Senior Dog Certification for Veterinarians and Veterinary Teams
Senior dogs are a major part of the patients you see every week. Our certification gives you a practical, repeatable approach to senior and geriatric canine care, so you can deliver better medicine, communicate clearly with pet parents, and build higher-value care plans.
Get Certified
Senior Dog Certification by the Numbers
A growing community of professionals raising the standard of senior care.
Senior Pets Are a Significant Part of the Patients You Serve
Senior and geriatric dogs are not a niche. They make up a growing share of the U.S. pet population, which means more complex cases and more chances to guide pet parents toward earlier, better care.
- More chronic conditions and multi-system change
- More mobility and cognitive decline
- More pain management needs and quality-of-life conversations
- More follow-ups and long-term planning
- More opportunities to guide pet parents with clarity
How Many Senior Dogs Walk Through Your Doors?
The average veterinarian sees 15 patients a day, and roughly 44% of all pets in the U.S. are seniors. Apply that same share to the dogs in your exam rooms, and here's what a year of senior visits looks like.
Build a Repeatable Standard for Senior Visits
Certification gives your whole team a shared approach, so senior care is consistent in the exam room and clear at checkout.
Clinical Confidence
In the exam room- Recognize chronic conditions and multi-system change
- Assess mobility and cognitive decline with confidence
- Lead pain management and quality-of-life conversations
- Structure follow-ups and long-term planning
- Guide pet parents through decisions with clarity
Client Communication
With pet parents- Explain options in a way pet parents can follow
- Set expectations earlier so decisions feel less rushed
- Create step-by-step plans that improve adherence
- Keep communication consistent from room to checkout
Increase Revenue Through Better Planning and Better Conversations
Senior care becomes higher-value when it is structured and communicated well. Certification supports the kind of care you already believe in and helps you present it as a thoughtful plan rather than a list of add-ons.
- More consistent senior screening and diagnostics
- Stronger follow-up and recheck pathways
- Better pain management plans and continuity of care
- Higher client trust and improved plan acceptance
- A clear point of differentiation for your practice
Get Senior Dog Certified
Choose your role and we'll point you to the right certification level. You'll check out from there.
For Veterinary Support Staff
Built for support staff who want more confidence in senior visits and stronger client communication.
- 5 hours of RACE-approved CE and Level 1 Certification
- Senior visit fundamentals that improve consistency across the team
- Communication and expectation-setting that support better plan follow-through
For Veterinarians, Technicians, and Specialists
Designed for doctors and credentialed technicians ready to elevate clinical expertise and build a gold-standard framework for senior care.
- 12.5 hours total of RACE-approved CE across Level 1 + Level 2
- Advanced topics: anesthesia, pain, nutrition, dentistry, ophthalmology, CCDS, end-of-life care
- A clearer approach to diagnostics, planning, and continuity that supports higher-value care
Certifying your whole team? See our group rates
Start With a Free Clinical Tool
Ready-to-use resources built by senior-care experts — print them, share them with your team, and use them at your next senior appointment. No cost, no catch.
Building Your Senior Dog Protocol
One shared framework for identifying senior patients — applied the same way across your whole team.
Get it free → Client HandoutSenior Wellness Pre-Visit Screening Checklist
Surfaces pain, cognitive, and mobility changes before the appointment even starts.
Get it free → CommunicationThe Senior Anesthesia Communication Playbook
Word-for-word scripts for “isn’t she too old for anesthesia?” — with Dr. Katie Bennett, DACVAA.
Get it free → Clinic Checklist10 Things Every Clinic Should Have for Senior Dogs
Ten accommodations that make your practice easier on aging dogs and their people.
Get it free →These are a sample of what SDVS members get every month.
Special Thanks to Our Sponsors
The partners helping us raise the standard of senior dog care.
