Dr. Lisa Lippman | Senior Dog Veterinary Society
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In This Episode
In this episode of the Veterinary Innovation Podcast, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak welcome Dr. Lisa Lippman from the Senior Dog Veterinary Society to explore how veterinarians can raise the standard of care for aging pets. Dr. Lippman explains how the Society was founded to address a major gap in veterinary medicine: while puppy care follows clear, standardized protocols, senior dogs are often managed without consistent guidelines. To change this, the Society developed CE-certified training and a certification program that equips veterinary professionals with the knowledge and tools needed to confidently support senior patients.
The discussion highlights how veterinarians can distinguish between early senior, classic senior, and geriatric stages across breeds, why proactive wellness plans are essential for both lifespan and health span, and how clinics can adapt to better serve older dogs through stress-reducing environments and careful handling. Dr. Lippman also emphasizes the importance of validated quality-of-life scales, the emotional challenges of anticipatory grief, and her vision for the future of senior care, including the development of stronger industry standards and potential board certification in geriatric veterinary medicine.
Learn more about Senior Dog Veterinary Society.
Dr. Lippman recommends TED Talks – “What veterinarians know that physicians don’t” by Barbara Natterson-Horowitz.
Topics Covered
- Defining Senior vs. Geriatric Stages
- Proactive Wellness and Screening Plans
- Clinic Adaptations for Aging Patients
- Supporting Owners Through Quality-of-Life and Grief