A medical device that uses a combination of photobiomodulation, infrared B light, and electromagnetic field therapy to detect and treat injuries and illness in dogs is now available in the US veterinary market after more than a decade of use in Europe. The device, called Body Energy Solution Technology-BOX (BEST-BOX), is designed to evaluate a dog’s condition in minutes through noninvasive scanning and encourages regeneration and health through targeted stimulation with light, frequency and neurostimulation therapies, according to EQUUSIR, the company that developed the technology.

According to the Austria-based company, the technology, which is also available for horses, can treat conditions that affect the gastrointestinal, thoracic, pelvic, musculoskeletal, cervical, cerebral, and central nervous systems. The company says issues with the stomach, liver, skin, urinary system, immune system, orthopedic concerns, endocrine disorders, inflammation, and pain have been addressed with the BEST-BOX. The technology also supports emotional regulation, helping manage anxiety and stress, EQUUSIR noted.

According to EQUUSIR, system generates a digital report analyzing the energy flow in the body and showing interference fields at the cellular level. The report can be used to “determine causes and take preventive measures” and help veterinarians track progress and shape individualized treatment and training plans over time.

EQUUSIR is a company that focuses on performance and rehabilitation technologies through holistic health for animals. The organization was founded by Gerold Reinwald after he experienced a severe sports injury that ended his career as a competitive skier and led him to question whether complete healing and regeneration was possible.

“After an injury ended my skiing career, I spent more than 30 years studying health,” Reinwald, CEO of EQUUSIR, said in a company press release.

 “This led me to create the BEST-BOX, our signature product that’s proven to enhance the health and performance of dogs and horses. After seeing how this product changes the lives of companion animals, the entire EQUUSIR team is excited to bring the BEST-BOX to veterinarians in the United States.”

According to EQUUSIR, the BEST-BOX is most effective when used in a 3-day treatment period. On the first day, a session lasts approximately 24 minutes and includes a 2-minute initial assessment, followed by a 20-minute application of light-based and neurostimulation therapies and a 2-minute post-treatment evaluation. On the second day, dogs receive a 20-minute follow-up treatment tailored to their needs, along with another 2-minute assessment. On the third day, a final 20-minute customized treatment is administered, after which veterinarians discuss longer-term care recommendations and potential maintenance plans for the patient.

Jaime Pickett, DVM, chief medical officer of EQUUSIR, said the technology is intended to provide noninvasive support under veterinary supervision. “As a veterinarian, I am excited to bring the BEST-BOX to the US market," Pickett said in a release.

 "These proven therapies are safe, effective, and non-invasive. For example, Harper, a dog with long-standing skin allergies that previously required daily medications, experienced steady improvement after completing therapy with the EQUUSIR BEST-BOX, with itching and inflammation resolving over time. With veterinary oversight, the dog was gradually able to discontinue allergy medications and remained comfortable, active, and flare-free using the BEST-BOX as non-invasive ongoing support.”

Groundbreaking technology utilizes photobiomodulation, infrared-B, and electromagnetic field therapy to detect injuries and illnesses, relieve symptoms, and improve health in dogs. News release. EQUUSIR. January 6, 2026. Accessed January 12, 2026.

BEST-BOX. EQUUSIR. Accessed January 12, 2026. 

https://equusir.com/en-us/products/best-box-hund

Articles

The product first launched in Europe in 2013.

Device using PBM, IR-B, and EMF therapy launches in US

Good morning dvm360 readers! The dvm360 is getting ready to head to the 2026 Veterinary Meeting & Expo starting this weekend. If you are attending the conference and see anyone from the dvm360 team, stop and say hello or swing by our booth in the exhibit hall. Can’t attend? Don’t worry, dvm360 will be covering the event through articles, video interviews, Q&As, and more! Check in throughout the weekend on dvm360.com to see our coverage and all that is happening in the Sunshine State!

As we prepare for VMX, here is some other news that you can find this week on dvm360.com:

After an outbreak of Equine herpesvirus-1 in November 2025, researchers at the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine are taking a deeper dive in Equine herpesvirus-1to determine where the virus resides in the body during latency.

On this week’s episode of The Vet Blast Podcast presented by dvm360, are virtual assistants in the clinic worth the hype? Our host Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, and guest Kelly Cronin, MBA, PHR, VTS (ECC), CVT, to chat on the true benefits of these virtual assistants, how to pick a safe option if interested, and more.

Vlad the Impaler, a 4-year-old tuxedo feline patient, was brought to Texas A&M Small Animal Teaching Hospital after he suddenly began to vomit and stopped eating before becoming ‘extremely lethargic.’

A new study from researchers at Yale University have found through conducted surveillance studies that SARS-CoV-2 is weakening within the animal kingdom, although it continues to evolve in humans.

Diana Caro, a dvm360 student ambassador, shared more about her experience facing academic dismissal from veterinary school, the toll it took on her, and how she rose above it to be the veterinary student she is today.

Here is a sneak peek at this week’s headlines.

Sneak peek: dvm360 heads to VMX, and other news 

Christopher Pachel, DVM, DACVB, CABC, explains how veterinarians can tailor medication plans for dogs with separation anxiety by matching maintenance or situational drugs to each patient’s schedule and needs.

Choosing the right medication for canine separation anxiety

In this video, Christopher Pachel, DVM, DACVB, CABC, discusses the clinical decision-making process for treating canine separation anxiety. He explains the distinction between maintenance medications, which take longer to take effect but provide steady support, and situational medications, which are utilized for intermittent or predictable stressors and offer short-term support. Rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all approach, Pachel emphasizes tailoring treatment plans to each patient’s needs and schedule.

The following is a transcript of the video, lightly edited for clarity and cohesion:

 The decision of what to prescribe is really influenced—I almost said “dictated,” but influenced—by the actual needs of that animal. And so, I look at these two things in terms of situational versus maintenance medication support.

One example of a maintenance medication would be fluoxetine—or the generic version of Prozac, or Reconcile on the canine side. For that particular medication, it is a medication that takes several weeks to be able to take effect, but then has a reasonably steady state from that point forward. If we have a dog who needs to be left home alone multiple times per week or on a highly variable schedule, oftentimes, something like fluoxetine or Reconcile is a great choice to be able to support that dog.

On the other hand, if we have a dog who only needs to be left home alone, or alone and separated from their caregiver, on an intermittent or predictable basis and the duration of those departures or separations is short enough that a situational medication like alprazolam or trazodone or clonidine could be used effectively, that may be a great way to support that particular dog.

So, it's really the schedule and the needs of the animal that has the greatest influence on what I'm likely to prescribe and what I try to coach other veterinarians to prescribe as well. Rather than simply saying, "Dog has separation anxiety, therefore, here is the medication." [Instead say] “Dog has separation anxiety. Let's fill in the gap on a couple of other data points and then decide what really fits their needs and the schedule.”

Videos

Darin Dell, DVM, DACVD, shares more about what PSPP means and works in the clinic, particularly for canine otitis externa.

Understanding PSPP in canine otitis externa

, ahead of his upcoming lectures at the 2026 Veterinary Meeting and Expo, Darin Dell, DVM, DACVD, a veterinarian from Wheat Ridge, Colorado, shares the meaning behind the acronym PSPP and how it pertains to canine otitis patients in the veterinary clinic. 

Below is a transcript of the video, edited lightly for clarity. 

 Starting with your name, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

 My name is Dr Darin Dell. I'm a veterinarian here in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, just west of Denver. I started working at a veterinary clinic in my little hometown when I was 14. So I was indoctrinated early. Started out cleaning kennels, mopping the floors, then holding animals, then answering the phones, and helping the doctor on farm calls. So veterinary medicine is really how I grew up. That's why I went to vet school.

[I] went to the University of Illinois, graduated in 2001, worked for several years in general practice, and then did some overnight ED, before I decided to become a dermatology resident. Life is a whole lot easier as a dermatology resident [and then] as a dermatologist. It's also just clearly the specialty that I love [and] makes sense to me. I love making a difference for folks with these long-term problems, and it makes me happy.

 What does PSPP stand for in the context of diagnosing otitis externa?

 Oh, I'm so excited we get to talk about this. So PSPP stands for primary, secondary, predisposing, and perpetuating causes of otitis externa, not something I learned in veterinary school. I don't think any of the veterinary schools teach it. It's something you learn as a dermatology resident. So it's a way to really unlock this mystery of: What do I do with this ear infection, and what should I do with the next one?

Primary stands for things that cause ear disease. So there's really not a long list of those. The common ones are allergy, parasites, foreign bodies, and trauma—one of those things has to happen, right? So that's where we need to think about: If we're going to stop chronic ear disease, we have to go to the primary problem.

Secondary is probably the most confusing one, because that's where infection falls in. So secondary means that it can cause disease if there's already a problem with the ear. So your ear canal already has bacteria and yeast in it; that's normal. But it's not until you add an allergy or you add a parasite like ear mites that those bacteria become a problem.

Predisposing is all the things that our clients think cause ear infections. So that's the droopy ears, that's swimming. Everybody wants to say, "Oh, my dog swims, and that causes ear infections." No, that's a predisposing problem, sure, but there are plenty of dogs that swim and never have an ear infection. So it's not a primary cause. And again, it's easy to be confused. It's easy for our clients because these things have been said for decades, right? It's not like they invented this. Somebody told them. So really, kind of putting a structure to it helps them look at it and say, "Oh yeah, I guess you're right. My last dog swam all the time and didn't have ear infections. It's not just that."

And then the last one perpetuating is the one that often gets missed. So that's the one that nobody talks about a lot. That's after we have an ear infection, [and] after we have something going on in the ear, the ear takes time to heal, so for a while it makes more ear wax than normal, and there's something called epithelial migration, which is how earwax leaves the ear,

suppressed after we have an ear infection. So that's a perpetuating cause. That's why sometimes veterinarians will treat an ear infection, it looks great, and then they stop everything at 10 days or 7 days, and then in 2 weeks, it's back. It's because you have these perpetuating factors that you just didn't give them enough time to work themselves back to normal.

So it really helps, as you're talking to clients, to put some framework to it, and helps us, as I'm teaching otitis, to say, "OK, let's break down some of the myth. Because yes, these things are all important, but they fall into different buckets." If you really want to solve the problem, you have to go to the primary issue and resolve that.

Darin Dell, DVM, DACVD, discusses the complexities of ear infections in pets, emphasizing the importance of understanding their causes for effective treatment in this dvm360 interview.

Adesola Odunayo, DVM, MS, DACVECC, will present “Foundations of Fluid Therapy for Everyday Use,” sponsored by Dechra, on Monday, January 19, at 10:30 AM. She will discuss the principles of fluid therapy as well as fluid prescription to treat patients that are sick or critically ill. To give attendees a sneak peek at her lecture, Odunayo did this Q&A with 

: Starting with your name, can you tell me a little about yourself?

I am a critical care veterinarian at the University of Florida. I did my veterinary training at Oklahoma State University (2005) and finished a residency in emergency and critical care at the University of Missouri (2010). I enjoy all aspects of emergency and critical care, and I am very passionate about fluid therapy; thus, I am excited to do this presentation.

: What are the key clinical and laboratory indicators you would use to assess a critically ill patient’s volume status and determine their need for fluid resuscitation?

This is a great question. Although there are other complicated ways to determine the intravascular volume status, practitioners can do this easily using the patient’s vital parameters, including heart rate, pulse quality, blood pressure, capillary refill time, and blood lactate concentrations. Point-of-care ultrasound can also be used to assess the intravascular volume status.

: What is a readily available clinical method you would use to rapidly assess whether a patient is fluid responsive?

Positive changes in the indicators described in question 2!

: What are 3 specific signs of fluid overload you would actively monitor for in a patient receiving high-rate intravenous fluids, and if you observe these signs, and what immediate steps would you take?

Signs of fluid intolerance may include an increased respiratory rate, nasal discharge, development of pleural/peritoneal effusion, development of pulmonary edema, and/or peripheral pitting edema. The fluid therapy should be stopped, and the patient reevaluated if those signs develop.

: What are some key takeaways you hope people leave your session with?

Attendees should be comfortable with coming up with a fluid prescription and setting up a fluid plan for veterinary patients. Attendees will also get an opportunity to review the different types of fluids most commonly used in veterinary medicine.

: Is there anything else you would like to add that I have not asked you?

Fluids are drugs, and their use should be intentional instead of arbitrary!

Ahead of her VMX lecture, Adesola Odunayo, DVM, MS, DACVECC, shared insights into what attendees can expect to learn.

A Q&A With Adesola Odunayo, DVM, MS, DACVECC

The Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine Animal Health Diagnostic Center and New York State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory has a new executive director with prior experience as area director for the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service at the US Embassy in Brazil. Additionally, the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) has announced its next CEO, effective April 1, 2026. Meanwhile, Ethos Veterinary Health has a new president with more than 20 years of experience.

Continue reading to learn more about each of these individuals.

Shelley Mehlenbacher, DVM, MPH, DACVPM, executive director, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine Animal Health Diagnostic Center

Shelley Mehlenbacher, DVM, MPH, DACVPM. (Image courtesy of Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine)

Shelley Mehlenbacher, DVM, MPH, DACVPM, is now serving as Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine’s executive director of the Animal Health Diagnostic Center and New York State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, as well as associate dean for diagnostic operations and government relations. Mehlenbacher brings more than a decade of experience in regulatory veterinary medicine and public health, as well as in international trade and agricultural development. She most recently served as area director for the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service at the US Embassy in Brasília, Brazil, overseeing US agricultural issues with Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Bolivia. Her prior roles include assistant state veterinarian at the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets, and other regulatory and public health positions. Mehlenbacher is also a foreign animal disease diagnostician and has been a veterinary practitioner since 2000.

“I’m excited by the chance to serve the veterinary and agricultural communities here in New York and beyond, and to be part of an institution that’s so deeply rooted in knowledge and discovery,” Mehlenbacher said in university press release.

 “Diagnostic centers sit right at the crossroads of science and service, and that combination—being able to make a tangible impact while tackling complex challenges—is something I find really rewarding.”

Earlier this week, the AAHA announced that Brady Beale, VMD, DACVO, will become its new CEO beginning April 1, 2026. Beale has extensive experience in veterinary medicine and hospital leadership, currently serving as associate dean of clinical enterprise, hospital director, and chief medical officer at the University of Pennsylvania’s Matthew J. Ryan Hospital. A 2002 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine (Penn Vet), Beale completed an internship in small animal medicine and surgery, as well as a comparative ophthalmology residency at North Carolina State University. After a period in private practice, Beale returned to Penn Vet in 2015, taking on roles in clinical ophthalmology and teaching communication in the student curriculum.

“I am honored to lead AAHA into its next chapter,” Beale said in a news release.

 “AAHA’s mission resonates deeply with me, and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to join the team who are dedicated to supporting veterinary professionals today. I look forward to learning from our staff, board, and membership about how we can preserve what makes AAHA invaluable while exploring new ways to serve the profession."

Leslie Storms, MBA, president, Ethos Veterinary Health

Leslie Storms, MBA. (Image courtesy of National Veterinary Associates)

National Veterinary Associates (NVA) has appointed Leslie Storms, MBA, as president of Ethos Veterinary Health, the veterinary network announced last month.

 Storms has more than 2 decades of experience in executive leadership across health care, medical technology, life sciences, and pharmaceuticals. She spent nearly 2 decades at Johnson & Johnson, holding senior leadership roles including US president of orthopedics at Johnson & Johnson MedTech and president of Ethicon US, where she led multibillion-dollar operations serving human and veterinary health care markets. Her career also includes senior positions at Janssen US, Noramco, Corning Life Sciences, and Eli Lilly and Company.

“I believe the greatest impact we can have is through the teams we build and the lives we touch," Storms said in an organizational news release.

 "At Ethos, I am inspired by the passion and dedication of our community, and I look forward to working together to revolutionize veterinary medicine—expanding options for families and helping pets live longer, healthier lives."

Dr. Shelley Mehlenbacher begins role as executive director of the Animal Health Diagnostic Center. News release. Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. December 1, 2025. Accessed January 9, 2026. https://www.vet.cornell.edu/about-us/news/20251201/dr-shelley-mehlenbacher-begins-role-executive-director-animal-health-diagnostic-center 

AAHA names Dr. Brady Beale as chief executive officer. News release. AAHA. January 7, 2026. Accessed January 9, 2026. https://www.aaha.org/news/aaha-names-dr-brady-beale-as-chief-executive-officer/ 

National Veterinary Associates appoints Leslie Storms as president, Ethos Veterinary Health. News release. National Veterinary Associates. December 1, 2025. Accessed January 9, 2026. https://www.nva.com/newsroom/national-veterinary-associates-appoints-leslie-storms-as-president-ethos 

New leadership moves, recognition, and achievement.