Discussing nutrition and its impact on the overall health of aging patients is at the forefront of this year’s upcoming global symposium. The 2025 Hill's Global Symposium, hosted by Hill’s Pet Nutrition from Oct. 28 to 28 in Phoenix, Ariz., focuses on specialized care for senior pets. This year’s theme, “Strong Science, Long Lives,” aims to provide attendees with insights and practical applications to guide them in clinical decision-making. “The [theme] perfectly encapsulates our mission,” says Jolle Kirpensteijn, DVM, PhD, DACVS, DECVS, ACVS Founding Fellow, Surgical Oncology, chief veterinary officer of the Hill’s Pet Nutrition. “We believe that by delving deep into the scientific study of aging (geroscience) and applying cutting-edge nutritional strategies, we can significantly improve the quality and longevity of life for aging pets.” The 2024 Hill’s Global Symposium live stream was available to all 21,000 symposium registrants from 34 countries. Photo courtesy Hill's Pet Nutrition Attendees will hear from more than 18 experts, who will focus on several topics, including cognitive dysfunction syndrome, mobility issues, and clinical approaches to senior patients with multiple comorbidities. Among the presenters are: Keynote speaker Nicole Ehrhart, VMD, MS, DACVS, ACVS Founding Fellow, Surgical Oncology, director of Columbine Health Systems Center for Health Aging and professor at Colorado State University, who will open the Symposium with a presentation on understanding the aging process through Great Danes and the science of longevity. Keynote speaker Natasha Olby, Vet MB, PhD, MRCVS, DACVIM (Neurology), professor of veterinary neurology and neurosurgery at North Carolina State University, who will speak on mobility loss in senior dogs. Katie Tolbert, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (SAIM, SA Nutrition), clinical associate professor in small animal and comparative gastroenterology at Texas A&M University, who will explore frailty and comorbidities in geriatric small animal patients. Allison McGrath, M.S., scientist at Hill's with Global Clinical Nutrition and Claims, and Lisa Restine, DVM, DABVP (Feline), feline professional veterinary affairs manager at Hill's, who together will explore the vital role of nutrition in feline cognition. The event will be livestreamed virtually through the Hill’s Veterinary Academy platform, and will be available in English-, Spanish-, and French-language feeds.
