S58 - Make Senior Pets a Practice Priority – the New AAHA Guidelines Can Help!

As pets reach advanced ages and enter their senior life stage, pet owners are often faced with a myriad of new physical challenges and emotional concerns that affect both their pets and themselves. Senior pet healthcare differs from that of healthcare during a pet’s earlier life stages for patients, clients, and veterinarians. The veterinary team’s role includes providing medical care and support to senior pets to maintain their quality of life, as well as supporting and educating clients on proper senior animal care and addressing any misconceptions about the aging process.

The new 2023 AAHA Guidelines describe a systematic approach to the healthcare of the senior pet that is based on an evidence-guided assessment of both healthy and unhealthy canine and feline patients. This lecture will go over the guidelines and you will leave with a great foundation to improve your practice’s ability to help senior pets from ailments to marketing.

We can do more within the veterinary profession to help pets in the senior life stage and help owners better care for their delicate, aging family members and manage the caregiving toll that often comes along with it.