Virbac brings together nearly 100 specialists in Edinburgh around senior cat health

A symposium focused on comorbidities in aging cats

Virbac brought together nearly 100 feline medicine specialists from Europe, the United States and Australia in Edinburgh around the management of elderly cats.

According to the press release, the stated objective is to coordinate prevention, care and nutrition in the face of increasing feline life expectancy and the frequency of comorbidities (kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, joint disorders).

The group highlights early detection and systemic management of age-related pathologies as the focus of this meeting. In his opening remarks, Paul Martingell, CEO of Virbac, stated: "Reaching an advanced age is a milestone, not a surrender of quality of life. Our commitment is to stand alongside veterinarians and pet owners to ensure that every senior cat receives specialized, attentive and cutting-edge care, preserving its vitality and comfort to the end."

Five areas of action presented to practitioners

During the day, five international speakers presented their work around five areas of action identified by the group: early diagnosis, endocrinology, renal care and nutrition, mobility and prevention.

Virbac indicates its desire to detect earlier, break down silos in treatments for better management of comorbidities and eliminate stress related to care.

The press release recalls field data cited to support this direction: 90% of cats over 12 years old would suffer from osteoarthritis, one third would be affected by chronic kidney disease, up to 10% of cats over 9 years old would develop hyperthyroidism, and 40% of owners would encounter difficulties administering treatment to their animal.