The first phase of research into breath-based diagnostics for detecting heartworm disease in dogs has been completed by Global Innovative Platforms Inc. The initial study by the animal health diagnostics developer focused on validating data for a point-of-care, noninvasive test designed for earlier detection of heartworm infection than the current industry standard.

“Early detection is the key to protecting dogs from the serious effects of heartworm,” Andrew Brown, CEO of Global Innovative Platforms, said in a news release.

 “Our goal is to create a simple and noninvasive breath test that veterinary teams can use to potentially identify infections earlier than available heartworm diagnostic tests. If successful, earlier detection could [provide] veterinarians and owners the opportunity to intervene sooner, potentially helping dogs live healthier, longer lives.”

According to the American Heartworm Society (AHS), it takes at least 6 months after infection for a dog to test positive, and there may be no symptoms showing.

 The breath test in development aims to detect infection in less than 6 months.

Lindsay Starkey, DVM, PhD, DACVM (Parasitology), an associate professor of parasitology at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and research team leader at Global Innovative Platforms, noted that investigators are always seeking new ways to improve animal health. "Working on this project is exciting, and the initial data [are] encouraging. We look forward to continuing the research and exploring how breath analysis may contribute to earlier, more effective detection,” Starkey said in the release.

Starkey, who also serves as editor for the AHS, worked with Sarah Zohdy, PhD, BS, an associate professor of disease ecology at Auburn University in Alabama, and the late Byron Blagburn, PhD, MS, who was a Distinguished University Professor Emeritus at Auburn University and died in 2024.

 Pioneer scientists Zohdy and Blagburn began their heartworm and breath research in 2017.

 Additional on-site testing was overseen by parasitologist Elyssa Campbell, PhD, director of the Filariasis Research Reagent Resource Center at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine in Athens.

Understanding and combating heartworm preventive resistance

Investigators collected and analyzed more than 100 breath samples under Campbell’s supervision during the yearlong study period. “I’m grateful to be working with such a talented team and committed to continuing this work. The data we have gathered show a lot of promise and reinforce our belief that breath analysis could be a significant step forward in veterinary diagnostics,” Campbell said in the release.

The AHS currently recommends that dogs be tested annually for heartworm, even when they’re being treated with preventive medication. Patients who are just starting on a preventive regimen should be administered a heartworm test initially, then again after 6 months, before moving to annual testing. Puppies younger than 7 months can be started on a heartworm preventive without being tested.

Global Innovative Platforms announces completion of first phase of breath test study for early heartworm detection. News release. Global Innovative Platforms. October 7, 2025. Accessed October 7, 2025. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/10/07/3162720/0/en/Global-Innovative-Platforms-Announces-Completion-of-First-Phase-of-Breath-Test-Study-for-Early-Heartworm-Detection.html

Heartworm in dogs: when should my dog be tested? American Heartworm Society. Accessed October 7, 2025. https://www.heartwormsociety.org/heartworms-in-dogs?highlight=WyJmb3IiXQ==

Official obituary of Byron Lynn Blagburn. Jeffcoat Trant Funeral Home. Accessed October 7, 2025. 

https://www.jeffcoattrant.com/obituary/ByronLynn-Blagburn

Starkey L, McCafferty C. Understanding and combating heartworm preventive resistance. 

. March 24, 2025. Accessed October 7, 2025. https://www.dvm360.com/view/understanding-and-combating-heartworm-preventive-resistance

Articles

What if a breath is all it took to detect a parasite? Global Innovative Platforms recently completed a study of a potential solution. 

A diagnostic tool in development could lead to earlier heartworm detection

On this episode of The Vet Blast Podcast presented by dvm360, and sponsored by Elanco Animal Health, Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, and Joya Griffin, DVM, DACVD, talk about how important it is for general practitioners to control pruritus quickly to retain client relationships, treatment approaches based on the severity and seasonality, and more.   

Managing atopic dermatitis in canine patients 

This episode is sponsored by Elanco Animal Health 

During a live  recording of The Vet Blast Podcast presented by dvm360 at dvm360's Fetch Kansas City conference Joya Griffin, DVM, DACVD, joined our host Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, talk more about atopic dermatitis in canine patients.  Through the episode, Griffin and Christman talk about treatment options and approaches veterinary professionals can use to treat these patients, how crucial diagnostic workshops are, and the crucial role general practitioners can play in retaining relationships with clients of itchy pets.

Below is a partial transcript, edited lightly for clarity.

: Let's talk a little bit more about Zenrelia. So it's been on the market for nearly a year. September 2024, approval. What's your experience been with it?

: For me, more is more, of course. As a dermatologist, I see the worst cases, but it has a nice place in adding an additional option for these cases, because we know that there are patients that don't respond to one particular therapy, and we need more options. 

Atopy is not a, you know, cookie-cutter type of disease, and so having another option for my patients is amazing, and I've seen some really good success in controlling these refractory dogs that haven't responded to anything else.

Excellent. And let's talk a little bit about patient selections. What types of patients would be good candidates for Zenrelia or to administer it?

Well, Zenrelia, or ilunocitinib, is labeled for use in adult dogs 12 months or older that are presenting for pruritis related to allergic dermatitis, which can be contact allergy, food, hypersensitivity, atopic dermatitis, of course, and even flea allergies. So any of those pruritic diseases that present, even on an acute basis, you can use Zenrelia and to provide relief and itch and inflammation control.


And in the time that it's been out on the market, just overall... as a dermatologist, are you getting that relief as a dermatologist, finally [seeming] like, oh my gosh, its patients [are] responding well to it?

Podcasts

Explore the latest insights on canine atopic dermatitis treatment with Joya Griffin, DVM, DACVD, and Adam Christman, DVM, MBA.

Weight management and oral health canine supplements

 by Native Pet were developed to support metabolic health while regulating hunger hormones glucagon-like peptide-1 and leptin and to support the oral microbiome, respectively. Gutwell Trim Down is also formulated with a triple-biotic blend and L-carnitine. Meanwhile, Gutwell Clean Breath contains postbiotics to help break down plaque-causing biofilms, brown algae, zinc, and a triple-biotic blend. Both products come in 12.7-oz resealable pouches containing 60 scoops.

 make up a line of pheromone products by SIGNS Laboratory developed to help these animals adapt to different environments. The products come in multiple formulations, including:

A stick diffuser for use in the home environment

A water-based mist for use during travel or vet visits

An aqueous, topically applied cream for outdoor and social settings

A hydroalcoholic gel applied to the handler’s hands to help pets perceive them as nonthreatening

The products are designed for use by pet owners, veterinary professionals, and other pet professionals.

Free pet nutrition handbook for veterinary professionals

Purina Institute Handbook of Canine and Feline Well-Pet Nutrition

 by the Purina Institute is a free, product-agnostic e-book that offers scientific and practical information on nutritional management for healthy cats and dogs. The handbook contains contributions from 54 experts across 20 countries and addresses questions and challenges veterinary professionals may face when discussing pet nutrition with clients. Specifically, it contains information on the functions of various nutrients, specialized nutrition for different life stages, proactive nutrition strategies, and communication techniques for client conversations.

Oral solution for treating northern fowl mites

Fluralaner oral solution (Exzolt; MSD Animal Health)

 is an FDA-approved parasiticide for the treatment and control of 

 (northern fowl mites) in laying hens and replacement chickens. The product is the first FDA-approved therapy for the treatment and control of northern fowl mites in poultry and is the first oral solution of its kind. It also treats 

 (red mites). The product is available only through prescription from a licensed veterinarian.

Image courtesy of BookBaby/Jacenta Parker Cox, DVM

Conversational Spanish for Companion Animal Veterinarians and Technicians

 by Jacenta Parker Cox, DVM, provides veterinary professionals with commonly used words and phrases for communicating with Spanish-speaking clients. The book covers greetings, breeds, types of pets and other pet descriptions, clinical procedures, medications, billing, yearly diagnostic exams, anatomy, care plan instructions, and end-of-life discussions. The book is presented in charts and diagrams for ease of use.

Generic treatment for bovine respiratory disease

, a generic gamithromycin subcutaneous injectable solution by Bimeda Animal Health indicated for the control of respiratory disease in beef and nonlactating dairy cattle at high risk of developing bovine respiratory disease linked to 

Gamrozyne requires a prescription from a licensed veterinarian.


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

Products+Services360: Veterinary Spanish guide & other products

Our client service representative (CSR) has lengthy scheduling calls. How can I coach an employee to have shorter conversations?

Aim for a call time of 3 to 5 minutes to schedule an appointment for an existing client. To achieve shorter call times, your CSR must lead conversations.

Meet with the employee to share feedback on call performance and expectations. If your phone service provider offers call statistics, review average call duration. Some providers offer artificial intelligence–powered insights of categorizing calls by purpose such as scheduling or new clients, and client sentiment analysis such as neutral, happy, or unhappy based on tone and language. Share the CSR’s current performance and set expectations for improvement.

To engage callers and have efficient call times, I teach CSRs to follow these 4 steps:

After getting caller and pet names, access the electronic medical record to see which services and products are due. Ask the caller, “To schedule the appropriate amount of time, what will we be seeing [

Explaining why you need the reason for the visit encourages the caller to share a brief description. This lets CSRs determine urgency and choose the right appointment type, length, and provider. A patient with symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea will need a same-day urgent care appointment. A progress exam for an ear infection should be scheduled with the same veterinarian who diagnosed and treated the patient. A wellness appointment could be scheduled days or weeks out based on the patient’s due date.

Progress exams should be scheduled with the same veterinarian whenever possible to have efficient exam time and continuity of care. Say, “I see that Dr [

For all other appointment types, say, “Do you prefer a specific doctor or want the first available appointment?” Many clients will pick the next available slot and be grateful for your suggestion.

If the client requests a specific provider, share the veterinarian’s next 2 available appointments. If the preferred doctor has limited availability, say, “Dr [

Avoid the time trap of multiple questions, such as “What day of the week do you want?” and “What time of day do you prefer?” Offer the next 2 available appointments that work well for your schedule’s flow. For example, sandwich a sick patient exam between 2 wellness appointments because checkups are more predictable and likely to stay on time. Putting 3 sick pet appointments in a row will risk delays. When clients dictate appointment times and dates, you’ll also get a chaotic, mismanaged schedule.

Say, “Our next available appointments are [

4. Summarize details when closing the call.

State the appointment time and date, provider, and when to expect the next communication. Immediately send text and email confirmations so clients can add appointments to their calendars. Setting expectations and explaining the why behind pre-appointment instructions will increase adherence to submitting online forms.

]. You will get text and email confirmations shortly so that you may add the appointment to your calendar. As the date nears, you’ll get an online health form to complete and submit before the appointment to help our medical team prepare for the visit. If you have questions before the appointment, please contact us. We look forward to seeing you and [

Use client and pet names at least 3 times during conversations to engage callers. When CSRs lead conversations, you will reduce call times while providing exceptional experiences. Build confidence every call with my free course, “5 Phone Skills for Confident Conversations” (

). Get 5 short videos on greetings, engaging callers, triage, scheduling, and new client calls, along with a handout, quiz, and certificate of completion. Share this free training resource with your entire team.

See these steps in action: Wellness appointment scheduling call

Shorten scheduling calls to 3 to 5 minutes when you use the 4 steps of determining the reason for the visit, asking doctor preference, using the yes-or-yes technique, and summarizing appointment details.

This sample conversation also has a game-changing question to ensure you choose the right appointment type. Some clients may blindside doctors at the end of wellness appointments with, “Could you also check…?” To avoid sick patients getting booked in wellness slots, ask, “Does your pet have any health or behavior concerns that you want to discuss with the doctor?” If the client shares that her dog has been scratching his ears, schedule a sick pet appointment to address the chief complaint.

Need a script for a client conversation? 

Submit your scenario to info@csvets.com for consideration in future columns.

Shortening scheduling calls

Pedro Diniz, DVM, PhD, discusses the integration of AI in medical and veterinary education with Vet Watch host Christopher Lee, DVM, MPH, DACVPM

Brains and bots: How AI is shaping medical education

With artificial intelligence (AI) taking the world by storm in the last year or so, what could this mean for veterinary education? In this episode of 

, our host Christopher Lee, DVM, MPH, DACVPM, sits down with Pedro Diniz, DVM, PhD, to discuss what the future of veterinary education may look like for students and educators. 

: So you've definitely helped shape the education and future of DVMs [doctors of veterinary medicine], and now you're working across disciplines, with MDs [doctors of medicine] and...AI in the mix. What's changed? What has AI done to improve education? And why should we be excited about it?

So that's a great question, because education tends to move slowly, but AI has brought new paradigm shifts that are forcing educators to think faster and...ask difficult questions about their own courses. So, for example, AI now is capable of turning and helping educators design their courses, or helping educators create better test items for exam questions, making sure these questions are fair, making sure these questions are aligned with the objectives of the course. So we've seen AI around us, and we will see more and more as the technology continues to evolve. It's fascinating what it can do as an outcomes assessment and an analyst. It's incredible what we can do with data sets and analyzing the data and finding caveats. 

So what we are seeing today is that arms race on AI from the main platforms available online. So, for example, while ChatGPT was the first large [language] model that was very popular 2 1/2 years ago, Google has launched Gemini and also NotebookLM, and Meta has released the Llama models, which are actually free models, and other vendors [are] also in this arms race. We have models now coming from other countries, like China, as well. So it is quite interesting to see how fast the technology has evolved because of competition. It is actually hard to catch up on how fast the technology is advancing and how much knowledge [LLMs are] acquiring, how much memory [they are] retaining, and especially [in] veterinary medicine, we have seen...a significant increase in the quality of these models in these last 6 months.

So this arms race, or capitalism, is actually improving things by making everything go faster and from different angles.

Yeah, let's be very clear [on] this. All these companies are trying to provide what is the best model, so everybody will use them. But then, in reality, I think for education, we have a unique opportunity to use these tools for the benefit of our students and for the learning and in preparing the next generation of veterinarians.

Videos

Explore how AI is transforming veterinary education on this episode of Vet Watch.

A nonprofit organization dedicated to the health and well-being for West Highland white terrier dogs has awarded its first scholarship to a veterinary student through a new program. The Westie Foundation of America (WFA) has recognized Briana Guerra, a first-year student at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) School of Veterinary Medicine, with the inaugural scholarship from the WFA /Thomas and Roxanne Austin Veterinary Scholarship program that was launched in 2024.

(Photo courtesy of the Westie Foundation of America)

Centrally focused on UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, the program aims to support and celebrate future veterinarians who display a “keen interest in the Westie breed” and who strives for veterinary excellence.“These students represent the future of veterinary medicine, and we’re honored to celebrate their admission together,” Angela Reynolds, senior director of development, UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, said in the release. “Thank you for trusting UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine to award this scholarship to a deserving and inspiring rising star.”

Guerra was selected by UC Davis to receive the scholarship, based on a rigorous set of criteria proposed by the WFA. She previously gained clinical experience at the Los Angeles Veterinary Center in California. She plans to practice veterinary medicine in an area with a bilingual clientele and traditionally underserved pet owners, upon graduation.

“We are pleased to say Briana meets and exceeds the scholarship criteria of academic excellence and we are honored to help further her veterinary goals,” Kay McGuire, DVM, vice president, health for the Westie Foundation of America, said in the release. “It is an honor to work with UC Davis on this important contribution to the new veterinary generation.”

Guerra is 1 of 154 students in her UC Davis class. She was selected from more than 3000 applicants, of which 57% are first-generation college students. A daughter of immigrants who fled civil war in El Salvador, she is the first in her family to pursue a college education.

“Your support means more than words can express,” Guerra said in a news release. “Thank you for helping me pursue my lifelong dream.”

Roxanne Austin said she and Tom Austin are proud to support the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and the Westie Foundation of America through the program that bears their names. “Our pets have brought us immense joy, and we understand firsthand the vital role quality veterinary care plays in helping them live long, healthy and happy lives. We are thrilled to congratulate Briana Guerra as the inaugural recipient of this scholarship,” she said in the release.

The WFA also provides funding opportunities to veterinarians and students through other programs. Most recently, in March 2025, the organization announced clinical oncologist Selvi Jegatheeson, DVM, FANZCVS, as a clinician-fellow sponsored by WFA through the Canine Health Foundation of the American Kennel Club. Jegatheeson is pursuing a PhD in Australia, where she is investigating immunotherapy treatments for people and dogs.

First scholarship awarded in new veterinary scholarship program. News release. Westie Foundation of America. September 30, 2025. Accessed October 6, 2025. 

https://www.einnews.com/pr_news/853750971/first-scholarship-awarded-in-new-veterinary-scholarship-program

Dr Selve Jegatheeson. Westie Foundation of America. March 6, 2025. Accessed October 6, 2025. https://westiefoundation.org/not-a-post/Dr-Selvi-Jegatheeson

A first-year student is being recognized with funding from the Thomas and Roxanne Austin Veterinary Scholarship program.