Angelo Palivos had a sad awakening to the lack of timely healthcare answers when it comes to our animals. Despite everyone’s best efforts, Mochi, the Japanese Chin dog of Palivos and his wife Katrina, fell ill and passed away before test results came back.
Palivos is now founder and co-CEO of Petweath, which offers diagnostic testing for dogs and cats, both at-home and by providers. ” If only I had gotten this idea (sooner) Mochi may have lived longer,” said Palivos [pictured above]. “I dug in and realized there was a massive gap in the market. We want to be a little more preventive. If we want them to live longer, we need to monitor their health better.”
Miami-based Petwealth offers testing kits directly to pet owners who collect samples that are then sent to the company’s own lab in Addison, Texas. The tests focus on fecal, oral and respiratory diagnostics. Results are delivered within 24 to 48 hours, accompanied by explanations about the tests. That info can be shared with their veterinarian, cutting down time to diagnosis and treatment.
The company also markets directly to vets, and has partnerships with Kennel Connection, a software company focused on the boarding, grooming, training and retail sectors; and with Pawp, a pet-focused telehealth company.
Petwealth emerged in its current form when Palivos met Zoë Barry, his soon-to-be business partner, at a Miami tech event in 2025. Barry, a serial entrepreneur, said she deeply understood why Palivos was so passionate about the company. A close family member also struggled to obtain needed care. Barry has always had a love of animals as well. “It clicked so quickly and was so visceral,” she said of their partnership.
Barry started by providing perspective and sharing her experiences, then came on board. “We are like puzzle pieces in this, he is a deep expert in diagnostics and the laboratory business. I dug into the animal side of things,” she said.
So far, Petwealth has raised $1.7 million and is seeking more investment, having emerged from stealth mode in late March. It currently has five fulltime employees and, including contractors, employs about 20 people.
The company can test for about 1,000 biomarkers. Some examples include roundworms, giardia, campylobacter and hookworms in the fecal test; respiratory tests can pinpoint canine influenza markers, mycoplasma species and common upper respiratory organisms, among others. Oral health tests might include bacteria associated with periodontal disease, and gingivitis-associated organisms. “Our goal is to provide a tool for you to see the test results and make an informed decision,” said Barry.
The pet category is huge, and according to Capital One Shopping Research, U.S. pet spending will rise to nearly $200 billion by 2030. Vet care and products were estimated to hit $41.4 billion in 2025.
Petwealth uses PCR diagnostics, a process that can quickly evaluate genetic material, rather than growing cultures in petri dishes. It has so far performed nearly 5,000 tests. Single tests are $125. A complete package for fecal, oral and respiratory runs $250.
Results can be revealing, and might prompt action by pet parents: For example, information shows that smaller dogs tend to develop gingivitis earlier than do larger canines, noted Barry.
“Data is a massive part of our business model,” said Palivos, noting that the data can be used to partner with other companies and perhaps develop other interventions, as well as improve the product for customers.
Both Barry and Palivos bring experience to Petwealth. Palivos earlier founded a strategic advisory firm, and later joined Linear Care Diagnostics as a partner, gaining experience in cutting edge lab technologies, and the science behind PCR testing. Barry is a serial entrepreneur and formerly worked on Wall Street with Dawson Capital hedge fund. She founded ZappRx, a specialty medication fulfillment company, in the wake of the family member facing a complex condition. Allscripts acquired ZappRx in 2019.
Both have intriguing other interests. Barry is a racecar driver, has won numerous awards, and in 2024 got her professional motorsports license. Pavilos, who is of Greek heritage, from 2018 to 2020 was vice president of OFI Crete FC, a professional soccer club.
And there is a new member in the Palivos household: a Japanese Chin dog named Suki.
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Pictured above: Angelo and Katrina Palivos, with Suki.
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