The Senior Dog Veterinary Society is partnering with Loyal, a clinical-stage drug development company, to increase awareness about the importance of intentional care for older canines and to support veterinarians in providing care for these patients. Additionally, the organization recently announced a partnership with Elanco Animal Health, a manufacturer of therapies for managing chronic pain associated with canine osteoarthritis (OA), a common disease for aging dogs.

There are more than 26.5 million senior dogs in the US with this canine population growing at a rate of more than 10% annually over the past decade. The Senior Dog Veterinary Society was founded in 2023 by Lauren Adelman, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM), Monica Tarantino, DVM, MBA, and Lisa Lippman, DVM, to advance the growing need for care of senior and geriatric dogs as well as specialized knowledge and resources for practitioners. It offers continuing education (CE) courses, live events and branded resources to help improve patient outcomes.

Brennen McKenzie, MA, MSc, VMD, director of veterinary medicine at Loyal, said he knows firsthand how important it is to provide tailored care to senior dogs. He spent most of his career practicing veterinary medicine with small animals before pivoting to work with canine longevity drugs. “When the Senior Dog Veterinary Society first reached out to us, we were enthusiastic about working together towards our shared visions—to help all dogs live longer, healthier lives, including in their senior years. It’s been fun and rewarding to partner in promoting education for vets about the latest research and the newest clinical treatments our older canine friends need and deserve,” McKenzie said in a news release.

Loyal currently has 3 drugs in development that are designed to promote longer, healthier lifespans. Two of these drugs—LOY-001 and LOY-003—target large dogs, while the third, LOY-002, is intended for senior dogs. A daily pill, LOY-002 works to preserve metabolic health, which helps mitigate age-associated diseases, according to Loyal. 

 with a reasonable expectation of effectiveness designation in February 2025, and is forecasted for market availability in the next year.

Loyal is currently running the STAY clinical study to further examine LOY-002, and to provide effectiveness and field safety data for its’ FDA application for drug approval. In a 

interview, Ellen Ratcliff, DVM, vice president of clinical and veterinary medicine at Loyal, said the study has been running in approximately 70 US veterinary clinics. “It doesn’t do anybody any good if their dog lives longer, but they live longer in that period at the end of the life where they don’t feel well, and they’re sick, having all kinds of degenerative and aging diseases. So, the STAY study is also measuring quality of life according to the owner and the owner assessment of the dog’s quality of life,” Ratcliff said.

Adelman said partnering with Loyal is a major step for her organization’s mission to improve the care, comfort and quality of life for aging canines, in a news release. CE, informational articles and social media are included in the collaborative initiative, which also aims to advance solutions that help all dogs live a longer, healthier lifespan.

 “By combining our expertise in senior dog health, we can equip veterinarians and pet owners with innovative solutions and crucial education to help dogs live longer, happier lives,” she said.

In January 2025, the Senior Dog Veterinary Society entered into a strategic alliance with Elanco Animal Health that includes a focus on research and innovation. In a news release, Stephanie H. Loter, DVM, medical strategic lead, pain management for Elanco, said the company was “thrilled” with the partnership.

 “As pets live longer lives, their health needs evolve, and this partnership will help ensure that senior dogs receive the care and attention they deserve to thrive in their golden years,” Loter said.

Tarantino said the alliance with Elanco allows The Senior Dog Veterinary Society to expand its’ reach and impact. “Together, we can provide invaluable support to dog owners and the veterinary community,” she said in a news release.

The Senior Dog Veterinary Society’s programming also provides opportunities for veterinary professionals to earn credentials through 2 RACE-approved courses. The organization’s Level 1 certification is a 7-hour course that provides fundamentals of senior and geriatric canine care for veterinarians, specialists, technicians, assistants, and receptionists. Its’ 7 modules include introductions to senior dog care programs, communication with senior dog owners, and canine geroscience. The Level 2 certification course is 7.5 hours and is designed more for veterinarians, specialists and technicians. It offers focus on specialized areas in 7 modules that include end of life care, senior dog dentistry and common eye abnormalities in the older canine population.

Senior Dog Veterinary Society and Loyal Partner to increase awareness of senior dog care. News release. Loyal and Senior Dog Veterinary Society. March 26, 2025.

Senior Dog Veterinary Society announces strategic alliance with Elanco. News release. Senior Dog Veterinary Society. January 23, 2025. Accessed March 26, 2025. 

https://www.seniordogvets.com/_files/ugd/01d0db_1cec041010044635968870e15b617a32.pdf

Crossley KC. Second drug for canine healthy lifespan extension receives FDA support. 

. February 26, 2025. Accessed March 26, 2025. 

https://www.dvm360.com/view/second-drug-for-canine-healthy-lifespan-extension-receives-fda-support

Senior dog CE topics. Senior Dog Veterinary Society. Accessed March 25, 2025. 

https://www.seniordogvets.com/certification

Articles

Longevity drug developer Loyal and pain therapy manufacturer Elanco Animal Health are working with the organization to promote the need for aging canine care and enhance veterinary resources.

The Senior Dog Veterinary Society forges partnerships to improve patient care

Jb Minter, DVM, MS, DACZM, discusses potential complications that can arise when amphibians are under anesthesia

Minimizing anesthetic risks in amphibian patients

Navigating Amphibian Anesthesia and Analgesia

, presented at the 2025 Fetch dvm360 Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina, Jb Minter, DVM, MS, DACZM, director of animal health and chief veterinarian at the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro, North Carolina, talks about anesthetic risks in amphibian patients. Minter explains that these risks are similar to the ones mammalian patients face and offers advice for minimizing complications in these animals.

Below is the interview transcript, lightly edited for clarity:

When I think about anesthetic complications with my amphibian patients, they're very similar to the ones that I would think about for my mammalian patients.

So hyperthermia is one. So since like I said, I mentioned that amphibians are ectothermic...which means they [have] an inability to maintain their own body temperature. Maintaining that appropriate body temperature during anesthesia is going to be critical. So if the temperatures drop too low, that slows down their metabolic rate quite a bit and that basically includes their drug metabolism, which can potentially lead to prolonged anesthesia recovery or even death, if you've gotten them too chilly.

So ways of minimizing that...just provide them some type of warming support. Cardiovascular compromise, again, if they get a little chilly, they have a lower heart rate anyways and lower blood pressure. So...again, going back to that temperature regulation, it can become problematic for amphibians with these limited cardiovascular reserves, so you want to make sure that you use lower doses of drugs and then maintain that optimal temperature range.

And then another one I always like to think about is, again, they rely heavily on their skin for gas exchange and certain anesthetic agents can depress that respiratory function, which can lead to hypoxia. So just closely monitor their oxygen output and [make] sure that they're breathing throughout the process.

Videos

The University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) in Gainesville has adopted a scribe platform powered by artificial intelligence (AI) for use across its’ veterinary facilities and in classroom settings. The university chose ScribbleVet, which is used by thousands of veterinarians, because the platform offers high-accuracy, ease-of-use, and time-saving efficiency, according to a news release.

"The University of Florida is the first educational institution to adopt ScribbleVet system-wide, for both veterinary facilities and student use," Rohan Relan, founder and CEO of ScribbleVet, said in a news release.

The digital scribe utilizes AI to record appointments and complete veterinary SOAP (Subjective, Objective, Assessment and Plan) notes during patient exams. Veterinarians may have the opportunity to finish their medical notes and complete patient record-keeping within minutes, rather than hours, each day while using ScribbleVet.

"We chose ScribbleVet for its high accuracy and time-saving workflows, which allow clinicians to reclaim hours for patient care while seamlessly incorporating AI into student training,” Andrea Miller, associate director of operations at the CVM, said in a news release. "This collaboration reflects our leadership in veterinary AI innovation, equipping future professionals with the tools to streamline workflows, advance diagnostics, and elevate standards of care.”

The use of AI in research and education is not new for UFCVM. In 2023, university officials shared that investigators in the veterinary college had access to supercomputing and machine learning. With these tools, they had the ability to apply AI techniques to uterine microbiota in dairy cows to prevent metritis and had adapted microbiota for canine dermatitis treatment. Additionally, one faculty member’s role was to utilize AI technology and machine learning to develop diagnostic and clinical applications for comparative oncology and translational medicine.

The new initiative with ScribbleVet creates new opportunities. "We're excited to assist the university in teaching practices and students about ways they can leverage artificial intelligence to free up their time, minimizing administrative tasks and maximizing patient attention," Relan said,

ScribbleVet also recently announced an integration with LifeLearn.

 The collaboration allows veterinary practices using ScribbleVet’s service to immediately access the differential diagnostics in LifeLearn’s Sofie, a decision support tool that provides answers to pet health questions, and provide deep research within its’ SOAP notes.

University of Florida adopts ScribbleVet AI scribe tools for veterinary facilities, students. News release. ScribbleVet. March 25, 2025. Accessed March 25, 2025. 

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/university-of-florida-adopts-scribblevet-ai-scribe-tools-for-veterinary-facilities-students-302410867.html?tc=eml_cleartime

College rises to No. 7 in the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings. News release. University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. April 25, 2023. Accessed March 25, 2025. 

https://www.vetmed.ufl.edu/2023/04/25/college-rises-to-no-7-in-latest-u-s-news-world-report-rankings/

Two companies are integrating AI-based tools for enhanced SOAP notes. 

. March 3, 2025. Accessed March 25, 2025. 

https://www.dvm360.com/view/two-companies-are-integrating-ai-based-tools-for-enhanced-soap-notes

ScribbleVet announced the University of Florida as the first first educational institution to adopt the digital solution system-wide for veterinary uses.

Veterinary college incorporates AI scribe into facilities and classrooms

Base Molecular Resonance Technologies (BMRT), a startup specializing in advanced detection technology, has developed a novel tool that can noninvasively detect poultry infected with avian influenza. The technology can also be used to detect up to 200 types of cancers and other diseases, drugs, gunpowder, and other substances, according to a recent announcement by BMRT.

The technology—Base Molecular Resonance (BMR)—can detect particle interactions at subatomic levels using resonant frequencies. The innovation uses scanning technology that can detect any compound or biological substance, including any element on the periodic table, as well as various cancers and avian influenza based on molecular structure.

“The non-invasive, harmless, and instant scan has broad implications in cancer diagnostics, public safety, law enforcement, security, and military services,” wrote BMRT in a news release.

The tool’s new application for detecting animals infected with avian influenza can help prevent the mass slaughter of poultry amid avian influenza outbreaks, as BMR has the ability to differentiate infected birds from healthy ones instantaneously, according to the company.

 "Right now, millions of chickens are being slaughtered out of fear rather than necessity. Our technology eliminates that uncertainty. With a simple scan, we can pinpoint infected animals with 100% accuracy, allowing farmers and regulators to respond with surgical precision instead of widespread devastation,” Robert “Bo” Short, co-founder and CEO of BMRT, said in a news release.

 “This is a major step forward for global food security, animal welfare, and the agricultural economy."

More than 166 million birds, including chickens and turkeys, have been slaughtered in the United States since the start of the avian influenza outbreak, with many of these birds being healthy.

 According to BMRT, testing data suggest that only 5% to 10% of these animals would have likely tested positive for avian influenza.

 More than 20 million egg-laying chickens were culled in the only the last quarter, costing poultry farmers hundreds of millions of dollars, affecting food production and driving egg prices, and putting a strain on supply chains.

Last year, the company announced that a study from York St John University’s Center for Applied Innovation in York, England, confirmed BMR had 100% accuracy in detecting cancerous tissues, nuclear elements, gunpowder, and more, in blind and double-blind tests.

 The research was led by Phillippe B. Wilson, PhD, PGCHE, president-elect of the Comparative Medicine Council at the Royal Society of Medicine and associate pro vice-chancellor for Innovation and Knowledge Exchange and professor of One Health at York St John University.

“The same precision and reliability now apply to disease detection in the agricultural industry, making it possible to safeguard global food supplies with unprecedented efficiency,” wrote BMRT in its most recent announcement.

A potential use for detecting other diseases in animals

According to BMRT, their BMR technology can also be adapted to detect diseases in cattle, swine, and other livestock, offering a valuable tool in preventing major outbreaks, including bovine spongiform encephalopathy, African swine fever, and foot-and-mouth disease.

"Bird flu is just the beginning. We can detect disease in livestock at the molecular level before symptoms even appear, allowing for rapid intervention that safeguards the food supply and protects farmers from catastrophic losses,” said Lee Duke, co-founder and president of BMRT, in a company release.

“This is the future of disease detection."

Base Molecular Resonance Technologies introduces game-changing solution to stop mass livestock culling amid bird flu crisis. News release. Base Molecular Resonance Technologies, LLC. March 13, 2025. Accessed March 25, 2025. https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/base-molecular-resonance-technologies-introduces-game-changing-solution-to-stop-mass-livestock-culling-amid-bird-flu-crisis-302401169.html

About us. Base Molecular Resonance Technologies, LLC. Accessed March 25, 2025. 

Landmark study confirms unprecedented 100% accuracy in quantum physics technology breakthrough for public safety, law enforcement, military applications, and cancer detection. News release. Base Molecular Resonance Technologies, LLC. July 11, 2024. Accessed March 25, 2025. 

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/landmark-study-confirms-unprecedented-100-accuracy-in-quantum-physics-technology-breakthrough-for-public-safety-law-enforcement-military-applications-and-cancer-detection-302193686.html

The innovation also has the potential to detect other diseases in livestock, in addition to detecting up to 200 types of cancers

Novel scanning technology instantly detect avian influenza in poultry

The School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn Vet) and the University of Padova in Padova, Italy, in collaboration with a foundation breeding service dogs for those who are visually impaired, identified a novel variant associated with progressive retinal atrophy in 3 Labrador retrievers.

The findings were recently published in Scientific Reports, and state that a genetic mutation was found in 3 of the 6 littermates affected by progressive retinal atrophy, 2 males and 1 female. The 3 patients were brought to the attention of 2 Penn Vet doctors, Leonardo Murgiano, PhD, and Gustavo D. Aguirre, VMD, PhD, DACVO, as well as their collaborators by a foundation that breeds service dogs for visually impaired human patients. Besides these 3 cases, no other dogs within the breeding program were reported to present with comparable vision deficits or retinal abnormalities.

“We have been providing services to guide dog organizations since 1989,” explained Aguirre, in an organizational release.

 “When these organizations reach out to us, our aim is to find the mutation and develop a diagnostic test for it so that they can use it to breed dogs without this condition in the future.”

According to the study, researchers identified a 3-bp deletion in the coding region of GTPBP2, a gene that encodes a G-protein expressed in several tissues—which includes the canine retina.

 The deletion was then linked to the loss of a highly conserved alanine outside of the GTPase domain of GTPBP2, where the protein’s activity is regulated, "toggling it on and off." This indicates that the loss of this alanine affects a different aspect of the protein, potentially the cellular localization.

An analysis of 569 Labrador retrievers from the general population of the United States as well as 91 non-affected Labrador retrievers from the same kennel was conducted and identified 16 carriers, all from the original kennel. All of the other canines were wild-type, as in they carried the "normal" version of the gene, emphasizing this variant’s rarity.

When it comes to humans, this gene mutation has been reported, but the GTPBP2 genetic variants are typically associated with Jaberi-Elahi syndrome, an extremely rare genetic disease.

 The human patients with the mutations normally present with neurologic and morphologic abnormalities as well as intellectual disabilities. For the canine patients, unlike humans with the same mutation, they presented with no other symptoms other than retinal degeneration/blindness.

“What we report here is a variant that appears to be less severe in our dogs than what is reported in humans, possibly occurring in a different region of the protein—closer to its terminal part,” Murgiano concluded.

“We have observed this before in genes attributed to syndromes—not all mutations in those genes lead to syndromes. Phenotypes can be flexible, and what we report here is an example of a flexible phenotype. This could have relevance in a general medical genetics landscape.”

New genetic cause of blindness in dogs. News release. Penn Today. March 20, 2025. Accessed March 25, 2025. 

https://penntoday.upenn.edu/news/penn-vet-new-genetic-cause-blindness-dogs?utm_content=Staff&utm_source=Penn+Today+-+Newsletters&utm_campaign=99fe552859-3/21/25:+Inherited+blindness&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-07fd5831a9-45832012

Murgiano L, Niggel JK, Eylem Emek Akyürek, Sacchetto R, Aguirre GD. GTPBP2 in-frame deletion in canine model with non-syndromic progressive retinal atrophy. 

. 2025;15(1). doi:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-89446-7

Manoochehri J, Shiri A, Khoddam S, et al. Jaberi-Elahi syndrome: Exploring a novel GTPBP2 mutation and a literature review. 

. 2024;70:104953. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmg.2024.104953

Researchers at Penn Vet and the University of Padova identified a novel variant connected to progressive retinal atrophy 

Potential genetic cause of blindness in canines identified 

The veterinary industry faces a critical challenge: As the cost of care rises, access to essential veterinary services is slipping out of reach for many pet families. Veterinary teams witness this daily—pet parents struggling with difficult financial decisions, delaying or forgoing care, and seeking alternatives outside of mainstream practice models. Ensuring that pets receive the care they need requires a deeper understanding of the barriers pet families face and the shifting landscape of veterinary medicine. The challenge is not just affordability, but also availability, flexibility, and trust in a system that must evolve to meet pet parents where they are. How can we, as veterinary professionals and the broader industry, work to build a pet care model that is both inclusive and adaptable?

Understanding the Drivers of Rising Costs 

To address the issue, we must first examine the factors contributing to increasing veterinary costs. Over the past 2 decades, veterinary service inflation has surpassed general inflation rates by > 60% in the consumer price index, making it harder for pet owners to budget for their pets’ health care needs. Several key factors contribute to these rising expenses:

 A competitive job market has driven long-overdue wage increases for veterinarians and support staff.

 Clinics are adjusting pricing models to offset reduced pharmacy revenue from online competition and increased operational costs.

Inflation, supply chain issues, and manufacturer pricing changes have led to increased costs for medical supplies and pharmaceuticals.

Technological advancements and shifts in care models also play a role:

Cutting-edge diagnostics and treatments: 

New diagnostic and treatment innovations improve pet health outcomes but come with higher costs.

Expanded specialty and referral services: 

Greater access to advanced care means more options but also increased expenses due to the specialized staff, equipment, and facilities required.

A growing focus on advanced-level treatment has created gaps in mid-tier care, leaving some pet families with limited choices between specialty care or basic/no treatment.

While advanced treatment often leads to the best medical results, it’s essential to recognize that specialty care isn’t always feasible or desirable for every pet family.

Practical Strategies for Increasing Access to Care 

Here are 3 ways to support affordability and accessibility without compromising on the need to charge properly for your goods and services:

Educate Pet Owners on Financial Planning Tools. 

When it comes to their pets’ healthcare, families have more financial planning options than ever. They look to you for guidance, so recommending options for things like pet insurance can help ease financial strain. Encouraging teams to stay informed about available solutions can make a big impact. Nationwide’s video series for veterinary health care teams answers FAQs about pet insurance, our coverage, and what makes us different. Find them by visiting petinsurance.com/veterinarians and clicking on Digital Materials.

Providing a range of evidence-based treatment options—from basic to advanced— ensures that pet owners can make informed decisions within their comfort level. Judgment-free communication and flexible care models empower more families to say “yes” to a level of treatment that meets their expectations and their resources. Learn more at 

Rethinking service delivery can improve affordability and efficiency. Consider maintaining a referral list of lower-cost providers, directing minor cases to urgent care, or utilizing telehealth for triage. Emerging models—such as vaccine clinics, outpatient surgery practices, and urgent care centers— are reshaping the landscape, making veterinary care more accessible for a broader range of pet families. There is mounting evidence that these models invite pet families who may not otherwise engage with veterinary care to do so.

Change, even gradual change, can be challenging—but small, intentional steps can make a meaningful difference. By helping pet families plan for costs, embracing a spectrum of care, and exploring innovative care models, veterinary teams can play a pivotal role in improving access to care for all pets.

1. Benson J, Tincher EM. Cost of Care, Access to Care, and Payment Options in Veterinary Practice. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice. Published online December 1, 2023. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvsm.2023.10.007 

2. Wiltzius AJ, Blackwell M, Krebsbach S, et al. Access to Veterinary Care: Barriers, Current Practices, and Public Policy. AVCC Website (http://avccutkedu/). Published online December 17, 2018. https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_smalpubs/17/ 

3. Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households (SHED). Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. Updated August 22, 2022. Accessed May 21, 2023.

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By helping pet families plan for costs, embracing a spectrum of care, and exploring innovative care models, veterinary teams can play a pivotal role in improving access to care for all pets. 