Lisa Freeman, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (Nutrition), of Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, has been named the winner of the AKC Canine Health Foundation’s inaugural Canine Health Discovery of the Year Award for her research into diet-associated dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), the foundation announced on December 16, 2025.

Image Credit: © Shutter2U | stock.adobe.com

The discovery offers a biologically plausible mechanism for further study and a way for veterinarians to prioritize early detection, referral, and reporting. Freeman’s work had been a finalist for this award, a recognition that highlights the potential clinical impact of this finding.

Freeman’s team identified a urinary lipid metabolite that is elevated in dogs with diet-associated DCM, and that is consistent with phospholipidosis, a cellular accumulation of phospholipids that can damage tissue. The finding offers a biologically plausible mechanism linking certain diets that include high amounts of pulses, such as peas and lentils, to cardiac injury in some dogs.

The Discovery Award recognizes a single research advance each year that has strong potential to change canine health. The prize for the winner includes up to $75,000 in potential research funding plus a $10,000 cash award, which Freeman intends to apply to continued study of diet-associated DCM. Freeman was honored alongside 2 other finalists at the AKC Canine Health Foundation Canines & Cocktails gala on December 11, 2025.

Freeman said she was honored to have the research recognized by the inaugural award and expressed appreciation for the AKC Canine Health Foundation’s support. Foundation leadership said the project exemplifies the type of bold, rigorous work the award was created to spotlight.

In the study described in dvm360’s earlier coverage, the research team measured higher normalized urine concentrations of a lipid metabolite known as di-22:6-bis(monoacylglycerol)phosphate, or di-22:6-BMP, in dogs with DCM that had been eating pulse-rich diets. Elevated di-22:6-BMP is compatible with phospholipidosis, which gives researchers a testable hypothesis about how diet might contribute to myocardial damage in susceptible animals. The urinary test is currently research only, but it provides a measurable signal to guide future investigations and prioritization of diagnostic efforts.

Urinary biomarker links diet-associated DCM to phospholipidosis

Veterinarians have been urged to include a detailed nutritional history and body and muscle condition assessment when evaluating patients for cardiac disease, because diet-associated DCM has been reported across a variety of breeds and dietary formulations.² Freeman’s findings support that practical advice by supplying a molecular link that could help distinguish diet-associated cases and guide next steps in prevention and treatment.

The AKC Canine Health Foundation said it will use the award and its publicity to stimulate further research and collaboration across the veterinary research community.

 For clinicians, the immediate takeaway is to take a thorough diet history and consider diet as one potential factor when evaluating dogs with DCM.

AKC Canine Health Foundation announces Dr. Lisa Freeman as recipient of inaugural Canine Health Discovery of the Year Award. News release. AKC Canine Health Foundation. December 16, 2025. Accessed December 16, 2025. https://www.akcchf.org/press-release/akc-canine-health-foundation-announces-dr-lisa-freeman-as-recipient-of-inaugural-canine-health-discovery-of-the-year-award/

Alaburda B. Urinary biomarker links diet-associated DCM to phospholipidosis. dvm360. December 11, 2025. Accessed December 16, 2025. https://www.dvm360.com/view/urinary-biomarker-links-diet-associated-dcm-to-phospholipidosis

Articles

Lisa Freeman’s team identified a urinary biomarker linked to phospholipidosis that may explain how pulse-rich diets contribute to dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs.

Tufts researcher wins AKC award for diet-associated DCM discovery

To help readers stay up to date with the latest innovations in the veterinary and pet care spectrum, 

 has curated a list of recent product and technology launches.

The following were highlighted in dvm360’s November/December magazine issue:

Ingelvac CircoFLEX AD by Boehringer Ingelheim is the first vaccine to protect against the most common genotypes of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2). The vaccine combines PCV2a and PCV2d antigens in 1 dose. The vaccine is approved for healthy pigs at least 2 weeks old and is administered intramuscularly through a single, 1-mL dose. Immunity begins 2 weeks after vaccination and lasts for at least 6 months.

PetPace V3.0 by PetPace is a smart collar that allows users to share data with veterinarians. The collar provides clinical-grade vital signs and biometric monitoring, allowing veterinarians to monitor chronic disease, treatment protocols, and postprocedure recovery. It also supports virtual consultations and telemedicine services. Using artificial intelligence (AI), the product also can detect and quantify pain, and PetPace is piloting a feature for epilepsy episode monitoring.

Skin + Allergy by Spirited Paw, a Standard Process brand, is a supplement for dogs and cats that supports skin health. It fights itching, redness, and irritation caused by seasonal and environmental allergies. The product contains a blend of non-GMO bovine colostrum, licorice root, zinc, biotin, and vitamin E. According to Spirited Paw, the liver-flavored supplement provides support to pets against environmental irritants such as pollen, mold, dust mites, and indoor allergens.

Filaquin by Nutramax Laboratories Veterinary Sciences, Inc, is an anal gland supplement for dogs that is formulated with NMXFBR4, a proprietary blend of ingredients that contain soluble and insoluble fiber to support normal stool consistency. The product also contains prebiotics and postbiotics for anal gland health, as well as β-glucan, which helps support immune health.

AKC Reunite launched a temperature-sensing microchip. The ISO standard 134.2 kHz microchip, which identifies the pet with a unique microchip ID number, can read the pet’s temperature when scanned by a compatible temperature-sensing microchip scanner.

ZyVet Animal Health launched the first FDA-approved generic formulation of furosemide tablets. The medication, which is indicated for cats and dogs, is available in multiple strengths for patient-specific dosing. Furosemide is the most widely used veterinary diuretic for reducing edema and pulmonary congestion caused by cardiac, renal, or systemic disease.

A roundup of the latest products and innovative technology in veterinary medicine.

Products+Services360: Temperature-sensing microchip & other products

In this episode of The Vet Blast Podcast presented by dvm360, Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, welcomes Nicole Westfall, MBA, to talk more about noninvasive pain management options from Zomedica.

Modern therapies for patients with chronic pain

This episode of The Vet Blast Podcast presented by dvm360 is sponsored by Zomedica.

During this live podcast recording from dvm360’s Fetch Kansas City conference, our host Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, welcomes special guest Nicole Westfall, MBA, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Zomedica, to the show. They discuss PulseVet Shock Wave Therapy, The Assisi Loop, and how both products offer noninvasive pain management options for patients with chronic pain.

Throughout the episode, Westfall and Christman take a deep dive into how each product works, their clinical benefits, and a walkthrough of what at-home sessions look like for clients.

Below is a partial transcript, edited lightly for clarity.

And how many minutes per session? And how many do you get out of a loop? 

Sure. So the loop is 15 minutes per session. Again, all you do is turn it on, the lights go on, and then it goes off when it's done, you get 150 treatments out of each loop. And then the [Loop Lounge], you actually get over 6000 treatments, which is fantastic, right? And it too, is 15 minutes, and all you do is turn it on.

: And the research has been in the human literature for many years, and then started coming over to the veterinary space, right?

 Yeah, the Assisi products were really started in the human field, and then with the founders of Assisi, they worked on those products and then adapted it to the pet space. And so then we have a couple of great studies, one by [Leilani Alvarez, DVM, DACVSMR] who I think is your keynote coming up from AMC, and a couple of other ones in the animal space. But then there's a ton in the human space.

Yeah, there really is a ton in human space. So using that coupling that with shock wave therapy, what are some trends that you're seeing going forward when we're looking at multimodal pain management?

Well, we're really seeing that pet owners don't want to drug their dogs every day if they don't have to. It's expensive, it's hard to do. I mean, I'm sure you can tell me more on that. So we're seeing that they want to do non invasive treatment therapies, right? And so doing coupling shock wave and the Assisi Loop is an easy way to do that, because unlike some of the other non invasive therapies, they don't have to come quite as often. For shock wave, right? It's 1-3  treatments, depending on what the vet recommends. 

And then the Assisi loop is so easy to do at home, it's really minimal effort, and they're loving that, and they're not having to use nearly as many NSAIDs or things like that that could harm the pets on the inside.

Podcasts

Explore noninvasive treatment options for chronic pain patients in this episode of The Vet Blast Podcast presented by dvm360.

With hazards around every corner during the holidays, veterinary teams should remind clients of the risks seasonal foods and decorations can pose to pets. With extra vigilance this season, pet owners can help their animal companions avoid emergency visits.

“Holiday celebrations often mean delicious foods, beautiful decorations, and friends and family, which can be wonderful for us but may pose unexpected risks to our pets," Michael Bailey, DVM, DACVR, AAAS, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), said in a news release by the organization. "The best gift you can give your pet this holiday season is the gift of good health and safety, which means keeping seasonal hazards out of reach, providing a quiet space away from the hustle and bustle, and ensuring emergency plans are in place in case the unexpected happens."

Chocolate, baked goods (especially sweets with the sugar substitute xylitol), table scraps, and seasonal plants like lilies, holly, and mistletoe are all dangerous to pets. When it comes to decorations, tinsel, candles, electrical cords, and Christmas trees can also pose a risk, the AVMA said.

 Keeping these items out of reach is key to a safer holiday season.

Chocolate remains a leading toxic ingestion for dogs

In fact, according to the pet insurance provider Pumpkin, between 2020 and 2025, chocolate was the No. 1 most ingested toxic item for dogs, averaging a veterinary bill of $1100.

 The incident is not exclusive to dogs, as Pumpkin has also seen multiple claims related to chocolate ingestion in cats.

Dogs and cats are not able to metabolize chocolate like humans, with the toxic components of this food, caffeine and theobromine, stimulating these animals’ central nervous system and heart.

 The darker the chocolate, the higher the risk to pets. According to Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine, 1 oz of milk chocolate per lb of a dog’s weight can be lethal, whereas only 0.1 oz per lb of a dog’s body weight of unsweetened baking chocolate can be deadly.

For cats, string ingestion is a top foreign-body emergency

Although chocolate ingestion is a hazard for cats, string-related ingestion remains the No. 1 case of foreign body emergencies for these animals. Oftentimes, these ingestions can lead to linear foreign body obstruction, where the gastrointestinal obstruction leads to intestinal plication and potential perforation. On average, it costs $2500 to treat a string ingestion.

"Because cats love to hunt, their instinctual hunting behavior will take over when they see an object like a string moving," Mondrian Contreras, DVM, a veterinarian based in Illinois and founder of the VetBros Pet Education Charitable Fund, said in a news release.

 "Objects like these are always a concern because they can cause serious gastrointestinal issues, which may require surgery."

Cats playing with string or ribbon should always be supervised, and owners should ensure no part of the item is chewed or swallowed, Pumpkin said. If the string is swallowed, owners should not attempt to pull it out, and a veterinarian should be contacted immediately.

Toys and other items also pose an ingestion risk

Beyond food and décor, other commonly ingested items by dogs and cats include torn or chewed up toys. Holiday guests, excitement, and stress can lead to higher risk of ingesting toy parts, such as Legos and doll heads, during unsupervised playtime. Inspecting pets’ toys before holiday parties and throwing away anything that is damaged can help keep pets safe. Pumpkin also recommends checking toys children at home may have to ensure they are not a hazard to pets.

Socks, corn cobs, cooked bones, sticks, and rocks are also common foreign ingestions, according to Pumpkin. “Holidays can pose several dangers for pets due to various factors. The combination of increased foot traffic, the temptation of delicious but dangerous foods, and the potential for unintentional feeding can create a hazardous environment for our furry friends during the holiday season,” Contreras said.

 "If pet parents suspect that their pet has swallowed something dangerous, such as a sock or part of a toy, the first step is to contact their veterinarian for a thorough evaluation."

Safer ways to include pets in holiday celebrations

For veterinary teams counseling clients who want to include pets safely in holiday traditions, the AVMA recommends pet-appropriate gifts, such as

Toys that support exercise and mental stimulation

A microchip or updating existing chip information

“Even something as simple as a microchip can be a lifesaving gift if your pet ever becomes lost," concluded Bailey.

 "It's a gift that lasts a lifetime, and helps to ensure that you will be reunited if you and your pets become separated."

Keep pets safe and happy this holiday season: Tips from the AVMA. News release. American Veterinary Medical Association. December 10, 2025. Accessed December 16, 2025. https://www.avma.org/news/press-releases/keep-pets-safe-and-happy-holiday-season-tips-avma

Pumpkin warns pet parents of holiday hazards as new data reveals the top things pets swallow—and the surprising vet costs behind them. News release. Pumpkin Pet Insurance. December 2, 2025. Accessed December 16, 2025. https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pumpkin-warns-pet-parents-of-holiday-hazards-as-new-data-reveals-the-top-things-pets-swallow--and-the-surprising-vet-costs-behind-them-302630537.html

Chocolate toxicity: What should I do if my dog eats chocolate? Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. Accessed December 16, 2025. https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/riney-canine-health-center/canine-health-topics/chocolate-toxicity-what-should-i-do-if-my-dog-eats-chocolate#:~:text=emergency%20veterinarian%20immediately.-,Cause,can%20quickly%20lead%20to%20dehydration.

Top toxic ingestions in cats and dogs and average cost of treatment, according to a pet insurance provider. 

Holiday hazards for pets: Common toxic ingestions and foreign-body risks veterinarians should flag

The USDA has granted full approval for a novel therapy to treat canine parvovirus (CPV), according to Elanco Animal Health. The Canine Parvovirus Monoclonal Antibody (CPMA)—now Trutect— from Elanco received a conditional license from the USDA in 2023, and the agency extended its use for passive immunity in puppies exposed to the virus, in June 2025 .

CPV is a common infectious disease in dogs around the world. Left untreated, it results in death in approximately 90% of cases. Survival rates are estimated to be 80% to 90% in cases with aggressive treatment.

According to data compiled by Elanco, 93% of puppies with CPV that received CPMA treatment survived. Furthermore, patients infected with the virus spent an average of 1.87 fewer days in the hospital.

“Receiving full USDA approval of our lifesaving [parvovirus] treatment reinforces our promise to go beyond for veterinarians, pet owners, and, most importantly, the puppies across the country who need it most,” Bobby Modi, executive vice president, US pet health and global digital transformation for Elanco, said in a news release.

 “Under the brand name Trutect, our mission remains the same, to save puppies from parvovirus.”

As a nonenveloped, single-stranded DNA virus, CPV can survive for more than a year in the environment, which serves as a means of transmission. Transmission occurs through a fecal-oral route such as exposure to CPV in feces or vomit, as well as fomites.

Puppies aged 6 weeks to 6 months are more likely to develop severe illness with CPV, especially those younger than 12 weeks. CPV disease can also develop in unvaccinated or improperly vaccinated adult dogs. In some regions, the distribution of CPV disease has been seasonal, while socioeconomic disadvantage was found to play a role in at least one surveillance study.

Tannetje Crocker, DVM, an emergency veterinarian at Veterinary Emergency Group in Dallas, Texas, and owner of Alta Vista Animal Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas, said she has seen firsthand the “devastating” effect of CPV throughout her career. “Since 2023, I have proudly used CPMA and have reunited countless puppies with their families. I’ve also used the product on exposed puppies, helping to keep them protected from this highly contagious virus. I believe every [veterinary] clinic should keep [CPMA] on hand because you never know when a parvo puppy will need this targeted treatment,” Crocker said in the release.

According to Elanco data on file, there is a 90% satisfaction rate from clinics that incorporated CPMA into their treatment protocols. Additionally, 92% of veterinarians reported a reduction in overall clinic stress while using CPMA in the treatment process, and 83% expressed that they would recommend it to their peers.

“The real-world data collected over the first year of CPMA availability shows that as a result of these efforts and more, survival rates for puppies battling the deadly virus improved. We also saw enhanced operational efficiency and high satisfaction within veterinary clinics—demonstrating that Trutect has already started rewriting the protocol for parvovirus treatment,” Jill Pattee, DVM, a veterinarian for Elanco Animal Health, said in the release.

, Crocker also recommended vaccination against CPV infection for reducing disease exposure and transmission, as well as client education. “I see a ton of dogs come in that are unvaccinated. Puppies are not fully vaccinated… So, the recommendation is simple, and it's something that I feel like people should know. But then the more I talk to pet owners, and I talk to them about what [CPV] is, they just don't know. So, we want to make sure we get the word out about how important vaccination is and knowing the early signs of [CPV],” she said in the interview.

Common clinical signs of CPV include fever, lethargy, inappetence, vomiting, severe diarrhea, dehydration, and depression. In rare cases, sudden death or tachypnea caused by myocarditis may also occur.

Elanco launched a multiyear campaign in 2024 with a mission to help prevent and defeat CPV in puppies. As part of this campaign, the company introduced the first National Parvo Awareness Day to provide education about CPV. Additionally, Elanco has expanded its manufacturing facility in Elwood, Kansas, and is continuing to invest in the growth of the company’s monoclonal antibody platform.

For pet owners with dogs exposed to or infected with CPV, Elanco is increasing the availability of CPMA and offers a $200 rebate with purchase. The company has also donated more than $3 million of CPMA product across 2300 clinics and shelters across the US.

Getting familiar with emergency medicine in general practice

Elanco announces full USDA approval of CPMA (now Trutect) the first-and-only treatment for deadly canine parvovirus. News release. Elanco Animal Health. December 15, 2025. Accessed December 16, 2025. 

https://www.elanco.com/us/newsroom/press-releases/trutect-USDA-approval

What every pet owner should know about parvo-virus. Jefferson Animal Hospital Regional Emergency & Trauma Center. Accessed December 16, 2025. 

https://jeffersonanimalhospitals.com/what-every-pet-owner-should-know-about-parvo-virus

Sykes JE. Chapter 14: Canine parvovirus infections and other viral enteritides. In: Sykes JE, ed. 

. Saunders; 2013:141-151. doi:10.1016/B978-1-4377-0795-3.00014-4

Crossley KC. Generating awareness about parvovirus vaccination. 

. June 25, 2024. Accessed December 16, 2025. 

https://www.dvm360.com/view/generating-awareness-about-parvovirus-vaccination

Elanco's monoclonal antibody therapy, Trutect, received a conditional license from the federal agency in 2023.

USDA grants full approval for novel canine parvovirus therapy

Recently, the veterinary community has begun to raise questions about the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE), which is administered by the International Council for Veterinary Assessment (ICVA), and how it is developed, administered, and scored. Because of this, the ICVA announced earlier this month that it has agreed to initiate an independent audit of the examination.

“Recently, members of the veterinary community have raised questions around how the NAVLE is developed, administered, and scored. To ensure the NAVLE continues to be a fair and impartial assessment of candidates’ entry-level knowledge, skills, and abilities, we have made the decision to initiate an audit of the examination performed by an independent third party,” ICVA stated in an organizational release.

According to the ICVA’s annual report, the NAVLE saw record numbers this year with 9301 examinations administered, marking a 51% increase in the last 5 years.

 Each exam is offered to future veterinary professionals at Prometric computer testing centers across North America, plus certain international locations. The tests are given during 3 annual testing windows each year: October-November, March, and July-August.

ICVA stated in its release that it is still in the early stages of the audit process and will continue to update the veterinary community as it learns more.

Along with the news of the audit, ICVA also announced that starting December 1, 2025, there is an update to the retake policy. Starting with the March 2026 window, all candidates will be given 5 new opportunities to take the NAVLE, regardless of their testing history.

 The ICVA stated in its release that anyone who had test attempts made prior to December 1, 2025, will not count toward the new 5 attempt limit. With this change, the ICVA will also eliminate the waiver process to help ensure consistent and equitable policy for all candidates.

This update, according to the ICVA, comes after feedback from candidates as well as NAVLE data.

NAVLE will undergo independent audit. News release. American Veterinary Medical Association. December 12, 2025. Accessed December 16, 2025. 

https://www.avma.org/news/navle-will-undergo-independent-audit

ICVA statement on NAVLE independent audit. News release. International Council for Veterinary Assessment. December 1, 2025. Accessed December 16, 2025. 

https://www.icva.net/news-and-updates/icva-statement-on-navle-audit/#

ICVA 2024-2025 Annual Report. International Council for Veterinary Assessment. Accessed December 16, 2024. 

https://icva.net/image/cache/ICVA_Annual_Report_2024-2025_FIN.pdf

NAVLE retake policy changes effective December 1, 2025. International Council for Veterinary Assessment. November 17, 2025. Accessed December 16, 2025. 

https://www.icva.net/news-and-updates/navle-retake-policy-changes-effective-december-1-2025/

The audit comes after the veterinary community recently raised questions about the development, administration, and scoring of the test, plus other NAVLE news.