Anesthesia and Senior Dogs: What You Need to Know - Thursday, November 9 at 1 PM EST
About the webinar: As our furry family members age, they often develop health conditions that require ongoing management. Chronic health conditions like kidney and heart disease, among others, are more common in older animals and can complicate the use of anesthesia. That’s why it’s important to work with your dog’s veterinary team, ensuring they understand your dog’s conditions and any medications or supplements they are taking to address them. Dr. Nicole Trenholme will discuss anesthesia for various procedures, including dental cleanings, mass removals, and more, and ways the veterinary anesthesia team can address concerns specific to older patients. She’ll also share how pet parents can help the team provide the best quality care. Registration is free, but space is limited! Register today!
About the presenter: Dr. Nicole Trenholme, DVM, MS, DACVECC, DACVAA is the medical director at Evolution Veterinary Specialists (EVS). She is double-boarded in Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care (SAECC) and Veterinary Anesthesia and Pain Management. She is a Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine graduate, completing her clinical year at North Carolina State University (NCSU). She completed two internships, one at Friendship Hospital for Animals in Washington, DC, before returning to NCSU for a specialty internship in SAECC. She completed her SAECC residency and master’s degree in biomedical sciences at the University of Missouri, followed by an anesthesia residency at the University of Georgia. She worked as an Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois for two years before joining the EVS team, starting their critical care and anesthesia services and heading up emergency and specialty services.
Heart Disease and Senior Pets: What You Need to Know - Wednesday, December 6 at 2 PM EST
About the webinar: There’s no single cause of heart disease in dogs. As dogs age, their risk of heart conditions increases. No matter what heart condition your dog has, it’s important to spot the signs early. Dr. Geri Lake-Bakaar will discuss the diagnostic tools available to assess cardiac disease, approaches to managing it, and the long-term prognosis. She will also talk about the use of general anesthesia in pets with cardiac issues. Registration is free, but space is limited! Register today!
About the presenter: Dr. Geri Lake-Bakaar graduated from Harvard University in 2003 (BA), Cornell University in 2007, and the University of California, Davis (DACVIM, Cardiology) in 2013. Between veterinary school and her residency, she completed a rotating internship at the Animal Medical Center and a post-doctorate fellowship at Harvard/MGH. She is devoted to caring for all animals and providing compassionate, quality care to her patients. Geri is interested in education and provides continuing education lectures to veterinarians. She has also designed a series of client education materials. She is a section editor for an educational website on the Veterinary Information Network. Geri loves running races and riding her Peloton in her free time. Geri and partner Michael have two dogs (Max and Sir Fur), a horse (Brad), and a sassy 6-year-old daughter who also loves animals.
Legacy Giving: Doing Well by Doing Good - Thursday, October 19 at 12 PM EST
About the webinar: Leave a little behind by paying it forward for senior dogs! Join estate and elder law attorney and animal advocate Peggy R. Hoyt as we explore legacy giving and estate planning strategies. Legacy giving includes ways to benefit your favorite charity during and after your lifetime while also saving taxes. Charities rely on the generosity of people like you to assist in meeting the goals and mission of the organization.
We will discuss appreciated assets, qualified charitable deductions, donor-advised funds, charitable trusts, and family foundations as just a few of the ways you can do well by doing good. As an added bonus, Peggy will share ways to protect your pets through the use of a pet trust. Registration is free, but space is limited! Sign up today!
About the presenter: Peggy Hoyt is a Stetson University graduate receiving her B.B.A. in 1981, her M.B.A. in 1982 and her J.D. in 1993. She is a founding partner of Hoyt & Bryan, LLC. and is dual certified by the Florida Bar in Wills, Trusts, and Estates and in Elder Law. She practices in the areas of family wealth and legacy counselling, including trust and estate planning and administration, elder law, and animal law. Peggy was an adjunct professor of Animal Law with Barry University College of Law.
Peggy is the author of All My Children Wear Fur Coats – How to Leave a Legacy to Your Pet, an informative and inspirational guide for pet owners who want to include their pets as part of their estate plans. She has also co-authored a dozen other books, including her latest Amazon best seller, 101 Way to F$$k Up Your Estate. She speaks at the local, regional and national levels on estate planning and elder law topics including pet planning, special needs planning and asset protection for long term care. Peggy has been featured on CNN Financial News, the Wall Street Journal and the Orlando Sentinel for her dedication to pet planning. To this end, she is the host of a weekly Pawcast entitled All My Children Wear Fur Coats and is the founder of Animal Care Trust USA, Inc., an organization dedicated to keeping loved pets in loving homes.
Don't Let Heartworms Break Your Dog's Heart!
About the webinar: Did you know it only takes one mosquito bite to transmit this life-threatening disease? In this webinar, Dr. Ashley Ackley, DVM and Grey Muzzle Board Member, Jacki McDonald dig deep into heartworm myths, prevention & more! We know you love your pets - Join us & learn more about protecting their precious hearts!
About the presenters: Jacki McDonald graduated from Emory University’s Goizueta Business School and began her career in the national television media industry. Wanting to use her strong business skills and influential social media voice to "bring the light back into homeless dogs' eyes", Jacki decided to enter the world of animal rescue full time. She's been Rescue Coordinator, Head of Development & Fundraising as well as Executive Director of two shelters. Spending most of her adult life in Atlanta, she now resides in Sarasota, FL and is extremely dedicated to helping our canine companions in their golden years!
Dr. Ashley Ackley is a small animal veterinarian and a lover of all creatures, especially the stinky, lumpy, crunchy, and grey faces of senior canine companions. She is thankful that her job allows her to witness the strength of the human-animal bond on a daily basis. The heartbreak of seeing so many homeless older animals in shelters and rescues, especially those requiring medical care, has led Ashley on a mission to change the narratives that surround adopting a senior pet. In her spare time, Ashley loves combining travel with volunteering or biking activities-passions that take her all over the world. She currently lives in Denver, Colorado with her husband and two senior dogs.
Dental Disease in Older Dogs
About the webinar: Studies have shown that older dogs have a higher incidence of dental disease (periodontal disease). This is an active infection in the oral cavity that can also impact the overall health of your pets. In this webinar, Dr. Lobprise will explain how with good pre-operative exams and personalized anesthetic protocols, the risks of anesthesia can be minimized for these patients—and will also share how the benefits of resolving these oral infections sometimes are so profound that dogs start acting like puppies again after treatment!
About the presenter: Dr. Heidi Lobprise graduated from Texas A & M University in 1983 and became a board certified veterinary dentist in 1993. In 2003, she joined the Veterinary Specialty Team of Pfizer Animal Health, and in 2010, she became the Senior Technical Manager for Virbac Corporation. In 2014, Dr. Lobprise returned to dental specialty practice in Flower Mound, Texas. She is the author/co-author of three dental texts, including the second edition of Five Minute Veterinary Consult – Clinical Companion Small Animal Dentistry, has written many chapters and articles and has lectured internationally.
She helped organize, and was the first president of, the International Veterinary Senior Care Society, whose mission is to provide resources targeting the complete health care needs of senior pets to the veterinarian, their team, and clients. She has supported her interest in senior pet care through organizing and giving lectures, providing articles for publication and contributing a chapter to the upcoming “Treatment and Care of the Veterinary Geriatric Patient."
The Effects of Pain on Behavior
About the Webinar: Pain affects our pets' lives much more than we realize. Many, if not most behavioral issues are related to pain. In this webinar, Dr. Mike Petty leads an informative discussion on some of the reasons for this and the kinds of medical concerns that can cause behavior issues.
About the Presenter: Dr. Petty is currently a member of the World Small Animal Association Global Pain Council. He is the past president of the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management. A frequent speaker and consultant; he has published articles in veterinary journals and serves in an advisory capacity to several pharmaceutical companies on topics of pain management. He has taught primary care veterinarians on behalf of Pfizer Animal Health/Zoetis as an ELITE speaker: he has traveled to clinics around the country and the world to teach anesthesia and analgesia, and to improve the diagnosis and treatment of chronic pain. His book, Dr. Petty’s Pain Relief for Dogs was published in 2016 by WW Norton. He is a frequent contributor to veterinary journals.
10 Things You Didn't Know About Your Dog and 10 Top Tips to Make Your Dog Happier & Healthier
About the Webinar: Even Dr. Marty Becker, a veteran veterinarian and life-time dog lover who has written 23 books, doesn't know why his dog gets that silly grin on his face when he scoots across the expensive silk rug bought on a trip to China. But he does know why he has a white tip on his tail, a little pocket about halfway down the outside of his ear, and that dogs are one of the few animals that can breathe in-and-out at the same time with separate nostrils! He also knows that there's only one greatest dog in the world, and each of us has him or her. Dr. Marty Becker shares 10 things you don't know about your dog and 10 tips, proven by science, to optimize your dog's health, happiness, and longevity.
About the Presenter: Dr. Becker graduated from Washington State University's College of Veterinary Medicine. He says, "I went to veterinary school to become a dairy practitioner, but after listening to an amazing introductory talk from Dean Leo Bustad about the human-animal bond, I switched to a companion animal focus the first hour of the first day of veterinary school." He spent the next four decades practicing veterinary medicine in Idaho (owning or co-owning several hospitals), lecturing to veterinarians on six continents, teaching as an adjunct professor at three colleges of veterinary medicine, writing 25 books (selling over eight million copies with three New York Times bestsellers), his most recent being From Fearful to Fear Free: A Positive Program to Free Your Dog from Anxiety, Fears, and Phobias, which he co-authored with Dr. Lisa Radosta, Dr. Wailani Sung, and Mikkel Becker. In 2016, he co-founded Fear Free, whose mission is to prevent and alleviate fear, anxiety, and stress in pets by inspiring and educating the people who care for them.
Creating a Bucket List for Your Senior Dog
About the Webinar: Dr. Mary Gardner shares her personal experience of creating bucket lists for her senior pets. Not only do these lists allow your furry companions to enjoy some of their favorite things one last time, but they also can help family members with anticipatory grief to create new memories with their pets that will be cherished forever.
About the Presenter: Dr. Mary Gardner has a special place in her heart for the skinny, wobbly, grey-muzzled pets. Passionate about geriatric care, she is a veterinarian and co-founder of Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice, a nationwide practice whose 200+ veterinarians provide in-home hospice, euthanasia and end-of-life care.
She is a published author and co-editor of the textbook “Treatment and Care for the Geriatric Veterinary Patient” and in January 2022 will publish her book for dog owners “It’s never long enough: A practical guide for caring for your senior dog”.
She travels the world speaking about geriatric medicine, assessing quality of life, veterinary hospice, euthanasia and caregiver burden. A 2008 University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine graduate, she was awarded the Angel award for the recognition of the human-animal bond. She also received the Alumni Achievement Award from the University of Florida in 2016. And in 2020 won VM Speaker of the Year – a very high achievement in the veterinary space.
Anxiety in Senior Dogs
About the Webinar: It’s not uncommon for older dogs to undergo behavior changes and experience different kinds of anxiety as they get up in age. Sound sensitivity, isolation anxiety, and even sometimes struggle to settle at night are very common. We will go into depth about how to help your dog through this.
About the Presenter: Helen St. Pierre is a certified behavior consultant and trainer. She has been training dogs for over 20 years and has her own training facility in Concord, New Hampshire. She also runs her own senior and hospice dog non-profit called Old Dogs Go To Helen.
Helen and her husband Jake are passionate about senior dog rescue and advocating for senior dog care and life considerations. Helen has been featured in national magazines, on TV, and on the radio for her work!
Calming Your Aging Dog Using Touch & Other Methods
About the Webinar: As our aging dogs begin to lose their senses, they can get anxious. In addition, their bodies don't feel the same as they did when they were younger. This webinar covers basic bodywork (both massage and TTouch) techniques that will work best for soothing your aging dog's aches and pains as well as helping them relax. Lori will demonstrate techniques and share pointers on setting up an environment, so both of you are comfortable during bodywork. In addition, Lori will present ideas for helping your aging dog navigate their home and outside environments more safely and confidently and discuss harnesses and harness fitting.
About the Presenter: Lori Stevens (CPDT-KA, SAMP, CPBC, CCFT) is a professional dog trainer, an animal behavior consultant, a canine fitness trainer, and an animal massage practitioner.
Lori continually studies the interactions among animal behavior, movement, learning, fitness, and health. She uses intimidation-free, scientific, and innovative methods, in an educational environment, to improve the behavior, performance, health, and fitness of animals. Lori gives workshops, presents at conferences (e.g. Clicker Expo), teaches online courses (e.g. BehaviorWorks.org), and gives webinars.
Lori gets joy from teaching others how to help their dogs thrive–whether for competition or daily life. She co-presented (with Kathy Sdao) a workshop available on DVD titled "Gift of a Gray Muzzle: Active Care for Senior Dogs". Periodically, Lori also coaches for courses taught by Ken Ramirez at “The Ranch”. She is the creator of the Balance Harness®. She has taught multiple classes on the topic of Aging Dogs. See SeattleTTouch.com for more information.
10 Favorite Things for Senior Dogs
About the Webinar: If you've ever wondered where to find the best things for senior dogs that will help them through their golden years, this webinar is for you! As an integrative veterinarian with over 20 years of experience caring for aging dogs, Dr. Julie Buzby joins us to share her 10 favorite essentials that she recommends for senior canine companions. She'll present her favorite aids, what to look for when considering introducing an aid to your senior dog, and when to use aids for the greatest benefit.
About the Presenter: As an integrative veterinarian, Dr. Julie Buzby seeks to blend the best of Western medicine, alternative therapies and creative tools for maximum wellness in her patients, the majority of whom have grey muzzles.
After years of frustration watching her patients struggle on hard floors, she developed Dr. Buzby’s ToeGrips for dogs, assistive devices which enable instant traction and confident mobility. Dr. Buzby is passionate about educating clients on a multimodal approach to improving the quality of lives for senior and special needs dogs.
Multi Senior Dog Households
About the Webinar: Learn the pros and cons of having multiple senior dogs under one roof and how to help them navigate their old age together. We will discuss conflicts, body language, and so much more, plus show lots of videos and demonstrations!
About the Presenter: Helen St. Pierre is a certified behavior consultant and trainer. She has been training dogs for over 20 years and has her own training facility in Concord, New Hampshire. She also runs her own senior and hospice dog non-profit called Old Dogs Go To Helen.
Helen and her husband Jake are passionate about senior dog rescue and advocating for senior dog care and life considerations. Helen has been featured in national magazines, on TV, and on the radio for her work!
Safe Autumn Foods for Your Senior Dog plus Choking Safety Techniques
About the Webinar: Senior dogs are part of the family and some of the beings we are most grateful to have in our lives. As we move through Fall and into Thanksgiving, unique foods and spices may be added to our diets. Denise Fleck, The Pet Safety Crusader, shares which of these autumn favorites are safe for the whole family (including Fido) and which are potentially hazardous, meaning you could end up at the emergency vet if ingested. She'll even bake up a batch of tasty Turkey* Veggie Muffins you and your pet can enjoy together this season.
Just like us, dogs sometimes gulp or take in too much when enjoying a favorite meal or treat. Or they may swallow something they shouldn't have! So how do you help a dog who is choking? Denise demonstrates the important steps to help a choking pet, including the doggy Heimlich, chest thrusts, and the latest eXternal eXtraction technique (XXT). *or meat substitute of your choice
About the Presenter: Denise Fleck is an award-winning author and animal care instructor who developed the curriculum for her Pet First-Aid & CPCR and Pet Disaster Preparedness Classes after training with dozens of schools and organizations, practicing, attending seminars and practicing some more. Known as The Pet Safety Crusader™, Denise has personally taught more than 30,000 humans animal life-saving skills and has appeared on Animal Planet's Groomer Has It and Pit Boss, A&E's Kirstie Alley's Big Life, CBS-TV's The Doctors, CNN Headline News, PBS-TV's Lassie's Pet Vet and KTLA Los Angeles as well as on radio and in magazines. She is President of the Board of the Grey Muzzle Organization as her soft spot lies with caring for senior pets.
Supporting Senior Dogs: Simple changes to make their life and yours safer and easier!
About the Webinar: When it comes to supporting aging dogs, there are many factors to consider. Many of these depend on the specific dog and their individual circumstances, such as the aging process, pain management, mental health, medical concerns, and navigating their day-to-day environment. In this webinar, Dr. Dawn Gleason will discuss her experience caring for senior dogs and share simple changes that can make a big difference in their quality of life. The webinar also features many practical tips for creating a safe and manageable plan for those caring for senior dogs.
About the Presenter: Dr. Dawn Gleason is a Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist (CVA), Certified Veterinary Food Therapist (CVFT), and a Certified Rehabilitation Practitioner (CCRP). She is also the owner and operator of Life Quality Pet Care in Minden, NV. Life Quality Pet Care was built on the belief that quality pet care is a lifelong commitment between Dr. Gleason and her clients. Together their job is to make patients’ lives better by increasing their mobility and strength while keeping them comfortable into old age.
Dr. Gleason provides veterinary services to dogs of all ages and sizes, specializing in canine rehabilitation and senior dog care. She utilizes an integrative approach combining western medicine with acupuncture, rehabilitative knowledge, lifestyle advice, Chinese herbal medicine, laser therapy, and massage.
It May Not be the Fountain of Youth - But It May Help: Enrichment for Senior Dogs
About the Webinar: We know how enriching lives and environments helps captive animals of all ages in zoos, so why wouldn’t the same be true for dogs of all ages? Dogs are used as a model for human aging, and it turns out that lifetime learning and movement may possibly delay (even prevent?) the onset of canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome. Movement may also keep pets more limber, and enrichment may provide a “purpose” in life. In some ways, enrichment in golden years may be most valuable, in part, so that an older pet isn’t ignored in a home that also has younger and more active pets. Various examples of creative methods to enrich older animals’ lives, even those with physical limitations, are offered. Steve authored a chapter on this topic in the book The Treatment and Care of the Veterinary Geriatric Patient.
About the Presenter: Steve Dale is a certified animal behavior consultant and host of two nationally syndicated radio shows--Steve Dale’s Pet World and The Pet Minute (together heard on over 100 stations). Dale’s contributed to and authored many books, including Decoding Your Dog and Decoding Your Cat, both authored by the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists. Steve authored ebooks, Good Dog! and Good Cat! and others, and was a syndicated newspaper columnist. His TV appearances range from Oprah to Good Morning America, National Geographic Explorer, various Animal Planet shows and others. He’s a regular on syndicated HouseSmarts TV.
Currently, a writer and contributing editor for CATster. He’s also a columnist for the Journal of National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America and writes a monthly column for DVM 360, where he serves on the Editorial Advisory Board. Steve’s involved in many legislative efforts, from preventing breed bans to banning sales of dogs /cats at pet stores to creating a law to protect animals from kennel fires; the first law of its kind, signed by Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker in 2019. He serves on the Boards of EveryCat Health Foundation (formerly Winn Feline) and the Human Animal Bond Association. Steve is certified Fear Free and speaks on Fear Free and Cat Friendly Practices. Dale’s been honored with many awards, including the AVMA Humane Award in 2002, and in 2022 the AVMA Steve Dale Excellence in Media Award, and he’s in the Dog Writers’ Hall of Fame. Visit Steve's blog and website: www.stevedale.tv
Old Dog, New Tricks! Brain Games through Enrichment and Training
About the Webinar: Dogs of all ages need mental stimulation to feel their best, and senior dogs are no exception! Age appropriate activities such as puzzle toys, scent games, and teaching gentle tricks can keep your grey-muzzled friend happy, healthy, and thriving in their golden years. Join us for this free webinar as Sydney Queen, Certified Professional Dog Trainer, discusses enrichment and training modifications and alternatives for senior dogs.
About the Presenter: Sydney began her career in animal welfare at a local shelter in 2014 in Adoptions, Operations and Behavior, later joining the ASPCA's Behavioral Sciences Team in 2019. She has her master's in International Animal Welfare, Ethics, and Law as well as her Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT) certification. Through her work in shelters she quickly became fascinated with animal behavior and finding effective ways to maintain and/or improve an animal's mental wellbeing through behavior modification and enrichment in the often stressful shelter environment. She is also passionate about integrative care and working with medical challenges or special needs to ensure an animal's behavioral wellbeing is balanced alongside medical wellbeing. Sydney also enjoys helping pet guardians of both dogs and horses outside of the shelter world through her own behavior consulting and training business, Sympatico Animal Behavior, LLC. Much of her work involves providing behavior modification, enrichment, and creative problem solving for dogs of all backgrounds and ages. Sydney enjoys strengthening the human-animal bond by helping pet guardians to develop a more thorough understanding of their animal's behavior and providing them with practical solutions to modify problem behaviors and meet their pet's ever-changing needs.
Understanding the Personalities of Aging Dogs with Traditional Chinese Medicine's 5 Element Theory
About the Webinar: The Five Element Theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a fun and helpful tool for understanding your old dog's personality, needs, and wants. It will also cue you into specific behaviors and possible maladies that your elder dog may display. This technique provides a fresh view of how to really see your elder dog and how to create harmony and an adaptive forever home environment for their senior years. As this ancient healing approach was originally created for humans and adapted for animals, you may also see shades of your own “elements” as we navigate our way through this fun and intriguing topic. These perspectives will help us understand how both the elder dog and we human caregivers deal with change, relationships, and aging.
About the Presenter:Elizabeth Johnson, EEBW, CMFT, has been working to promote the health and wellness of small, large, and exotic animals as well as wildlife for more than 30 years. She has done equine and canine bodywork and rehabilitation on competitive and companion animals; managed and solved nutritional issues and environmental effects; and used complementary modalities to partner with veterinary medicine providers. She works from a place of deep clinical understanding, empathy, and compassion to find the "health" of each animal while promoting well-being in the physical, spiritual, and emotional realms of all involved. She is a TEDx speaker, author, animal empath, mentor, and joyful dog lover.
Elizabeth also co-teaches with her veterinarian husband, Dr. Mark Johnson. They own a progressive company dedicated to teaching and advising wildlife and animal welfare professionals throughout the US and internationally to bring care, honor, and respect to animals whether they are free-ranging, captive, or feral. This instruction includes compassionate handling techniques, self-awareness, and animal awareness.
Euthanasia Options
About the webinar: No one ever wants to make the decision to say goodbye to their dog. But understanding your options on euthanasia vs natural passing and when best to make that decision will be helpful during this time. Join this session to learn about the options, how best to plan for euthanasia and ask Dr. Mary questions related to end of life.
About the presenter: Dr. Mary Gardner has a special place in her heart for the skinny, wobbly, grey-muzzled pets. Passionate about geriatric care, she is a veterinarian and co-founder of Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice, a nationwide practice whose 200+ veterinarians provide in-home hospice, euthanasia and end-of-life care.
She is a published author and co-editor of the textbook “Treatment and Care for the Geriatric Veterinary Patient” and in January 2022 will publish her book for dog owners “It’s never long enough: A practical guide for caring for your senior dog”.
She travels the world speaking about geriatric medicine, assessing quality of life, veterinary hospice, euthanasia and caregiver burden. A 2008 University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine graduate, she was awarded the Angel award for the recognition of the human-animal bond. She also received the Alumni Achievement Award from the University of Florida in 2016. And in 2020 won VM Speaker of the Year – a very high achievement in the veterinary space.
Canine Vestibular Disease: A Common Senior Dog Malady
About the webinar: Symptoms of vestibular disease can not only be frightening for dogs and their owners, but they can often be mistaken for signs of a seizure or stroke. Grey Muzzle Advisory Board Member Dr. Julie Buzby, DVM discusses this relatively common condition in senior dogs and explains why the prognosis is good for most dogs who suffer from it. If you share your home and heart with a senior dog, don't miss this free webinar.
About the presenter: As an integrative veterinarian, Dr. Julie Buzby seeks to blend the best of Western medicine, alternative therapies and creative tools for maximum wellness in her patients, the majority of whom have grey muzzles. After years of frustration watching her patients struggle on hard floors, she developed Dr. Buzby’s ToeGrips for dogs, assistive devices which enable instant traction and confident mobility. Dr. Buzby is passionate about educating clients on a multimodal approach to improving the quality of lives for senior and special needs dogs.
Acupuncture 101
About the webinar: Acupuncture 101 - How this ancient modality can help our senior pets live life to the fullest! We will discuss what acupuncture is, how it works & what diseases it can treat. I will discuss what an acupuncture treatment looks like & what to expect following treatments. We will also discuss some basic acupuncture massage techniques for older pets and other general holistic tips to keep your senior pet happy & healthy.
About the presenter: Dr. Sowers is originally from Winston-Salem, NC & graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine in 2009. She specialized in emergency medicine for almost 10 years before making the transition to general practice & acupuncture in 2018.
Dr. Sowers attended the Chi Institute in 2017 and received specialized training in Animal Acupuncture, Tui-na (Chinese medical massage) & Food Therapy. She has a passion for integrative medicine & tries to incorporate natural healing into her treatment plans as often as possible, and also has a special interest in using essential oils in pets.
Dr. Sowers opened Kindred Souls Mobile Veterinary Services in 2018 which exclusively practices traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine. She also works part time at Riversong Veterinary Clinic, an integrative clinic in Brevard, NC.
In her spare time, Dr. Sowers enjoys hiking, dancing, seeing live music & visiting the many art galleries in the area. She also regularly practices yoga, meditation & Qi gong.
What is Pet Hospice?
About the webinar: Veterinary hospice care is a unique case approach centered around education, preparation, and support for the pet and the client. But most people think that hospice is about giving up or prolonging suffering when it is quite the opposite. Learn more about hospice and how it can help your pet live well until they die.
About the presenter: Dr. Mary Gardner has a special place in her heart for the skinny, wobbly, grey-muzzled pets. Passionate about geriatric care, she is a veterinarian and co-founder of Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice, a nationwide practice whose 200+ veterinarians provide in-home hospice, euthanasia and end-of-life care.
She is a published author and co-editor of the textbook “Treatment and Care for the Geriatric Veterinary Patient” and in January 2022 will publish her book for dog owners “It’s never long enough: A practical guide for caring for your senior dog”.
She travels the world speaking about geriatric medicine, assessing quality of life, veterinary hospice, euthanasia and caregiver burden. A 2008 University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine graduate, she was awarded the Angel award for the recognition of the human-animal bond. She also received the Alumni Achievement Award from the University of Florida in 2016. And in 2020 won VM Speaker of the Year – a very high achievement in the veterinary space.
Get to Know Your Senior Dog from Head-to-Tail
About the webinar: Our dogs can't tell us when something is wrong. By getting to know our furry best friend from head-to-tail, you can more readily detect a problem early and intervene. Denise Fleck (aka The Pet Safety Crusader) and Grey Muzzle's Board President will provide step-by-step instructions to perform an at-home examination of your dog.
About the presenter: Denise Fleck is an award-winning author and animal care instructor who developed the curriculum for her Pet First-Aid & CPCR and Pet Disaster Preparedness Classes after training with dozens of schools and organizations, practicing, attending seminars and practicing some more. Known as The Pet Safety Crusader™, Denise has personally taught more than 30,000 humans animal life-saving skills and has appeared on Animal Planet's Groomer Has It and Pit Boss, A&E's Kirstie Alley's Big Life, CBS-TV's The Doctors, CNN Headline News, PBS-TV's Lassie's Pet Vet and KTLA Los Angeles as well as on radio and in magazines. She is President of the Board of the Grey Muzzle Organization as her soft spot lies with caring for senior pets.
Tips to Care for Your Senior Dog
About the webinar: Senior pets may have a number of issues including discomfort, chronic inflammation and even increased anxiety. Dr. Heidi will talk about how to recognize when some of these issues are happening, when to seek medical help and advice, and additional things you can do to improve their quality of life.
About the presenter: Dr. Heidi Lobprise graduated from Texas A & M University in 1983 and became a board certified veterinary dentist in 1993. In 2003, she joined the Veterinary Specialty Team of Pfizer Animal Health, and in 2010, she became the Senior Technical Manager for Virbac Corporation. In 2014, Dr. Lobprise returned to dental specialty practice in Flower Mound, Texas. She is the author/co-author of three dental texts, including the second edition of Five Minute Veterinary Consult – Clinical Companion Small Animal Dentistry, has written many chapters and articles and has lectured internationally.
She helped organize, and was the first president of, the International Veterinary Senior Care Society, whose mission is to provide resources targeting the complete health care needs of senior pets to the veterinarian, their team, and clients. She has supported her interest in senior pet care through organizing and giving lectures, providing articles for publication and contributing a chapter to the upcoming “Treatment and Care of the Veterinary Geriatric Patient."
Keeping Your Senior Pets Moving
About the webinar: Mobility issues is one of the most common ailments older dogs struggle with. Dr Mary will discuss common causes, ways to help prevent mobility issues and also ways to support your dog (and you) manage their daily life if they do struggle getting around!
About the presenter: Dr. Mary Gardner has a special place in her heart for the skinny, wobbly, grey-muzzled pets. Passionate about geriatric care, she is a veterinarian and co-founder of Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice, a nationwide practice whose 200+ veterinarians provide in-home hospice, euthanasia and end-of-life care.
She is a published author and co-editor of the textbook “Treatment and Care for the Geriatric Veterinary Patient” and in January 2022 will publish her book for dog owners “It’s never long enough: A practical guide for caring for your senior dog”.
She travels the world speaking about geriatric medicine, assessing quality of life, veterinary hospice, euthanasia and caregiver burden. A 2008 University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine graduate, she was awarded the Angel award for the recognition of the human-animal bond. She also received the Alumni Achievement Award from the University of Florida in 2016. And in 2020 won VM Speaker of the Year – a very high achievement in the veterinary space.
Laryngeal Paralysis in Dogs
About the webinar: Laryngeal paralysis in dogs (also known as "Lar Par" or "GOLPP") can result in a true veterinary emergency. Every senior dog parent should be aware of this serious and under-discussed condition and know how to recognize it. By sharing the real-life story of a Labrador Retriever diagnosed with laryngeal paralysis, integrative veterinarian Dr. Julie Buzby reveals the signs, symptoms, and treatment options for dogs with Lar Par. Don't miss this important information!
About the presenter: As an integrative veterinarian, Dr. Julie Buzby seeks to blend the best of Western medicine, alternative therapies and creative tools for maximum wellness in her patients, the majority of whom have grey muzzles. After years of frustration watching her patients struggle on hard floors, she developed Dr. Buzby’s ToeGrips for dogs, assistive devices which enable instant traction and confident mobility. Dr. Buzby is passionate about educating clients on a multimodal approach to improving the quality of lives for senior and special needs dogs.
Seasonal Changes and Your Senior Dog
About the webinar: As we roll into Autumn, the days get shorter, temperatures drop and many humans begin to hibernate, or just lose their get up and go! Known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), no one knows for sure if our senior dogs are experiencing the same moodiness, since we share much of the same brain chemistry, or if they are mimicking our emotions and lethargy. Regardless, dogs may not be getting as much outdoor time, and even an older canine needs his exercise. Denise Fleck (aka The Pet Safety Crusader) and Grey Muzzle's Board President will discuss ways to engage pets during the darker days and prevent them from becoming four-legged couch potatoes! Diet, exercise, lighting, safety and protective gear will all be discussed.
About the presenter: Denise Fleck is an award-winning author and animal care instructor who developed the curriculum for her Pet First-Aid & CPCR and Pet Disaster Preparedness Classes after training with dozens of schools and organizations, practicing, attending seminars and practicing some more. Known as The Pet Safety Crusader™, Denise has personally taught more than 15,000 humans animal life-saving skills and has appeared on Animal Planet’s Groomer Has It and Pit Boss, A&E’s Kirstie Alley’s Big Life, CBS-TV’s The Doctors, CNN Headline News, PBS-TV’s Lassie’s Pet Vet and KTLA Los Angeles as well as on radio and in magazines. She is President of the Board of the Grey Muzzle Organization as her soft spot lies with caring for senior pets.
Reiki for our Senior Animal Friends
About the webinar: We all love our precious animal friends and it can be heartbreaking to witness the health challenges they face as they grow older. A great complement to traditional care, Reiki provides a safe and gentle way to improve the health and well-being of our animal friends by facilitating the body’s innate ability to balance and heal. In this webinar, Beth will share her experience with Reiki for animals and how it can bring deep relaxation, stress relief, and comfort to our gray-muzzled friends.
About the presenter: Beth Shemo is an Advanced Proficiency Healing Touch for Animals Practitioner and Reiki Master Practitioner. Her exploration into energy medicine began with Reiki in 1997, and she received Reiki Master Certification in 1999. When a health issue developed in one of her dogs, Beth sought out holistic options and found a wonderful holistic veterinarian who restored her dog’s health and vitality. Beth was fortunate to work with this vet for several years as a veterinary assistant and Healing Touch for Animals Practitioner where she furthered her training in Healing Touch for Animals (HTA), Healing Touch, Color Therapy, Aromatherapy, and Craniosacral Therapy for Animals. In her private practice, Spirit Wolf Energetics, LLC, Beth’s mission is to improve the health and vitality of animals, both domestic and wild, through the use of safe and gentle energy medicine techniques. She also enjoys providing complimentary healing sessions for the amazing animals at the Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center and Teller County Regional Animal Shelter.
A Better Understanding of Seizures and Senior Pets
About the webinar: While seizures are one of the most common neurological conditions seen in pets, they can be scary and confusing for pet parents to experience. This is especially so when your pet is a senior and may have no prior history of these events. In this webinar, Dr. Cook will dive deeper into the topic of seizures in our older pets, providing a better understanding of what seizures are and how they are identified. He will talk about the most common causes of seizures and what we can do to help our senior pets through them. Registration is free but space is limited. Sign up today!
About the presenter: A highly regarded neurologist and neurosurgeon, Dr. Jim Cook has more than 40 years of experience in the field. He received his PhD in Neurophysiology from the University of Georgia after earning his DVM from The Ohio State University. Board-certified for more than 35 years, he has a special interest in spinal surgery and MRI interpretation. Dr. Cook has authored and co-authored more than 30 referred veterinary and human journal articles, textbook chapters, and research abstracts in some of the world’s most well-respected industry publications. He has also presented on a wide range of topics on local, state, national, and international stages. Dr. Cook currently practices at Specialists in Companion Animal Neurology in Clearwater, FL where he works in partnership with each patient’s primary care veterinarian to diagnose and treat dogs and cats with neurological disease.
Progressive Preventative Medicine: Increasing your pet’s longevity and quality of life
About the webinar: We all wish for more time with our beloved pets. While we can’t stop the aging process, great strides are being made in veterinary preventative medicine. In this webinar, Dr. Steven Wolchinsky talks about what to look for in preventative plans, how to use preventative tests to identify diseases early, the role of genomics, and what tests to run as your dog becomes "geriatric." We’ll also discuss why pets are living longer and what you can do to promote your pup’s longevity and quality of life.
About the presenter: Dr. Wolchinsky has worked at Rocky Gorge Animal Hospital in Laurel, MD since 1987. He enjoys all aspects of canine and feline medicine but has special interests in internal medicine, cardiology, diagnostic imaging, and many other cutting-edge advances. In 2017, Dr. Wolchinsky received Boehringer Ingelheim's first VETMEDIN Cardiology Pioneer Award in recognition of all the veterinarians and specialists who care for dogs with congestive heart failure (CHF) and help those dogs have the opportunity for better days and longer lives. Dr. Wolchinsky is the Laurel City Veterinarian as well as an Advisory Board Member for Grey Muzzle.
A Better Understanding of Neurological Disease in Senior Dogs
About the webinar: It’s no secret that the aging process in humans can often lead to sometimes unexpected neurological changes within our bodies. What is less commonly known is that these neurologic changes are also seen in our senior canine companions. In this lecture Dr. Cook shed some light on a few of the most common neurological disorders and concerns seen in our older patients, including cognitive dysfunction, mobility issues, vestibular events, seizures and more. We discussed how these issues present, when to contact your veterinarian, and what we can do to help our beloved pets as they go through these changes.
About the presenter: A highly-regarded neurologist and neurosurgeon, Dr. Jim Cook, DVM, PHD, DACVIM, has more than 40 years of experience in the field. He received his Phd in Neurophysiology from the University of Georgia after he earned his DVM from The Ohio State University. A board-certified neurologist for more than 35 years, he has a special interest in spinal surgery and MRI interpretation. Today, he is not only a well-respected neurologist and neurosurgeon, but he is also a sought-after thought-leader. Dr. Cook has authored and co-authored more than 30 referred veterinary and human journal articles, textbook chapters and research abstracts in some of the world’s most well-respected industry publications. He has also presented on a wide range of topics at the local, state, national and international stage. Dr. Cook currently practices at Specialists in Companion Animal Neurology in Clearwater, FL where he works in partnership with his patient’s primary care veterinarian to diagnose and treat dogs and cats with neurological disease.
Compassion Fatigue: What Animal Caregivers Need to Know
About the webinar: Between the challenges of life in the age of COVID and caring for senior pets at home and on the job, helping professionals, volunteers, and pet parents may find that they’re experiencing increased stress and distress. In this webinar we focused on understanding what compassion fatigue is, how it impacts us, and simple strategies we can all implement to increase our wellbeing, so that we can continue caring for the animals we love.
About the presenter: Jessica Dolce, MS CCFE, is a Certified Compassion Fatigue Educator who brings almost twenty years of experience working with and for companion animals to her coaching and online programs. She is an adjunct faculty member at The Maddie’s® Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Florida and has worked with organizations such as the ASPCA, HSUS, and the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. She holds a Master of Science in Adult and Higher Education degree and certificates in stress management, mindfulness facilitation, and positive psychology coaching. You can learn more at jessicadolce.com.
Responsible Aromatherapy™ for the Senior Dog
About the webinar: When aromatherapy is used responsibly, it can be a simple natural solution to help dogs relax, support the human-animal bond, facilitate behavior modification and improve health. Proper use of essential oils is especially important with senior dogs, and can safely help create a calm environment, soothe itchy or irritated skin, quiet digestive upsets, repel insects and heal infections. Increased interest in the healing powers of essential oils has brought an abundance of misleading information about how to use them. Overuse, either in frequency or potency, has caused injury to people and their pets as well as the overharvesting of natural resources. Vicki offers some guidelines to help you have a safe and successful experience by knowing how to use aromatherapy responsibly.
About the presenter: It was love at first smell when Vicki Rae Thorne attended her first aromatherapy intensive in 1992. She’d been diagnosed with fibromyalgia 4 years earlier, and was inspired to start making remedies to address her constant pain and stress. Because she was pregnant and had a five-year-old, she wanted everything to be safe for her entire family, and has applied that same level of responsibility to formulating for dogs of all ages. Vicki founded Earth Heart® in 1996 to help others learn how to safely and effectively use herbs and essential oils as part of everyday life. The exploitation of plant habitats and indigenous economies along with the growing trend toward misleading information led her to create Responsible Aromatherapy™ as the basis of ingredient sourcing and customer education. Vicki holds practitioner certifications in herbalism, aromatherapy, Reiki 2, and holistic cannabis. You can e-mail Vicki here.
Two Paws Up for Senior Dogs!
Television producer and Grey Muzzle Advisory Board Member Michael Levitt welcomed television personality and everyone’s favorite BFF Ross Mathews and Hallmark Channel’s Pet Expert Larissa Wohl to discuss their love of senior dogs and advocacy to help these furry friends.
Hear their behind the scenes stories of working together on The American Rescue Dog Show, Fox’s Cause for Paws, and other rescue themed programming. You can imagine when making television shows with lots of celebrities and over 100 rescue dogs, things don’t always go as planned.
Senior Dog Massage with Pam Holt
About the webinar: Our beloved dogs are thankfully living longer than ever these days. With that blessing comes age-related issues like arthritis, causing reduced mobility and range of motion. Organ function decreases with age also, making alternatives to drugs desirable so as to not further tax the kidneys and liver. Massage is something we can all do with our own two loving hands. We can actively participate in our dogs' healing with effective massage, Tellington Touch (TTouch) and acupressure techniques, which will provide endless benefits for your best friend while strengthening the precious bond you cherish with them. We can also reap health benefits ourselves as well by giving a massage, like lowering our blood pressure. We can gather invaluable information by knowing what feels normal on our dogs, so we can more quickly find abnormalities should they arise in the future.
About the presenter: Pam Holt of Buddha Dog Animal Massage is a Registered Veterinary Technician and has been a Certified Animal Massage Therapist since 2003. She provides home sessions in the Los Angeles, CA area that include massage, acupressure, TTouch (Tellington Touch), and Reiki. She is a proud mom to many rescued dogs and cats of all ages. Visit her website and download her massage booklet at www.buddhadog.com.
The Joys of Senior Dog Rescue: An Interview with David Rosenfelt
About the webinar: 'When you have two dogs, getting a third is a big deal. But when you have 26 and you get a call saying that a golden retriever is going to be put down at 3 o’clock, you take a 27th.' That’s a quote from David Rosenfelt, a mystery novelist and all-around great guy who, together with his wife Debbie Myers, helped find homes for more than 4,000 dogs facing the end at crowded animal shelters. Laura Coffey interviews Rosenfelt all about the joys of senior dog rescue. Coffey asked Rosenfelt to recount his many years in animal rescue and describe his epic cross-country move with 25 mostly geriatric rescue dogs and 11 volunteers in three RVs. (Rosenfelt chronicled that fur-raising adventure in his 2013 book Dogtripping!) Coffey and Rosenfelt also announced the kickoff of Grey Muzzle’s #AdoptedASeniorDog social media contest.
About the presenter: Laura Coffey, a Grey Muzzle advisory board member and author of the national bestseller My Old Dog: Rescued Pets with Remarkable Second Acts, is a self-avowed dog nut and a senior writer, editor and producer for NBC’s TODAY show. A journalist with more than 25 years of experience, Laura has written and edited hundreds of high-profile human-interest stories for TODAY.com since 2008.
Grey Muzzles Gone Wide: Feeding Strategies to Avoid and Treat Weight Gain in Older Dogs
About the webinar: According to the latest estimates, over 56% of US pet dogs are overweight or have obesity, totaling over 50 million dogs. A recent pet parent survey found that almost half (47%) of American dog owners have a dog age 7 or older. That means we continue to see an increase in older, overweight dogs in this country. That also means more dogs are at risk for preventable weight-related diseases such as arthritis, kidney failure, high blood pressure, and cancer. “Grey muzzles gone wide” is inadvertently putting millions of senior dogs in danger. Luckily, there are so many things dog parents can do to help keep their pooch at a healthy body condition. Dr. Ernie Ward shared the reasons why we continue to see an increase in overweight dogs around the world, the consequences of a few extra pounds on your dog’s health and longevity, and the latest research on effective weight loss techniques.
About the presenter: Dr. Ernie Ward is the founder of the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, the world’s most recognized authority on dog and cat weight issues. Dr. Ward has spent the last 20 years researching, teaching, writing about, and treating pet obesity.
Dr. Julie Buzby: Saying Goodbye to Your Dog with Grace and Peace
About the webinar: Grieving the loss of a dog after euthanasia is every shade of difficult. After listening to a dear friend express the guilt she felt following her dog’s euthanasia, integrative veterinarian Dr. Julie Buzby's new passion project is helping people find peace in their heart after saying goodbye to a best friend. This webinar covered: How Can I Be Sure It’s Time to Euthanize My Dog; How Can I Prepare for My Dog’s Euthanasia Appointment; and What About the Overwhelming Guilt and Grief. Dr. Buzby also shared her own personal story of losing her beloved dog Luke. Presenter's Note: This webinar covers sensitive topics that may trigger strong emotions. Please keep self-care top of mind while listening to this presentation.
About the presenter: As an integrative veterinarian, Dr. Julie Buzby seeks to blend the best of Western medicine, alternative therapies and creative tools for maximum wellness in her patients, the majority of whom have grey muzzles. After years of frustration watching her patients struggle on hard floors, she developed Dr. Buzby’s ToeGrips for dogs, assistive devices which enable instant traction and confident mobility. Dr. Buzby is passionate about educating clients on a multimodal approach to improving the quality of lives for senior and special needs dogs.
Keeping Your Senior Dog Safe: Summertime Pet Safety Tips
About the webinar: Warmer weather, pesky insects and outdoor cook-outs are only a few of the things we need to ensure remain fun and not harmful to our older dogs. This webinar covers basic First Aid for bee stings and snake bites; how to cool your dog off from the paws up; water safety; and what to do should your dog experience an upset tummy or even choke during your barbecue. The presentation concluded with a salute to Pet Fire Safety Awareness Day discussing ways to prevent your older pal from causing a fire or becoming a statistic when the worst happens.
About the presenter: Denise Fleck is an award-winning author, animal care instructor and radio show host who developed the curriculum for her Pet First-Aid & CPCR and Pet Disaster Preparedness Classes after training with dozens of schools and organizations, practicing, attending seminars and practicing some more. Known as The Pet Safety Crusader™, Denise has personally taught more than 15,000 humans animal life-saving skills and has appeared on Animal Planet’s Groomer Has It and Pit Boss, A&E’s Kirstie Alley’s Big Life, CBS-TV’s The Doctors, CNN Headline News, PBS-TV’s Lassie’s Pet Vet and KTLA Los Angeles as well as on radio and in magazines. She is honored and delighted to be on the Board of the Grey Muzzle Organization as her soft spot lies with caring for senior pets. Read her full bio...
Can You Trust Your Pet? Of course, with a Pet Trust!
About the webinar: This presentation focuses on including your pets as part of your estate plan using a Pet Trust. Pet Trusts ensure no loved pet ever ends up alone, afraid, in a shelter or euthanized. Pets are treasured members of our family; yet they don’t have the ability to care for themselves if something happens to us. If a pet parent becomes disabled or dies, a Pet Trust can provide the resources to a named Pet Caregiver under the supervision of a Pet Trustee to ensure loving, lifetime care. Pet Trusts come in different shapes and sizes. Which one is best for you will depend on what you want for your loved pet. Should your pet stay in your home while a Pet Caregiver moves in and provides care? Should your loved pet be placed with an alternate Forever Family who will never replace you, but can provide continued care? Or, perhaps your pet would be best served in a pet community like a sanctuary or perpetual care organization. The decision is yours. Join us to learn more about how you can ensure that your loved pet remains in a loving home.
About the presenter: Peggy Hoyt is a Stetson University graduate receiving her B.B.A. in 1981, her M.B.A. in 1982 and her J.D. in 1993. She is a founding partner of Hoyt & Bryan, LLC. and is dual certified by the Florida Bar in Wills, Trusts, and Estates and in Elder Law. She practices in the areas of family wealth and legacy counselling, including trust and estate planning and administration, elder law, small business creation, succession and exit planning, real estate transactions and animal law. She serves as a certified FINRA Arbitrator and is also a Florida Circuit Court Mediator concentrating in family business, estate administration, and animal law issues. Peggy was an adjunct professor of Animal Law with Barry University College of Law.
Peggy is the author of All My Children Wear Fur Coats – How to Leave a Legacy to Your Pet, an informative and inspirational guide for pet owners who want to include their pets as part of their estate plans. She has also co-authored a dozen other books and speaks at the local, regional and national levels on estate planning and elder law topics including pet planning, special needs planning and planning for unmarried couples and same sex partners. Peggy has been featured on CNN Financial News, the Wall Street Journal and the Orlando Sentinel for her dedication to pet planning. She is also highly regarded for her workshops on gratitude marketing, life balance and law office management.
Q&A With Victoria Stilwell, World-Renowned Dog Trainer
About the webinar: Join us for a special Q&A session with Grey Muzzle Advisory Board Member and world-renowned dog trainer, Victoria Stilwell! She will be answering all your dog training and behavior questions live. She'll also share tips on how you can enrich your senior dog’s life. Catch the playback of the Q&A here.
About the presenter: Born and raised in Wimbledon, England, Victoria Stilwell is a world-renowned dog trainer, TV personality and author best known as the star of the international hit TV series "It's Me or the Dog," through which she reaches audiences in over 100 countries. She also served as a judge on CBS’s Greatest American Dog and was named 2009’s Dog Trainer of the Year at the Purina ProPlan Dog Awards.
Appearing frequently in the worldwide media, Stilwell is widely recognized as a leader in the field of animal behavior, is the Editor-In-Chief of Positively.com and the CEO of Victoria Stilwell Positively Dog Training – the world’s premier global network of positive reinforcement dog trainers.
Dr. Tamara Shearer: Early Recognition and Support of Cancer Patients Utilizing a Integrative, Proactive Approach
About the webinar: Being proactive with home evaluations for cancer between veterinary visits improves the odds of a better outcome or extended quality of life for a patient. Tips on what to look for at home will be discussed in the lecture. A review of common supportive care methods that can complement conventional care or can act only as palliative support will also be discussed.
About the presenter: Dr. Tamara Shearer is a graduate of the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine. She has acquired five certifications: Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist (Chi Institute), Certified Veterinary Pain Practitioner, Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Veterinarian and Certified TCVM Palliative and End-of Life Practitioner. To date, she is one of only 30 veterinarians to receive a Masters degree in Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine.
Dr. Shearer helped develop the International Animal Hospice and Palliative Care Certification Program that provides over 100 hours of continuing education on hospice and palliative care. She also contributed to the development of the Chi Institute’s TCVM Palliative and End-of Life course. In addition to the development of courses, she has lectured at major national and international veterinary meetings.
Dr. Shearer is the practice owner of Shearer Pet Health Services and Smoky Mountain Integrative Veterinary Clinic where she focuses on rehabilitation, pain management, hospice care and Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine for her patients. She has won numerous awards, authored and edited several books, been featured in national media and served as president for several veterinary associations.
Dr. Sheilah Robertson: New and Integrated Approaches to Comfort
About the webinar: The future of pain management for older pets (and people) is looking bright. Integrating drug and non-drug treatments into a pain management plan can turn a good plan into a great one. By using more than one type of treatment, we can often decrease the unwanted side effects of drugs. There are simple techniques such as massage that take little time, money or expertise and can all be done in the comfort of the pet’s home. There is also a lot of research being done to target very specific areas of the body, such as the joints and nerves, so that other important organs (like the kidneys) are not affected. Join us for an informative presentation all about new and integrated approaches to comfort for our pets.
About the presenter: Dr. Sheilah Robertson's career in veterinary medicine spans more than three decades and encompasses numerous roles including a general practitioner, clinician and teacher in university veterinary schools in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States. She has served as a staff member of the animal welfare division at the American Veterinary Medical Association and as president of the American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia. Dr. Robertson has published numerous peer-reviewed papers related to anesthesia and analgesia in dogs, cats, horses and even iguanas. She has a special interest in sedation, anesthesia and analgesia of older pets and in helping them enjoy life to the fullest. Since 2017, she has served as Senior Medical Director for Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice. In this role, she supports over 100 veterinarians by providing the latest information on pain management, geriatric pets and end of life care. She also regularly presents continuing education courses and workshops at national conferences and local veterinary medical association meetings.
Dr. Marty Becker: Q & A with "America's Veterinarian"
About the webinar: Ever wonder about your dog's mental health? Feeding the mind is just as important as feeding the body. Join us for a Q&A with "America's Veterinarian" Dr. Marty Becker to learn more about in-home enrichment and how to make trips to the vet less stressful (dare we say fun?). Dr. Becker will walk us through his Fear Free initiative, how it was founded and its goals, and take questions from the audience.
About the presenter: Dr. Becker graduated from Washington State University's College of Veterinary Medicine. He says, "I went to veterinary school to become a dairy practitioner, but after listening to an amazing introductory talk from Dean Leo Bustad about the human-animal bond, I switched to a companion animal focus the first hour of the first day of veterinary school." He spent the next four decades practicing veterinary medicine in Idaho (owning or co-owning several hospitals), lecturing to veterinarians on six continents, teaching as an adjunct professor at three colleges of veterinary medicine, writing 25 books (selling over eight million copies with three New York Times bestsellers), his most recent being From Fearful to Fear Free: A Positive Program to Free Your Dog from Anxiety, Fears, and Phobias, which he co-authored with Dr. Lisa Radosta, Dr. Wailani Sung, and Mikkel Becker. In 2016, he co-founded Fear Free, whose mission is to prevent and alleviate fear, anxiety, and stress in pets by inspiring and educating the people who care for them.
Dr. Mary Gardner: Assessing Quality of Life and Deciding When to Say Goodbye
About the webinar: Assessing the quality of life of a family pet is a delicate balance between managing 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 entire care team to manage and balance each of these. Learn the components of assessing quality of life, the things to look out for, and tools to help evaluate your pet’s condition and determine when to say goodbye.
About the presenter: Dr. Mary Gardner has a special place in her heart for the skinny, wobbly, grey-muzzled pets. Passionate about geriatric care, she is a veterinarian and co-founder of Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice, a nationwide practice whose 120+ veterinarians provide in-home hospice, euthanasia and end-of-life care.
She is a published author and co-editor of the textbook “Treatment and Care for the Geriatric Veterinary Patient.” She travels the world speaking about geriatric medicine, assessing quality of life, veterinary hospice, euthanasia and caregiver burden. A 2008 University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine graduate, she was awarded the Angel award for the recognition of the human-animal bond. She also received the Alumni Achievement Award from the University of Florida in 2016.
Dr. Heidi Lobprise: Dental Disease in Older Dogs
About the webinar: Studies have shown that older dogs have a higher incidence of dental disease (periodontal disease). This is an active infection in the oral cavity that can also impact the overall health of your pets. In this webinar, Dr. Lobprise will explain how with good pre-operative exams and personalized anesthetic protocols, the risks of anesthesia can be minimized for these patients—and will also share how the benefits of resolving these oral infections sometimes are so profound that dogs start acting like puppies again after treatment! Note: You must enter your name and email address to view the recording.
About the presenter: Dr. Heidi Lobprise graduated from Texas A & M University in 1983 and became a board certified veterinary dentist in 1993. In 2003, she joined the Veterinary Specialty Team of Pfizer Animal Health, and in 2010, she became the Senior Technical Manager for Virbac Corporation. In 2014, Dr. Lobprise returned to dental specialty practice in Flower Mound, Texas. She is the author/co-author of three dental texts, including the second edition of Five Minute Veterinary Consult – Clinical Companion Small Animal Dentistry, has written many chapters and articles and has lectured internationally.
She helped organize, and was the first president of, the International Veterinary Senior Care Society, whose mission is to provide resources targeting the complete health care needs of senior pets to the veterinarian, their team, and clients. She has supported her interest in senior pet care through organizing and giving lectures, providing articles for publication and contributing a chapter to the upcoming “Treatment and Care of the Veterinary Geriatric Patient."
Sunny Weber: How to Help Your Anxious Senior Dog
About the webinar: Sunny Weber, author, speaker and behaviorist, shares information on how to help your fearful older dog.
Denise Fleck: Holiday Pet Safety Tips with Denise Fleck, Pet Crusader
About the webinar: Knowing what to do in the first few moments of an injury can mean the difference between life and death for your four-legged friend
Debra Vey Voda-Hamilton of Hamilton Law and Mediation: Four Easy Steps to Prepare a Plan to Care for Your Beloved Animal Companions If You Cannot
About the webinar: Have you ever asked yourself: If I don’t get home, what will happen to my dog? If something happens to me, where would my bird go? Who could care for my sick cat if I didn’t get home? How do I find someone to take my horse? When you ask yourself these questions, you realize you really have no plan. Debra Vey Voda-Hamilton of Hamilton Law and Mediation gives you four easy steps to follow, so you can create a plan for your pets if you are unable to care for them.
Denise Fleck: Pet Safety and Disaster Preparedness for Your Senior Dog
About the webinar: Learn from the Pet Safety Crusader and expert Denise Fleck--author, radio show host and Grey Muzzle President. Be the best pet parent you can be by preparing for the worst. Learn tips and get advice on how to protect your senior dog in the most challenging situations.
Amy Shever: How To Plan For The Possibility That Your Pets Might Outlive You
About the webinar: Thousands of companion animals are surrendered to US shelters each year simply because their humans passed away or became ill and had never made plans for the continued care of their pets. In this session, Amy Shever of 2nd Chance 4 Pets and Jenny Kachnic of The Grey Muzzle Organization outline what options are available to ensure "lifetime care" for pets and how you and your organization can help pet owners plan for the continued care of their pets.