VSV expressing canine or human IFNβ and the sodium iodide symporter (NIS) were tested in vitro to evaluate (A) virus replication in BHK-21 cells by infection with VSV-hIFNβ-NIS, VSV-cIFNβ-NIS or VSV-GFP at a MOI of 3.0 and measurement of virus titer in TCID50; (B) functional NIS expression by measurement of radio-iodide (125I) uptake 24h post infection of BHK-21 cells (MOI 1.0) in the presence (+) or absence (−) of NIS specific inhibitor KCLO4; Expression of (C) functional human or canine IFNβ expression by protection of human Mel-624 or canine MDCK cells respectively following exposure to ultracentrifuged virus infection supernatant (using VSV-GFP cell supernatant as a control), followed by infection with VSV-GFP (MOI 0.1). Cell viability was assessed 48h later by MTT assay and shown as a percentage of control mock infected cells; (D) Veterinary clinical study flow diagram outlining procedures for (i) enrollment, (ii) pre-assessment, (iii) treatment, (iv) acute monitoring, and (v) long-term monitoring.