Senior Pet Advocate and Lifelong Educator, Heidi Lobprise

Welcome back to our member spotlight series, where we celebrate the passionate professionals shaping the future of senior dog care across the veterinary community!

This month, we're spotlighting someone whose fingerprints are all over the senior pet care movement. Dr. Heidi Lobprise is a board certified veterinary dentist, longtime educator, and one of the earliest voices pushing the field to take aging pets seriously as their own specialty. Now she's bringing that decades of experience to SDVS as our newest advisor, and we couldn't be more excited to introduce her.

Dr. Lobprise's Background

Q: Can you tell us a little about yourself and your background? What first drew you to focus on senior and geriatric pet care?

A: When I worked at Virbac, I was asked to help build a list of speakers (key opinion leaders) with an interest in senior pet care. Back then, there weren’t many to be found, though many specialists would have a lecture or article on senior pets in their particular field (internal medicine, behavior, dentistry, etc). Seeing that there were few resources coordinated for older patients, I made it a personal goal to learn more about this demographic and to bring like-minded people together to help spread the word.

I founded the IVSCS as a grass roots collaboration (later Senior Pet Advocates) and encouraged celebrating November as Senior Pet Health Care Month. I have developed articles and lectures about senior care and helped with the AAHA Senior Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats. And I finally completed a book last year – Five Minute Vet Consult Clinical Companion – Small Animal Senior Care.

Involvement in SDVS

Q: How did you hear about Senior Dog Veterinary Society, and what motivated you to join as the advisor? Was there a specific moment, conversation, or piece of SDVS’s mission that resonated with you?

A: I first saw a Facebook post about SDVS, so I signed up for emails and have been enjoying them ever since. Last year I met Monica at the Hill’s Global Symposium on “Strong Science, Long Lives” to advance senior pet care, and began our efforts to see where I can help.

Q: What do you see in SDVS’s approach to senior dog care and certification that feels different or needed right now?

A: I really like the collaboration of those from various fields helping to build the resources that general practitioners (the true gerontologists) can use in a practical way, with constant updates in this dynamic area of care. Of course, adding in our feline friends will be important.

Personal Connection to Senior Care

Q: Do you have a personal story, whether a patient or pet of your own, that shaped how you think about senior care?

A: Our dog, Buddy, was getting into that category around the time I started my deep dive into senior care resources. Understanding some of the cognitive issues, including anxiety, really helped us adjust to the changes he went through and encouraged us to set aside quality time with him.

Looking Ahead

Q: What are you most looking forward to about being a part of the SDVS community?

A: Building and sharing education about senior care with veterinary professionals is my greatest goal; helping to connect industry partners that I have met over the years with the SDVS team.

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Want to share your story as an SDVS Certified Member?

Get in touch at hello@seniordogvets.com for a chance to be featured in the next SDVS Member Spotlight issue.