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Online course #16- prerecorded

Geriatric/end of life pet care in COVID times – prerecorded

June 17, 2020


Mary Gardner D.V.M.,

Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice
Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Officer

Lap of Love

 

 

Sheilah Robertson BVMS, (Hons), Ph.D.

DACVAA, DECVAA, DACAW, DECAWBM (WSEL), MRCVS.
Senior Medical Director, Lap of Love
Gainseville, FL

 


Speakers & Topics

Lecture 1:

The 5 Elements of Hospice

Veterinary hospice care is a unique case approach centered around education, preparation, and support for the pet and the client. Understanding what this service includes and what it does not include will help veterinary professionals solidify their role as animal advocators, strengthen the human animal bond, and maintain the highest level of client care.

Lecture 2:

Getting it down and keeping it down – dealing with inappetence, nausea and vomiting

Nausea, vomiting, inappetence and anorexia are common clinical complaints in hospice dogs and cats. There are multiple reasons and causes for each problem and many different approaches to treatment including pharmacological and non-pharmacologic. Careful choices based on the underlying etiology can lead to success. Preventing caregiver aversion during these events is essential.

Lecture 3:

Assessing Quality of Life

Assessing the quality of life of a family pet is a delicate balance between managing client emotions, the progression of the disease, and the happiness of the pet. These key issues are not always in harmony and it is the job of the veterinary professional team to manage and balance each party’s interests with the natural developments of biology. Understanding common trends in both people and their pets helps better identify their needs, address their concerns, and make a decision that does the “most good” for all involved.

Lecture 4:

Managing mobility issues in geriatric patients: case study

Mobility issues caused by osteoarthritis, degenerative myelopathy, GOLPP (geriatric onset laryngeal paralysis polyneuropathy) are common in specific age groups and breeds of dog. There is no cure for these diseases, but we can help these pets and their owners. Treatment must be multimodal and integrative to address both the source of problems but also the secondary changes that have occurred(e.g. central sensitization because of pain, and muscle weakness). Drugs play a role, however physical modalities, diet, addressing anxiety and making the patient’s home environment easy to navigate are equally important to overall improvement of Quality of Life for these pets. This session will use a case to highlight how treatment choices are made and altered over time.

Lecture 5:

Top Tips for Creating a Geriatric Safe Clinic

Senior and geriatrics are a large part of the pet population. If you can demonstrate that your practice is senior friendly it will be attractive to a lot of clients. These sessions will provide you with tips that facilitate visits for this special population from start to finish. This includes 3 key areas and times: 1. Before the visit, the arrival, and the waiting areas 2. Beyond the waiting room and behind the scenes: procedure areas, accommodation, operating rooms, and recovery areas and 3. the “send-off”. Many are simple fixes, for example making access easier for dogs with osteoarthritis, preventing slips and falls and ensuring correct positioning during procedures.


Need To Know

Registration

Online registration is quick and easy. Before you register or book flights, please confirm your hotel reservation, since many hotels sell out months ahead of our seminars.

To book a room, use the online hotel registration link for your seminar. If no link is available, please complete our hotel request form or call our office at 800-487-5650. Your room isn’t confirmed until you receive a confirmation, either from the hotel (if you booked through our online group link) or from our office (for hotels without an online link).

There are no RACE approved CE hours for this course.

 

Veterinary nurses/technicians: $75.00– please note that this is the discounted fee.  The tech coupon does not apply to this seminar.

Veterinarians: IVS attendees who currently have an FTC (Future transfer Credit) from a previously cancelled seminar:  $175.00

  • Please do not use the online registration as you will be charged again. You cannot use the credit thru this online registration. 
  • Please e-mail with your request (include name of registrant and which seminar you were originally scheduled to attend) for registration –  We will register you and deduct this amount from your credit.

 

E-mail your request to:     [email protected]

 

Veterinarians: Any previous IVS attendee: $175.00- please use the online registration 

Veterinarians: Regular registration: $195.00- please use the online registration

Already registered for 3 previous live IVS online courses: $125.00- please use the online registration

 

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.

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.

Cecile Shafer, DVM
Monterey, CA

The speakers were excellent, as were the accommodations. I love coming to IVS Seminars.”

Cecile Shafer, DVM

Redwood Veterinary Hospital, Visalia, CA

Shira Anchill, DVM
Santa Fe, NM

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!”

Shira Anchill, DVM

Union Lake Veterinary Hospital, Waterford Township, MI

Patti Klein, DVM
Galápagos Islands

The trip was just perfect! My husband and I loved every minute.”

Patti Klein, DVM

Pet Care In Motion, Woodstock, IL

Katharyn Kryda, DVM
Savannah, GA

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.”

Katharyn Kryda, DVM

District Locum, Washington DC

Mike Dixon, DVM
Key West, FL

I enjoyed the seminar. IVS [is] still the best CE in my opinion. Great venue also.”

Mike Dixon, DVM

Flint Veterinary Clinic, Tyler, TX

Ed Fallin, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVIM (Small Animal Internal Medicine)
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Thank you for putting on a fantastic program in Cabo!”

Ed Fallin, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVIM (Small Animal Internal Medicine)

Veterinary Referral & Critical Care, Manakin-Sabot, VA

Carmen Lindheimer, MS, DVM
Lake Tahoe

Thank you. I always enjoy the CE experience IVS provides.”

Carmen Lindheimer, MS, DVM

MedVet, Asheville, NC

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.