Exhibit 99.1

Patterson Companies Reports Fourth Quarter Operating Results

St. Paul, MN—May 21, 2009—Patterson Companies, Inc. (Nasdaq: PDCO) today reported consolidated sales of $779,884,000 for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009 ended April 25, virtually unchanged from $778,388,000 in the year-earlier quarter. The positive impact of acquisitions was largely offset by weaker than forecasted sales brought on by the recession and the effect of a stronger U.S. dollar on foreign operations. Net income of $53,961,000 or $0.46 per diluted share was down from $63,209,000 or $0.51 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2008.

The weak economy affected each of Patterson’s three businesses in the fourth quarter, particularly in the area of equipment sales. This impact was particularly evident on sales of basic dental equipment, although dental practitioners continued investing at solidly higher levels in new technology products, including CEREC® dental restorative products and digital radiography systems. Patterson’s fourth quarter earnings also were affected by a shift in its sales mix due to the October 2008 acquisition of Columbus Serum Company by the Webster Veterinary unit. As a result, veterinary products, which have a lower operating margin than revenues generated by Patterson’s other businesses, accounted for a higher proportion of consolidated revenues.

Full-year fiscal 2009 consolidated sales totaled $3,094,227,000, up 3% from $2,998,729,000 in fiscal 2008. Net income for the year came to $199,635,000 or $1.69 per diluted share, compared to $224,858,000 or $1.69 per diluted share in fiscal 2008.

Sales of Patterson Dental Supply, Patterson’s largest business, were $533,547,000 in the fourth quarter, down 5% from $562,112,000 in the year-earlier period.

• Sales of consumable dental supplies and printed office products were down 2% from last year’s fourth quarter or 3% after the impact of foreign currency, net of acquisitions.

• Sales of dental equipment and software declined 10% from the year-earlier level.

• Sales of other services and products, consisting primarily of technical service parts and labor, software support services and artificial teeth, rose 4% from last year’s fourth quarter.

Sales of the Webster Veterinary unit increased 33% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009 to $158,514,000, due primarily to the Columbus Serum acquisition. Sales of Patterson Medical, Patterson’s rehabilitation supply and equipment unit, declined 9% to $87,823,000, due principally to the strengthening of the U.S. dollar and the impact of the economy on sales of rehabilitation equipment.

James W. Wiltz, president and chief executive officer, commented: “Our fourth quarter operating results were below our expectations as we experienced reduced customer demand for the capital equipment offerings at each of our three businesses. In addition, sales of consumable dental supplies continued to be affected by the economy-related trend of patients deferring higher-level and discretionary services. Partly offsetting the lower sales of basic dental equipment was the strong sales growth of new technology products, with sales of CEREC systems up 7% and sales of digital X-ray systems up 25%. We believe the recession is causing many dental practitioners to limit their investments to equipment with rapid rates of return. New technology products, in comparison to such basic dental equipment as chairs and lights, meet this return on investment requirement. We also believe CEREC sales are benefiting from the January 2009 introduction of a new digital imaging acquisition unit that provides significantly greater ease of use and precision, in addition to scaleable pricing. We believe these advancements have placed the CEREC system at the forefront of CAD/CAM dental technology.”

He added: “We are operating in an extremely challenging environment, but Patterson’s future remains secure. The long-term fundamentals of the dental, veterinary and rehabilitation markets are strongly favorable. We are continuing to generate sizeable cash flows from our operations, providing us with ample resources for supporting our various growth initiatives. And, each of our businesses holds a strong competitive position in its served market. Given all of these factors, we are optimistic about Patterson’s long-term prospects.”

Wiltz continued: “We believe that weakness in the general economy will continue to affect our performance for at least several more quarters. Reflecting this belief, we are forecasting earnings of $1.70 to $1.80 per diluted share for fiscal 2010.”

About Patterson Companies, Inc.

Patterson Companies, Inc. is a value-added distributor serving the dental, companion-pet veterinarian and rehabilitation supply markets.

Dental Market

As Patterson’s largest business, Patterson Dental provides a virtually complete range of consumable dental products, equipment and software, turnkey digital solutions and value-added services to dentists and dental laboratories throughout North America.

Veterinary Market

Webster Veterinary is the nation’s second largest distributor of consumable veterinary supplies, equipment and software, diagnostic products, vaccines and pharmaceuticals to companion-pet veterinary clinics.

Rehabilitation Market

Patterson Medical is the world’s leading distributor of rehabilitation supplies and non-wheelchair assistive patient products to the physical and occupational therapy markets. The unit’s global customer base includes hospitals, long-term care facilities, clinics and dealers.

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This release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are information of a non-historical nature and are subject to risks and uncertainties that are beyond the Company’s ability to control. The Company cautions shareholders and prospective investors that the following factors, among others, may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements: competition within the dental, veterinary, and rehabilitative and assistive living supply industries; changes in the economics of dentistry, including reduced growth in expenditures by private dental insurance plans, the effects of economic conditions and the effects of healthcare reform, which may affect future per capita expenditures for dental services and the ability and willingness of dentists to invest in high-technology products; the effects of healthcare related legislation and regulation which may affect expenditures or reimbursements for rehabilitative and assistive products; changes in the economics of the veterinary supply market, including reduced growth in per capita expenditures for veterinary services and reduced growth in the number of households owning pets; the ability of the Company to maintain satisfactory relationships with its sales force; unexpected loss of key senior management personnel; unforeseen operating risks; risks associated with the dependence on manufacturers of the Company’s products; and the ability of the Company to successfully integrate the recent acquisitions into its existing business. Forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by the cautionary language set forth in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

For additional information contact:

R. Stephen Armstrong	Richard G. Cinquina
Executive Vice President & CFO	Equity Market Partners
651/686-1600	904/415-1415

Fourth Quarter Conference Call and Replay

Patterson’s fourth quarter earnings conference call will start at 10:00 a.m. Eastern today. Investors can listen to a live webcast of the conference call at www.pattersoncompanies.com. Listeners should go to this website at least 15 minutes prior to the call to download and install any necessary audio software. The conference call will be archived on Patterson’s web site. A replay of the fourth quarter conference call can be heard through May 28, 2009 by dialing 1-303-590-3000 and providing the 4077393 Conference ID.

PATTERSON COMPANIES, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Dollars in thousands)

	April 25, 2009		April 26, 2008
	(Unaudited)
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and short-term investments	$	158,065	$	308,164
Receivables, net		476,156		364,050
Inventory		269,934		281,238
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		33,440		31,589
Total current assets		937,595		985,041
Property and equipment, net		166,500		148,932
Goodwill and other intangible assets		968,036		881,750
Other		57,193		60,650
Total Assets	$	2,129,324	$	2,076,373
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	180,933	$	194,405
Other accrued liabilities		131,367		141,652
Current maturities of long-term debt		22,000		130,010
Total current liabilities		334,300		466,067
Long-term debt		525,000		525,024
Other non-current liabilities		83,704		80,495
Total liabilities		943,004		1,071,586
Stockholders’ equity		1,186,320		1,004,787
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity	$	2,129,324	$	2,076,373

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PATTERSON COMPANIES, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(In thousands, except for earnings per share)

(Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended						Twelve Months Ended
	April 25, 2009			April 26, 2008			April 25, 2009			April 26, 2008
Net sales	$	779,884		$	778,388		$	3,094,227		$	2,998,729
Gross profit		269,110			273,154			1,043,524			1,031,725
Operating expenses		176,622			171,885			697,298			672,522
Operating income		92,488			101,269			346,226			359,203
Other expense, net		(6,404	)		(3,537	)		(26,575	)		(1,775	)
Income before taxes		86,084			97,732			319,651			357,428
Income taxes		32,123			34,523			120,016			132,570
Net income	$	53,961		$	63,209		$	199,635		$	224,858
Earnings per share:
Basic	$	0.46		$	0.52		$	1.70		$	1.70
Diluted	$	0.46		$	0.51		$	1.69		$	1.69
Shares:
Basic		117,930			122,571			117,716			132,078
Diluted		118,247			123,035			118,355			132,910
Gross margin		34.5	%		35.1	%		33.7	%		34.4	%
Operating expenses as a % of net sales		22.6	%		22.1	%		22.5	%		22.4	%
Operating income as a % of net sales		11.9	%		13.0	%		11.2	%		12.0	%
Effective tax rate		37.3	%		35.3	%		37.5	%		37.1	%

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PATTERSON COMPANIES, INC.

SUPPLEMENTARY FINANCIAL DATA

(Dollars in thousands)

(Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended						Twelve Months Ended
	April 25, 2009			April 26, 2008			April 25, 2009			April 26, 2008
Consolidated Net Sales
Consumable and printed products	$	518,762		$	494,418		$	1,986,872		$	1,889,515
Equipment and software		198,302			223,880			851,944			865,053
Other		62,820			60,090			255,411			244,161
Total	$	779,884		$	778,388		$	3,094,227		$	2,998,729
Dental Supply
Consumable and printed products	$	307,212		$	318,013		$	1,217,193		$	1,218,188
Equipment and software		171,154			191,047			731,389			744,333
Other		55,181			53,052			225,827			218,765
Total	$	533,547		$	562,112		$	2,174,409		$	2,181,286
Rehabilitation Supply
Consumable and printed products	$	60,345		$	65,194		$	254,270		$	259,793
Equipment and software		22,108			26,312			93,236			92,686
Other		5,370			5,301			21,663			18,537
Total	$	87,823		$	96,807		$	369,169		$	371,016
Veterinary Supply
Consumable and printed products	$	151,205		$	111,211		$	515,409		$	411,534
Equipment and software		5,040			6,521			27,319			28,034
Other		2,269			1,737			7,921			6,859
Total	$	158,514		$	119,469		$	550,649		$	446,427
Other (Expense) Income, net
Interest income	$	583		$	1,860		$	5,423		$	9,731
Interest expense		(6,914	)		(5,313	)		(30,149	)		(12,792	)
Other		(73	)		(84	)		(1,849	)		1,286
	$	(6,404	)	$	(3,537	)	$	(26,575	)	$	(1,775	)

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PATTERSON COMPANIES, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Dollars in thousands)

(Unaudited)

	Twelve Months Ended
	April 25, 2009			April 26, 2008
Operating activities:
Net income	$	199,635		$	224,858
Depreciation & amortization		30,346			26,280
Share-based compensation		7,730			7,723
Change in assets and liabilities, net of acquired		(113,706	)		6,518
Net cash provided by operating activities		124,005			265,379
Investing activities:
Additions to property and equipment, net of disposals		(32,318	)		(35,991	)
Acquisitions		(124,776	)		(22,694	)
Net cash used in investing activities		(157,094	)		(58,685	)
Net cash used by financing activities		(93,643	)		(147,245	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash		(23,367	)		6,924
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	$	(150,099	)	$	66,373