The Magnetom Flow.Ace, a novel 1.5 tesla (T) platform for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), has been installed at the Animal Neurology Center in St Louis, Missouri—the first installation system in a US health care institution. The 60 cm bore system from Siemens Healthineers covers the entire range of MRI applications.

The system is also the first MRI scanner from the company to be marketed for both veterinary radiology and general radiology.

 “The relationship between The Animal Neurology Center and Siemens Healthineers represents an exciting step forward in the expanding interest and capabilities of veterinary diagnostic imaging,” Fred Wininger, VMD, MS, DACVIM, veterinary neurologist/neurosurgeon and owner of the Animal Neurology Center, said.

According to Siemens Healthineers, the Magnetom Flow.Ace uses 0.7 L of liquid helium for cooling—a fraction of the 1000 L or more used by conventional MRI scanners, and the device deactivates energy-intensive components when they’re not in use. Additionally, the Magnetom Flow.Ace does not require a quench pipe, which is often used to vent gaseous helium directly into the atmosphere during an emergency shutdown. This absence of a quench pipe, combined with the scanner’s small size, can provide lower installation requirements and costs than some other 1.5T MR scanners.

The scanner’s Deep Resolve image reconstruction technology is based on artificial intelligence, which enables shorter scan times and improved image quality, according to Siemens Healthineers. Additionally, the technology’s range of contour and dedicated MR coils are available for veterinary applications.

According to the Animal Neurology Center, having the Magnetom Flow.Ace helps ensure its veterinary team has access to the same “top-tier MRI technology” that has traditionally been available in human medicine.

“Veterinary medicine facilities such as the Animal Neurology Center face a paradoxical challenge. We are more fiscally constrained than the general radiology community, but because we treat a wide variety of animal patients that are often quite small, we require high-end imaging equipment to generate high-quality images and overcome those constraints,” Wininger said in a news release.

Wininger said the Magnetom Flow.Ace provides “the best of both worlds” to the Animal Neurology Center by delivering “premium imaging” that not only meets the needs of the center’s patients but is also cost-prohibitive.

 “The Magnetom Flow.Ace has exceeded every expectation—delivering affordable, high-quality image sets with shorter acquisition times, all while supporting our professional commitment to environmental sustainability,” he added.

The Magnetom Flow.Ace provides unique settings to fit each customer’s needs because there are many variables that hospitals and laboratories, such as size, samples mix, case mix, technology infrastructure and automation adoption. According to Siemens Healthineers, there can be no guarantee that other customers will receive the same results as Animal Neurology Center because of the customized settings.

Vet hospital installs first Siemens Healthineers Magnetom Flow.Ace magnetic resonance scanner in the US. News release. Siemens Healthineers. February 10, 2026. Accessed February 11, 2026. 

https://www.siemens-healthineers.com/en-us/press-room/press-releases/magnetom-flow-ace-first-install

ANC becomes the first veterinary practice in the US to install Siemens Healthineers Magnetom Flow.Ace MRI scanner. Animal Neurology Center. Accessed February 11, 2026. 

https://animalneurology.com/news/magnetom-flow-ace-veterinary-mri-anc/

Articles

The Magnetom Flow.Ace from Siemens Healthineers was installed in a St. Louis veterinary clinic.

Innovative MRI system makes its US debut

A veterinary pain specialist explains how acupuncture complements medications and when improvements may appear.

Where acupuncture fits in modern veterinary practice—beyond drugs

In this video, Bonnie D. Wright, DVM, DACVAA, CVMA, CVPP, CCRT, CCRP, discusses how veterinarians new to acupuncture can begin integrating non-pharmacologic tools into practice and what to realistically expect once treatment starts, describing how acupuncture, much like exercise, serve as non-pharmacologic tools that support neurologic, myofascial, and immune function. She also explains how quickly patients may show improvement after initiating acupuncture therapy, from immediate calming effects to more gradual changes seen over multiple sessions.

Below is a partial transcript, lightly edited for clarity.

 For veterinarians new to acupuncture, what is one practical takeaway from your session that could be implemented immediately in practice?

 I think something I really like to reinforce is that thinking of multimodal veterinary practice or integrative practice through the lens of both pharmacology and what I call non-pharmacologic interventions; and that can be something that you have to go learn about, like acupuncture. It can also be as simple as learning some basic suggestions on motion exercise, using how the body moves itself through space to improve some of that immunologic and myofascial signaling that we get with acupuncture.

So, I see acupuncture and exercise as very related in terms of being non-pharmacologic input that are beneficial for both the nervous system and the myofascial system and the immunologic system. So really starting to think, "Oh, what other things can I add here?" If you haven’t already learned acupuncture, there's ways to do that without going and taking an acupuncture course. But of course, I think acupuncture is a great tool for all veterinarians. So I think as you get inspired to be integrative, going into learning acupuncture can really change practice, change the way a veterinarian interacts with an animal’s tissues and the information that gives them. So start small, start with something like thinking deliberately about exercise, and then just keep adding to it.

 In your experience, how quickly do patients typically show improvement after initiating acupuncture therapy?

 Because what we're doing is modifying homeostasis, we don't always expect a response the very first day that we treat. So, with acupuncture we usually recommend that we get 3 or 4 treatments done in a weekly to every-other-week sort of timeframe to establish...

Videos

Bonnie D. Wright, DVM, DACVAA, CVMA, CVPP, CCRT, CCRP, explains how acupuncture complements medications and when improvements may appear.

Where acupuncture fits in modern veterinary care—beyond drugs

Social health matters for people and pets

To make up for a missed workout, I call my sister or meet a friend for tea. Why? Research reassures me that happy relationships and good social connections predict healthy aging and longevity in people better than physical activity, genetics, and socioeconomic status does. Plus, did you know that social isolation and chronic loneliness are human health risk factors that rival those of smoking, alcoholism, and obesity?

Вероника Зеленина/stock.adobe.com

Veterinarians recognize that puppy and kitten socialization helps prevent undesirable fear-related behaviors in adult dogs and cats, and that ongoing positive training and environmental enrichment support pets’ well-being throughout their lives.

 However, fewer studies have dug deeper into pets’ social fitness, especially in senior dogs and cats.

Initial good news comes from the Dog Aging Project, which shows that positive social interaction with people and other animals promotes dogs’ healthy aging, and that it has a 5 times greater beneficial impact on dogs’ health than their owners’ finances.

 Other studies likewise describe health and well-being benefits for pet and shelter cats who receive positive human social interaction.

Taken together, this information spotlights opportunities for veterinarians to address social engagement as an important component of senior dogs’ and cats’ physical and emotional health.

Physiologic changes that accompany adult dogs’ and cats’ later life stages often result in diminished sensory capabilities, reduced muscle strength, and less energy. Add to that the increased likelihood of a chronic illness or 2 surfacing, and such decline can make senior pets less inclined to participate in activities they previously enjoyed. They may become anxious and clingy or may avoid household activities. Senior pets may no longer tolerate boisterous or novel situations, exuberant play, or strenuous exercise. Senior dogs and cats tend to rely on familiar routines, people, places, activities, and other pets.

Senior pets’ social fitness is at risk when clients say that their pets are “just old” and “don’t want or need to do much anymore.”Help clients understand that if their grey-muzzle dogs are grumpy and their crusty cats are cranky, behavior changes in senior pets are often adaptive responses to their aging physiology, and that medical care and social interaction remain important. Patient management includes helping clients realistically acknowledge their senior pets’ limitations along with their medical, environmental, and social needs.

Senior pet socialization suggestions for clients

Educate clients on the environmental and social interaction adjustments appropriate for their senior pets and households. Take a minute to talk with clients about the importance of their senior pets staying connected with the family and maintaining routines with favorite people, albeit in perhaps different ways, such pet strollers or wagons vs. neighborhood leash walks, and without introducing negative experiences. Conversation-starter questions might be, “Describe your pet’s social interactions,” or “How would you rate your pet’s social fitness?”

When my clients say, “I feel bad that I can’t take my dog hiking anymore” (and after I’ve identified and addressed their dog’s medical issues), I suggest a shorter trek around the block, a “sniffari” in the yard, using a pet wagon or stroller, or rolling a ball indoors. Mild range-of-motion movement, light massage, or simple brushing often suffices, depending on the pet’s health and temperament. Many of those suggestions are also appropriate for clients in maintaining social interactions with senior cats.

Most cats like predictability and routine, and they may experience chronic stress after a major or sudden household change. Clients who have senior cats should aim for predictable interactions with preferred people and pets and allow their cats to choose whether to seek solitude or stay close. Cats need access to vertical spaces so they can observe vs. engage. I advise clients not to force their cats to interact, especially with unfamiliar or rambunctious visitors. Quiet, no-conflict social interactions and predictable daily check-ins with their preferred humans are key for senior cats.

Clients sometimes ask me whether they should get a new puppy or kitten to help keep their senior pet company. Depending on the pet and their history, exposing a senior pet to novel situations or new pet housemates to try to rekindle their youthful energy may work in some cases, and as long as they’re not forced interactions. I assess the situation, offer abundant caution, and no guarantee of success.

Let clients know how to alleviate and avoid stress in their senior pets. Over socialization “for their pets’ own good” (whether it be car rides, dog parks, swimming pools, play dates, visitors) and forced novelty can create stress. When clients have an unrealistic view of their senior pet’s abilities or refute the need for medical intervention, like analgesia, their pet may miss out on activities and social interactions they would otherwise enjoy and benefit from.

Remind clients that pets who withdraw from activities need medical assessment, and to not ignore painful conditions such as arthritis or sensory loss as possible causes of their pets’ reduced interactions. Managing pain and providing the proper medical support help pets feel better and more inclined to remain socially engaged.

Veterinarians can lead senior patient-centered client conversations with confidence and compassion, while still considering and addressing the family’s resources and needs. Have earlier and ongoing quality-of-life conversations with clients as their pets enter and traverse their senior years. Gently discuss palliative and hospice care options when (and preferably before, whenever possible) those needs surface.

Physical or emotional decline or discomfort can make senior pets seek more solitude or become irritable or aggressive. When senior dogs and cats exhibit new undesirable behaviors (identify these based on the client’s presenting complaint and the patient’s history, including behavioral screening questions), first rule out and manage medical conditions like arthritis, cancer, kidney disease, cognitive dysfunction, heart disease, thyroid dysfunction, and cachexia or age-related issues, like sensory decline and sarcopenia, that contribute to behavioral changes.

Recognize and manage senior pets’ physiologic aging changes in conjunction with treatment for other age-related medical conditions they have. Also address patients’ pain, anxiety, and other distress such as nausea.

Reframe clients’ expectations regarding their dog’s ability to participate at a dog park or in wrestling games, or their cat’s ability to engage with other house pets or family members during chase play. Encourage clients to allow their senior pets choice, predictability, and to be seen and included in gentler ways. These may include simply sitting near the family in a safe space instead of being isolated in a different room, providing opportunities for short, positive interactions over long periods of stimulation, and one-on-one time instead of whole-household horseplay. Reassure clients that social health means helping their senior pets feel safe and that quiet company counts. Comforting companionship could include clients simply watching snippets of wildlife videos designed for cats with their cats.

The quality of senior pets’ social connections and interactions matter more than the quantity of the experiences. And of course, clients should not yell, use physical punishment. or otherwise interact negatively with their pets. Remind clients that senior pets who prefer quiet participation doesn’t mean that they want less love and reassuring attention. I tell clients, “Your pet may appreciate calm greetings over exuberant homecomings,” and “Being nearby can be enough for your cat,” and “Connecting with your dog doesn’t always require rowdy play.”

Just as pets’ medical issues benefit from pharmacologic and other therapeutic interventions, senior pets who have declining socialization abilities still benefit from positive, lower-key social interactions. Social engagement is an integral component of pets’ environmental enrichment in all life stages. Just as some veterinary practices offer puppy and kitten classes or promote “pet happy visits” solely for treats and socialization, practices may also offer senior canine and feline socialization classes or client “senior pet life skills’ educational programs. Fostering healthy pet-caregiver relationships remains important for senior pets. 

A full-circle health reward of helping our senior pets remain socially engaged: when we can’t get to the gym, or when our human friends have full schedules, we know that hanging out with our dogs and cats likewise boosts our physical and mental health.

Positive social relationships between people and their pets are healthy for pets, and they’re healthy for people, too.

Berkman LF, Syme SL. Social networks, host resistance, and mortality: a nine-year follow-up study of Alameda County residents. Am J Epidemiol. 1979;109(2):186-204. doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a112674

Holt-Lunstad J, Smith TB, Baker M, Harris T, Stephenson D. Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for mortality: a meta-analytic review. Perspect Psychol Sci. 2015;10(2):227-237. doi:10.1177/1745691614568352

Harvard Second Generation Publications. Harvard Study of Adult Development. Accessed January 26, 2026. https://www.adultdevelopmentstudy.org/publications

Woodward EN, Walsh JL, Senn TE, Carey MP. Positive social interaction offsets impact of low socioeconomic status on stress. J Natl Med Assoc. 2018;110(4):371-377. doi:10.1016/j.jnma.2017.07.006

Martino J, Pegg J, Frates EP. The connection prescription: using the power of social interactions and the deep desire for connectedness to empower health and wellness. Am J Lifestyle Med. 2017;11(6):466-475. doi:10.1177/1559827615608788

American Veterinary Medical Association. Literature Review on the Welfare Implications of Socialization of Puppies and Kittens. September 10, 2024. Accessed January 27, 2026. https://www.avma.org/sites/default/files/2024-09/avma-lit-review-socialization-puppies-kittens-0924.pdf

McCoy BM, Brassington L, Jin K, et al. Social determinants of health and disease in companion dogs: a cohort study from the Dog Aging Project. Evol Med Public Health. 2023;11(1):187-201. doi:10.1093/emph/eoad011

Oh WS, Armstrong PJ, Han HJ. Lifestyle factors affecting aging and healthspan in dogs and cats. J Vet Sci. 2025;26(suppl 1):S220-S245. doi:10.4142/jvs.25227

Vitale Shreve KR, Mehrkam LR, Udell MAR. Social interaction, food, scent or toys? A formal assessment of domestic pet and shelter cat (Felis silvestris catus) preferences. Behav Processes. 2017;141(pt 3):322-328. doi:10.1016/j.beproc.2017.03.016

Nagasawa T, Kimura Y, Masuda K, Uchiyama H. Physiological assessment of the health and welfare of domestic cats—an exploration of factors affecting urinary cortisol and oxytocin. Animals (Basel). 2022;12(23):3330. doi:10.3390/ani12233330

Moniot D, Allaway D, Bermingham E, et al. Aging is modifiable: current perspectives on healthy aging in companion dogs and cats. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2025;264(2):234-241. doi:10.2460/javma.25.06.0412

Human Animal Bond Research Institute. Research resources. Accessed January 29, 2026. https://habri.org/research/

Human medical research shows that positive social connections help people live healthier, happier, longer lives. Is the same true for dogs and cats?

Senior pet socialization: Supporting social health in aging dogs and cats

The researchers evaluated temperament and saliva biomarkers in 24 dogs, including 6 beagles. © Mark J. Barrett - stock.adobe.com

Dogs that scored higher on a modified Wesen temperament test also tended to show lower salivary cortisol concentrations before and after testing, along with higher baseline salivary serotonin, according to a small study published Feb. 4, 2026, in 

The results add objective physiologic measures to a temperament screen that is widely used to help identify dogs suited for companion placement or specific working roles, but that has drawn criticism for potential subjectivity.

Researchers in South Korea evaluated 24 dogs of various breeds using a seven-part version of the Wesen test, in which a trained observer scored 

such as sociality, confidence, noise and movement stability, and responses to separation and stressful situations. Saliva collected immediately before and after the test was analyzed for cortisol, and baseline serotonin was measured in 16 dogs (insufficient volume limited testing in the remainder). The researchers evaluated adult dogs of multiple breeds and backgrounds including beagles, border collies, Labrador retrievers, a German shepherd, and other breeds, including seven mixed-breed dogs.

Across the cohort, higher overall temperament scores were associated with lower cortisol. Pre-test cortisol showed a modest inverse correlation with total average temperament score, while post-test cortisol showed a stronger inverse relationship with overall score and with all seven subtests. Dogs that scored higher also tended to have smaller increases in cortisol from pre- to post-test, suggesting a blunted physiologic stress response during the assessment.

Serotonin results were directionally similar but less consistent. Baseline serotonin trended higher with higher overall temperament scores and was significantly correlated with movement stability scores. In grouped comparisons, dogs in the highest-scoring group had significantly higher baseline serotonin concentrations than dogs in the lowest-scoring group.

Temperament tests are common in working-dog pipelines and adoption decision-making, but real-world behavior can be influenced by handling, environment, and the inherent limits of observer-based scoring.

 Pairing standardized behavior testing with salivary measures could help address those concerns by adding objective data points to support a behavioral impression.

“Our study shows that physiological concentrations of hormones and neurotransmitters can serve as biomarkers of canine temperament,” the authors wrote. “These results could help identify dogs suited for specific working roles—such as military, police, guide, or therapy dogs—and assist in making better-informed companion dog adoption decisions.”

The study’s size (24 dogs overall; serotonin measured in 16) limits generalizability, and the design cannot establish causality between hormone or neurotransmitter concentrations and temperament. Cortisol was measured at only two time points (pre- and post-test), leaving unanswered questions about peak response timing and recovery, and serotonin was assessed only at baseline.

 Endocrine measures can also be influenced by multiple confounders—such as prior experiences, housing, and individual reactivity—that are difficult to fully control in small cohorts.

Still, the findings provide early evidence that salivary biomarkers may complement temperament scoring rather than replace it, particularly in contexts where programs need scalable, noninvasive tools to support selection and placement decisions.

Jung Y, Song Y, Yang K, Yoo K, Heo Y, Yoon M. Associations between canine temperament and salivary concentrations of cortisol and serotonin. 

. 2026;21(2):e0337781. Published February 4, 2026. Accessed February 11, 2026. 

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0337781

Taylor KD, Mills DS. The development and assessment of temperament tests for adult companion dogs. 

. 2006;1(3):94-108. Accessed February 11, 2026. 

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2006.09.002

Ruefenacht S, Gebhardt-Henrich S, Miyake T, Gaillard C. A behaviour test on German Shepherd dogs: heritability of seven different traits. 

. 2002;79(2):113-132. Accessed February 11, 2026. 

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0168-1591(02)00134-X

Cobb ML, Iskandarani K, Chinchilli VM, Dreschel NA. A systematic review and meta-analysis of salivary cortisol measurement in domestic canines. 

. 2016;57:31-42. Accessed February 11, 2026. 

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.domaniend.2016.04.003

Beerda B, Schilder MBH, van Hooff JARAM, de Vries HW, Mol JA. Behavioural, saliva cortisol and heart rate responses to different types of stimuli in dogs. 

. 1998;58(3-4):365-381. Accessed February 11, 2026. 

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0168-1591(97)00145-7

A new study suggests common saliva measures may align with how dogs perform on a widely used temperament test. Can biomarkers add an objective layer to behavior-based screening?

Can saliva biomarkers help validate dog temperament tests?

Editor’s note: Jonathan Goodwin, DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology), is unaffiliated with C.E.T. and the content of this interview has been in no way influenced by the awareness month sponsor.

On this week’s episode of The Vet Blast Podcast presented by dvm360, our host Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, welcomes Jonathan Goodwin, DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology) to the show to talk all things veterinary cardiology. 

Throughout the episode, the duo will share 5 frequently asked questions veterinary cardiologists get from primary care veterinarians, including when to refer, drugs to avoid for patients with cardiac disease, and more.

Below is a partial transcript, edited lightly for clarity

Number 2 is when to refer. So sometimes we're very good at primary care with handling certain things, but hopefully we're fortunate enough to refer to  a cardiologist, because not everybody can. But what does that look like on when to refer?

Jonathan Goodwin, DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology): 

I guess to me, what I would say is you guys are the first line of defense. So you're out there, and you got to kind of know your client too, a little bit. But you go out there and you you hear a heart murmur. I tell all the vet students, you know? I think about when I hear about a murmur, I think about chest radiographs. And I said, go ahead and make it like peanut butter jelly. They're like murmur, chest [radiographs], murmur, chest [radiographs], peanut butter jelly, they just go together, you know? 

 If they go together, then hear the murmur. You get the chest [radiographs]. Give yourself an idea of, is this heart enlarged or not? If it's not enlarged, then I think it's totally fair to say, hey, let's check in on this in 3 months, 4 months, 6 months, whatever you think you need to do based on the owner and the animal. But if it is or you're concerned about them, some enlargement, I'd say, go ahead. Refer early, get a good baseline, and then they come right back to you to do all the things that they need done.

Nice, excellent, because we could do some of and Now, fortunately, we're learning a lot more how to do [cardiac point-of-care ultrasound] a little bit. 

And ECGs ourselves, which is great. So that's always helpful.

Podcasts

This week's episode of The Vet Blast Podcast presented by dvm360 will feature a Q&A style interview with special guest Jonathan Goodwin, DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology). 

The 5 most frequently asked questions primary care veterinarians have for cardiologists

Annie Valuska, PhD, offers insights into how miscommunication from pet owners can result in problematic pet responses.

Communicating behavior expectations

Annie Valuska, PhD, principal scientist for the pet behavior team at Purina, discussed companion animal behaviors that owners may typically see and what they can mean, in a 

 interview. The interview also discussed how miscommunication between pets and their owners affect animal behaviors. Some of these behaviors can lead owners to surrender their pets to shelters.

In this video, Valuska discusses how pet owners unintentionally miscommunicate their behavior expectations to their companion animals. She also provides an example of ‘problem’ canine behavior and suggests a more effective pet owner reaction.

The following is a transcript of the video.

: How does owner miscommunication affect pet behavior?

Many ‘problem’ behaviors are really a result of poor communication, and by that I mean pet parents misunderstanding what the pets are trying to say with those behaviors and what needs those behaviors represent, and the pet parent not communicating to the pets very well what the boundaries are and what the rules of the house are and what behaviors are expected of them.

So, for example, if you have a dog that jumps up all over you every time you come home—I'll be talking to people that have this problem, and I'll ask, ‘Well, what do you do when the dog jumps all over you?’ They say, ‘Well, you know, I talked to him. I pet him, I tell him to get down. I put my hands around his shoulders and I push him down.’ But it doesn't work. You might think that you're punishing the dog. You might think that you're telling them ‘no’ and communicating this isn't acceptable, but that's in the eye of the beholder. And if the dog enjoys the attention that you're giving them, if by speaking to the dog and touching the dog and engaging with the dog, they're enjoying that, then actually, you, the pet parent, are training the jumping. You're reinforcing that jumping behavior and making it more likely to happen.

So, for a lot of these cases, just having the pet parent be more aware of what they're communicating and what they're doing and what their own behavior means to the pet can be a really powerful tool as well.

Annie Valuska, PhD, provides insights into how miscommunication from pet owners can result in problematic pet responses.