Managing the aging dog & cat
April 14–16, 2025
Amy L. Pike D.V.M.
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Behaviorists
Animal Behavior Wellness Center
Fairfax, VA
Gary Oswald D.V.M.
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine
Tampa Bay Veterinary Consultants
Oldsmar, FL
This seminar has been designed to provide you with practical information on the current thoughts on management of common problems encountered in the geriatric patient. The combination of a behaviorist and an Internist will provide a unique approach to the patient management.
Speakers & Topics
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The aging heart – a staged approach to canine heart disease/CHF.
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The aging heart – a staged approach to feline cardiomyopathy/CHF.
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Early chronic kidney disease – how to tell your patient has CKD and what to do about it now.
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Advanced chronic kidney disease – treatments that actually improve quality of life with CKD.
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Cardiorenal Syndrome – now what?
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Urinary Tract Infections & Urinary Incontinence – diagnostic and treatment considerations in geriatric patients.
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Cognitive dysfunction of dogs and cats– dx and current tx options
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Behavior disorders are such a pain– how pain contributes to behavior and current tx options from a behavioral perspective
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You can’t teach an old dog new tricks– Or can you? Enrichment, environmental and behavior modifications for senior pets
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Blind and deaf pets– how to help them cope
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When generations collide- introducing the new puppy or kitten to the geriatric household
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When its time to say goodbye– quality of life evaluation and conversations
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Schedule
| Registration | Monday April 14, 2025 | 1:00 pm – 1:30 pm |
| Welcome Reception | Monday April 14, 2025 | 6:30pm – 7:30pm |
| Lectures | Monday April 14 | 1:30 pm – 6:30 pm |
| Tuesday April 15 | 8:00 am – 1:30 pm | |
| Wednesday April 16 | 1:30pm – 7:00 pm | |
| Breakfast | Tuesday April 15 | 7.15 am – 8.00 am |
Accommodations
There is a Costa Rica of dreams amid the rainforest canopies of Costa Rica´s Green Coast.Natural beauty, endless comfort and adventurous opportunities combine to create a paradise at Los Suenos Marriott Ocean & Golf Resort. Our hotel grants easy access to local experiences including fishing and hiking through Carara National Park.Our resort offers La Iguana Experience tour to commune with nature. Find time to retreat to our Spa or challenge yourself at our award-winning golf course.Our accommodations feature breathtaking views and hammocks for island-style comfort.When it’s time to refuel, satisfy your cravings at one of our restaurants.Looking to stay active? Attend our workout classes and take a dip in our outdoor pools.A welcoming retreat, rich with a peace-loving culture, where people exude the enduring warmth of Pura Vida.Experience exhilaration and relaxation at Los Suenos Marriott Ocean & Golf Resort.
Price:
Group Room Rate:
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Standard – run of house: $296.00 dbl/night plus taxes
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Ocean view: $381.00 dbl/night plus taxes.
- Partial Ocean view with balcony: $396.00 dbl/night plus taxes
Additional Taxes & Fees (subject to change without notice):
- Rate above is subject to applicable state & local taxes, currently 13%
- Bellman: $5.00 per person round trip
- Housekeeping: $2.00 per room per day
- Wireless internet is available in all rooms
- Charge per 3rd and 4th person in the room is USD $20.00 + tax each. There is no fee for children under 12 years of age when sharing with parents.
- Maximum number per room is a total of four guests.
Resort fee:
- Resort fee: $30.00 plus tax per room per night
High speed internet upgrade.
15 minutes of free long distance calls to USA or international calls. Use of tennis courts (2 hours)*
2 tennis rackets and 1 bucket of practice balls (2 hours)*
Driving range with clubs and 2 buckets of practice balls*
Valet Parking – 1 vehicle per room.
Pool floats.
Daily bonfire with marshmallows.
1 La Iguana Eco Tour*
30 min of kayak use**
30 min of stand-up paddle board use**
30 min of bicycles use**
1 professional digital photo per stay***IMPORTANT: *Activities subject to availability and require reservations. For reservations visit our front desk team at the lobby or dial “0” on your phone. Some activities may not be available due to weather conditions. La Iguana Eco Tour is available every day at 10:00 am and 2:00 pm, meet at the Golf Pro Shop 10 minutes before the tour departure time. Bonfire from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm, subject to availability. Pool floats are subject to availability. *Practice ball buckets are per room per night. **More information at the Experience Center, requires previous reservation, available from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. All the activities are subject to availability.
Cancellations: All reservation requests will require a two (2) night advance payment that will be refundable only if the reservation is cancelled at least 60 days prior to arrival date. You will be charged for your complete stay if you cancel within 7 days of your scheduled arrival, depart early or are a no-show.
Room Description
Rooms
Things To Do
Resort dining
A truly unique dining experience awaits in Los Suenos Marriott Ocean & Golf Resort. Enjoy breathtaking ocean views and delicious Mediterranean cuisine in ZOE or discover the delicious local gastronomy at Hacienda Kitchen. Our menus are designed to accommodate special dietary restrictions or allergies.
There are also other fine restaurants within walking distance and many more in Jaco Beach (car or taxi)
Experiences
Enjoy every palm-tree lined mile of Jacó Beach from our oceanfront resort in Playa Herradura. Our resort’s premium location is perfect to shop and dine the bustling Los Sueños Marina. For thrill seekers, go ziplining or hiking at Vista Los Sueños Adventure Park, within 4.9 kilometers of our hotel.
Need To Know
Registration
Online registration is easy and fast. But please confirm your hotel reservations prior to completing your registration or booking flights. Many Hotels are selling out many months ahead of our seminars. If you need to book a hotel room, click the link to the online hotel registration page. If none is available for your selected seminar, please fill out our hotel request form or contact our office at 800-487-5650. Please note that hotel rooms are not confirmed until you receive confirmation from the hotel (if you booked online thru our group link) or from our office for hotels that do not offer the online link.
IVS is now required by AAVSB RACE to upload your completed attendance into their “RACEtrack” system. Your state of license and your license number are required for all seminars starting in January 2022. More information is available at https://www.aavsb.org/ce-
Early Bird: $1195.00
Advanced: $1215.00
Regular: $1235.00
Special Pricing:
Veterinary Technicians receive an $80 discount using promo code “techsaver”. Enter the code during checkout in the submit promotion code box.
For International Travel
Passport requirements for international travel
Please note that all passengers traveling by air to or from the United States will be required to hold a valid passport. This requirement applies to all passengers, including U.S. citizens, traveling to and from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean.
When planning international travel, please be sure that you are in possession of all required documents for both outbound and return flights. Remember to allow ample time for acquiring official travel documents.
For complete information on the U.S. Department of State’s New Travel Initiative Requirements, please visit travel.state.gov.
Pricing
All reservation requests will require a two (2) night advance payment that will be refundable only if the reservation is cancelled at least 60 days prior to arrival date. You will be charged for your complete stay if you cancel within 7 days of your scheduled arrival, depart early or are a no-show.
Global Vet Community Meets CE Experiences
IVS trips are designed to meet your CE requirements while offering a break from traditional, conference-style learning. With focused half-day sessions, small-group learning, and destinations worth the journey, IVS creates close-knit communities where education feels both engaging and rewarding.
Earn Your CE Credits
IVS makes it easy — and worth the trip — to keep your CE hours current. Each trip includes 12–18 CE credit hours, along with access to a dedicated portal where certificates and trip details are easy to find when you need them.
Explore the World
Choose from 50+ destinations worldwide, including classic travel locations and Bio Bio adventure trips. No matter the setting, IVS seminars are structured to support focused learning in an environment that feels immersive — not overwhelming.
Connect With Your Community
IVS brings together veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and leading specialists in intentionally small groups. Designed for shared experience and meaningful discussion, these seminars foster professional connections that last well beyond your trip.
Get More from Every Trip
With points earned for every trip you attend, bonuses for referring friends, and a convenient user portal for tracking and seminar details, IVS makes earning your CE credits even more rewarding.
Postcards from Our Trips
From close to home to destinations abroad, hear what veterinary professionals are saying about their IVS experience.
The speakers were excellent, as were the accommodations. I love coming to IVS Seminars.”
I enjoyed this conference VERY much! The speakers were engaging and superb. I had a surgery day this past Tuesday and have implemented several of their pearls of knowledge!”
The trip was just perfect! My husband and I loved every minute.”
Thank you for a great conference! This was my first IVS experience, and it was great. … I’m hoping to arrange a trip for my vet school friends (11 of us total) in the future.”
I enjoyed the seminar. IVS [is] still the best CE in my opinion. Great venue also.”
Thank you for putting on a fantastic program in Cabo!”
Thank you. I always enjoy the CE experience IVS provides.”
Good to Know Before You Go
Registration is simple. Browse upcoming seminars using the search on our homepage, then click through to the seminar page and complete registration online. You will receive an email confirmation once your registration is complete, and a separate email confirming your payment. Please keep both for your records. You can also call our office at 1-800-487-5650 to register by phone.
IVS holds group space at each seminar venue and handles hotel bookings on your behalf. You can book accommodations at the same time as your seminar registration or separately — whichever you prefer.
On your selected seminar’s page, click the Accommodations tab and scroll down to the Book Accommodations button. Please note: if you need a room outside the standard seminar dates, availability will need to be confirmed with the hotel. Hotel bookings made through our site are not automatic and require some processing time. Once confirmed, you will receive a hotel confirmation letter from IVS by email. All hotels require a credit card to guarantee your booking, and cut-off dates apply — early registration is always advised. Our team is available at 1-800-487-5650, Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm PST.
10% of the registration fee is non-refundable. If you cancel more than 30 days before the seminar start date, you may choose a refund of the remaining 90% or a Future Transfer Credit (FTC). If you cancel within 30 days, only a Future Transfer Credit is issued. The FTC can be applied to any future IVS seminar within 2 years of your cancellation date; it is forfeited if not used within that window. To cancel, you must contact our office and receive email confirmation of your cancellation before the seminar begins. Cancellations requested after the seminar has started, or without email confirmation on file, will forfeit the full registration fee. Please also note that cancellations will remove any Loyalty Program points earned from that registration.
IVS specializes in small group seminars — usually fewer than 80 people per seminar. Most veterinarians appreciate the smaller setting, as it allows for more interaction with speakers and other participants and gives everyone a chance to get their questions answered.
International Veterinary Seminars is an AAVSB RACE-approved provider of CE, which is accepted by all state boards throughout the US and Canada. We are provider #13 and are also an approved provider in New York State. Please contact your state board or our office with any questions. For more information, visit the AAVSB RACE program website.
Where will your learning take you?
Discover a different way to earn your veterinary CE. Explore upcoming trips to find an IVS seminar set in a destination you’ll want to stay awhile.