors differently, but both depend on reliable access to medications and clinical supplies.
The state argues that large corporate veterinary groups often buy 65 to 90 percent of their supplies from a single distributor and use competition between Covetrus and MWI to negotiate discounts. If those alternatives combine, the complaint says, the surviving supplier could have greater leverage over price and service. Whether and how those costs reach pet owners depends on clinic contracts and pricing decisions.
The case also focuses on service quality. Distribution is not limited to shipping boxes; clinics may depend on representatives, inventory support and problem resolution. A reduction in competitive pressure could affect investment in those services. The defendants will have an opportunity to respond and may dispute the market definition, projected effects or other claims in the complaint.
The companies have agreed to a temporary restraining order that prevents closing before December 4, the Attorney General's Office said. New York and its partners are seeking a preliminary injunction to keep the transaction on hold during the case and ultimately want a ruling that blocks it. A temporary order preserves the status quo and is not a decision on the final merits.
Antitrust analysis will examine more than company size. Courts may consider which products and customers belong in the relevant market, whether other distributors can expand, how easily clinics can switch, the role of manufacturer-direct sales and any efficiencies claimed by the merging parties. Market share is important evidence, but the legal result depends on the complete record.
For clinics, the immediate practical point is continuity. The announcement does not direct customers to change suppliers or cancel orders. Practices should follow official case updates and communicate with distributors about contracts, deliveries and contingencies. A clinic that relies heavily on one channel may also review inventory planning for critical items as a normal business-resilience measure.
For pet owners, the lawsuit does not establish that a particular bill will rise or fall. Veterinary prices include professional time, facilities, diagnostics, medicines and local operating costs. Distribution competition can influence one part of that total. Public explanations should avoid promising a specific consumer price outcome while the litigation and any transaction remain unresolved.
The coalition includes attorneys general from Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon and Texas in addition to New York and the FTC. The next reliable milestones will be court filings and orders. Those primary records, rather than advocacy from either side, should guide conclusions about the case.
Primary sources: New York Attorney General announcement on the veterinary-supply merger challenge; Federal Trade Commission case and proceeding search. Reviewed November 14, 2026. Development: Antitrust action announced November 13, 2026.