CVS launches Life Stage Assessment Clinical Improvement Project to champion pet wellness

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CVS has launched a new Life Stage Assessment Clinical Improvement Project, designed to further embed ‘pet wellness’ into routine veterinary practice.

The project introduces a new structured framework for assessing cats and dogs at every stage of their life – to broaden the focus of consultations, support preventative care, enable early disease detection, and facilitate tailored healthcare planning.

‘Pet wellness’ is a preventative, proactive approach to veterinary care that focuses on maintaining health and wellbeing across a pet’s lifespan. It encompasses physical, emotional and behavioural health and is supported by regular assessments, client education, and early intervention.

Routine life stage assessments allow veterinary professionals to identify conditions earlier, such as renal disease, diabetes, or neoplasia. These assessments also provide opportunities to advise on dental care, nutrition, mobility and behaviour — key factors in supporting a long and comfortable life for pets.

By embedding wellness into consultations, veterinary teams can offer more comprehensive care while empowering clients to make informed decisions. Informed owners are more likely to recognise early signs of illness, reducing the need for costly emergency interventions and improving long-term outcomes.

CVS has developed a robust new Life Stage Assessment Framework to support ‘pet wellness’ across its practices. It provides consultation frameworks for age-appropriate recommendations. The framework organises a pet’s lifespan into distinct stages; recognises physiological and behavioural changes over time; supports tailored healthcare planning for each life stage; and promotes early disease detection and preventative care. It will enable its clinicians to make individualised recommendations while allowing them the clinical freedom in how they implement the guidelines.

Tara Ryan, Chief Veterinary Nursing Officer at CVS, who is leading the project said:

Pet wellness is the cornerstone of modern veterinary medicine. Puppies and kittens have very different needs compared to mature or senior pets. Recognising and responding to these evolving requirements is essential to delivering high-quality care. Life stage assessments provide a structured way to tailor healthcare recommendations based on a pet’s age, lifestyle, and breed. Through life stage assessments, we’re equipping our teams with the tools and knowledge to deliver proactive care that improves outcomes. This project empowers veterinary teams to deliver consistent, individualised wellness care that supports the physical, emotional and behavioural health of pets throughout their lives. Its collaborative approach strengthens client relationships, supports consistent contextualised care, and fostering team satisfaction via rewarding client interactions.

To support the rollout, CVS has created a comprehensive suite of resources for veterinary teams and pet owners. This includes; life stage assessment tools for cats and dogs; clinical “how-to” guides for each life stage; training programmes for vets and nurses; a dedicated hub on CVS’s Knowledge Hub learning platform; and, an online discussion forum for colleagues to share insights and collaborate.

CVS Group operates across small animal, farm animal, equine and laboratories, with over 500 veterinary practices and referral centres in the UK and Australia. CVS has invested £122 million in its sites, facilities, equipment and technology since the start of 2023, in addition to providing industry leading training and support, to give the best possible care to animals.