Photo: Mary Lynn Strand/Adobe Stock
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.1,2
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.1,2
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.1
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. This drug received FDA support with a reasonable expectation of effectiveness designation in February 2025, and is forecasted for market availability in the next year.1-3
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 dvm360 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.3
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.1 “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.2 “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.2
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.1,2,4
References
- 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. dvm360. 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
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