There is nothing better to Dr. Gardner than a dog with a grey muzzled dog or skinny old cat! Her professional goal is to increase awareness and medical care for the geriatric veterinary patient and to help make the final life stage to be as peaceful as possible, surrounded with dignity and support for all involved.
Dr. Mary Gardner didn’t grow up hoping to become a veterinarian. After graduating from the University of Miami, she began working as a trainer for an enterprise wide order management software. After learning the intricacies of the software and the variety of ways different businesses used it, she moved into a Business Architect role where she led the design of new software initiatives. Her innate talent for understanding logistics in a client-centric organization developed a unique skill set for a veterinarian. After 10 years in software she found herself longing for something different and more meaningful – the path she selected was to become a veterinarian. She completed her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2008 from the University of Florida. She worked in general medicine at a veterinary clinic in south Florida for two years before discovering her niche in end of life care.
Dr. Gardner is a published author for many articles and a textbook, speaks all around the world on geriatrics and end of life care and was voted 2020 VMX Small Animal Speaker of the year!
Are the changes in your older dog part of aging, or are they signs of cancer? Dr. Mary Gardner weighs in on how to support senior and geriatric dogs. Whether your dog is a super senior or a gentle geriatric, she is probably going to experience some issues with cognitive decline, mobility limitations, and chronic pain. These aging challenges are compounded if your older dog also has cancer. Dr. Mary Gardner has tips on how to tell if your dog is a senior vs. geriatric, the vital importance of regular vet care for mature pups, and evaluating your dog’s quality of life. She also goes into signs of chronic pain and how to assist your dog with getting up and moving around more easily. Our senior dogs are our best buddies, and there are lots of resources that can help us keep them comfortable and happy.
Deciding on when to euthanize your pet can be a difficult decision. You may know 'know', they may still be eating, their tail may wag at you, etc. This video will help you look at many components to assessing quality of life and guide you to a decision that is best for you and your pet.
Aging cats are a growing segment of the feline population, thanks to better veterinary care and nutrition and a powerful human-cat bond.