Managing the geriatric dog & cat
September 10–12, 2021
Sheilah Robertson BVMS, (Hons), Ph.D.
DACVAA, DECVAA, DACAW, DECAWBM (WSEL), MRCVS.
Senior Medical Director, Lap of Love
Gainseville, FL
Mary Gardner D.V.M.,
Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice
Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Officer
Lap of Love
Speakers & Topics
Topics will include:
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Who and where are your senior and geriatric patients?
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How to create a geriatric safe clinic environment
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How to live well while being old – Practical care for the geriatric patient(incontinence, cognition, seeing, hearing, pain, dental disease, decubital ulcers, smelly bodies etc…)
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Old and older: ready or not here they come (anesthesia for geriatric pets)
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Case study: Fix the fixable, palliate what’s not
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Case study: managing mobility issues in dogs
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Raising awareness of osteoarthritis in cats and treatment options
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Palliative care and hospice
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Getting it down and keeping it down – dealing with inappetence, nausea and vomiting
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Assessing Quality of Life
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Navigating euthanasia appointments
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Just say no to needles – alternative routes for pre-euthanasia sedation
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Cultural and religious beliefs surrounding death and dying
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Schedule
| Registration | Friday Sept. 10, 2021 | 7:15 am – 8:00 am |
| Breakfast | Daily | 7:15 am – 8:00 am |
| Lectures | Friday Sept. 10, 2021 | 8:00 am – 1:30 pm |
| Saturday Sept. 11 | 8:00 am – 1:30 pm | |
| Sunday Sept. 12 | 8:00 am – 1:00 pm |
Accommodations
Group rooms are sold out. Please call our office at 800-487-5650 for availability.
The Sanderling Resort & Spa on North Carolina ‘s Outer Banks touches the shores of both the majestic Atlantic Ocean and the serene Currituck Sound. Located near, Duck, N.C., This North Carolina resort, The Sanderling, with its luxurious spa overlooking the sound, is the Outer Banks only true resort. Its unique natural environment and secluded ocean beaches offer guests an exclusive setting in which to relax and unwind. Quite simply, The Sanderling is the ultimate Outer Banks vacation spot.
The low-rise, cedar shingled buildings that comprise the resort pay homage to the traditional building forms of coastal North Carolina, and provide guests with luxurious accommodations, a lavish spa, first-class conference facilities and a variety of memorable dining experiences, putting together the perfect North Carolina vacation.
Offering miles of unspoiled ocean beach just 5 miles from the charming village of Duck and adjacent to the Pine Island Audubon Sanctuary, The Sanderling is truly unique. As our guest, you’ll appreciate what seasoned travelers have always known-the enjoyment of a destination is often increased by its separation from the ordinary at this North Carolina resort.
Resort Amenities
The Sanderling offers a number of on-site recreational amenities, highlighted by a luxurious spa and a fully-equipped fitness center. Guests may also enjoy an indoor swimming pool, swim spa and Jacuzzi. During warm weather months, our Eco-Center is open to assist guests in their explorations of the Outer Banks natural environment.
Nearby recreational amenities open to guests of The Sanderling include championship-quality golf courses, the Pine Island Indoor Racquet Club, a seasonal outdoor swimming pool, and the 3,400-acre Audubon Sanctuary.
Five miles from The Sanderling, the village of Duck offers unique shops and galleries specializing in art and crafts.
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Group rooms are sold out. Please contact our office at 800-487-5650 for availability
Group Room rates:
- Standard Room: $230.00 per night plus tax/resort fee
- Sound View Room: $245.00 per night plus tax/resort fee
- Oceanside room: $260.00 per night plus tax/resort fee
- Ocean view room:$315.00 per night plus tax/resort fee
Rates above are based on single or double occupancy.
Taxes are currently 12.75% and subject to change without notice.
Resort fee: $30.00 plus tax- per room per night. The nightly Resort Fee includes gratuities for housekeeping and all Guest Service staff including the bell, valet, concierge, front desk and beach. In addition, it includes wireless internet, parking, newspapers, morning coffee and tea, access to steam room and indoor pool, fitness center, beach chairs and umbrellas.
Terms
Cancellations & Deposit:
A deposit in the amount of 50% of the total reservation value is required at the time of booking. An additional deposit of 50% of the total reservation value is required sixteen (16) days prior to arrival. Cancellations outside of sixteen (16) days will receive a full refund minus a $25 administrative processing fee. Cancellations within fifteen (15) days of arrival will result in a full forfeiture of the entire deposit amount. No shows or early departures are considered a full cancellation of reserved nights and deposits for these are non-refundable.
Hurricane policy: Once an evacuation notice (either voluntary or mandatory) is issued by Dare County Officials, all room reservations from that time forward are fully refundable.
Things To Do
Part of the Outer Banks’s charm is the remoteness of the area. Since it’s accessible only by ferry or by driving over one of the bridges that connects it to the mainland, once you’re here, you feel far removed from the rest of the world. But it’s really not that far. Join us in Duck as we venture for the first time onto this spectacular set of islands.
Things to do:
- Spa & Fitness Center
- Golf
- Audubon Sanctuary
- Art Collection
- Eco Center
- Tennis
- Local Attractions
- Special Events
Resort Amenities
Things to do
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: $925.00
Advanced: $945.00
Regular: $965.00
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
A deposit in the amount of 50% of the total reservation value is required at the time of booking. An additional deposit of 50% of the total reservation value is required sixteen (16) days prior to arrival. Cancellations outside of sixteen (16) days will receive a full refund minus a $25 administrative processing fee. Cancellations within fifteen (15) days of arrival will result in a full forfeiture of the entire deposit amount. No shows or early departures are considered a full cancellation of reserved nights and deposits for these are non-refundable.
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.