Online Veterinary
Conference 2026

Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds

UP NEXT: The Gut-Brain Axis in Epilepsy and Cognitive Dysfunction

  • July 13-23, 2026
  • RACE approved - 16 hrs [non-interactive, medical category]
  • For Aus & NZ- 16 hrs of structured CE
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The 18th Annual Online Veterinary Conference

13-23
July, 2026

Online
Event

16
Lectures

16
Speakers

Zoomies - The Vet Education Online Vet Conference 2026

The Zoomies Conference 2026 is a 2 - week online event, held every year since 2008. This event showcases some of the world’s top veterinary specialists and presenters. Running from July 13 – July 23, 2026, this is an event like no other – featuring 16 webinars, 16 speakers and a host of Member Benefits such as access to the Vet Education webinar library with a plethora of lectures and speakers!

Unparalleled Learning Experience

With 2 webinars per day, from Monday through Thursday for each week of The Zoomies 2026 Conference, there’s plenty of time to absorb content, schedule family and work-life – without feeling like you’re stuck in a lecture room all day! You can attend the online live lectures or watch recordings later in your very own Vet Education Webinar Library!

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The Zoomies 2026 Event Speakers

Dr Emma Johnson

Dr Fergus Allerton

Dr Elizabeth Giuliano

Dr Holger Volk

Dr Robert McCarthy

Dr Sarah Heath

Dr James King

Dr Edward Hall

Dr Tamara Grubb

Dr Hannah Darcy

Dr Jane Sykes

Dr Danièlle Gunn-Moore

Dr Lorrie Gaschen

Dr Laurent Garosi

Dr Philip Judge

Dr Nathalie Dowgray

16 Lectures | 2 weeks

The Zoomies 2026 Event Schedule



  July 13, 2026 | 12:00 AEST
  Dr Emma Johnson

Anaesthesia Mythbusters



  July 13, 2026 | 19:30 AEST
  Dr Fergus Allerton

Surgical Antimicrobial Prophylaxis is the Most Common Indication for Antimicrobial Use



  July 14, 2026 | 12:00 AEST
  Dr Elizabeth Giuliano

Pardon my French(ie) - When Big, Beautiful, Bug-Eyes Turn into a Clinical Problem!



  July 14, 2026 | 19:30 AEST
  Dr Holger Volk

The Gut-Brain Axis in Epilepsy and Cognitive Dysfunction



  July 15, 2026 | 12:00 AEST
  Dr Robert McCarthy

Controversies and Decision-Making in Small Animal Soft Tissue Surgery: A Case-Based Review



  July 15, 2026 | 19:30 AEST
  Dr Sarah Heath

When Cats Worry: The Hidden Impact on Feline Health



  July 16, 2026 | 12:00 AEST
  Dr James King

Bladder and Urethral Surgery in Dogs: When Referral is Not an Option



  July 16, 2026 | 19:30 AEST
  Dr Edward Hall

Biomarkers in Canine and Feline Enteropathies: Are They Useful in Practice?



  July 20, 2026 | 12:00 AEST
  Dr Tamara Grubb

They ARE Telling Us - We Just Have to Listen: Identifying Chronic Pain in Animals



  July 20, 2026 | 19:30 AEST
  Dr Hannah Darcy

Beyond the Pale: The Approach to the Anaemic Cat



  July 21, 2026 | 12:00 AEST
  Dr Jane Sykes

Rational Use of Parasiticides in Dogs and Cats: Where Are We Going?



  July 21, 2026 | 19:30 AEST
  Dr Danielle Gunn-Moore

The Top 9 Most Useful Things That Will Make a Difference in Your Chronic Kidney Cat



  July 22, 2026 | 12:00 AEST
  Dr Lorrie Gaschen

Why Did My Rabbit Stop Eating? Principles of Radiology and CT Interpretation of the Gastrointestinal Tract in Small Mammals



  July 22, 2026 | 19:30 AEST
  Dr Laurent Garosi

Spotting and Managing Neuromuscular Weakness in Dogs and Cats



  July 23, 2026 | 12:00 AEST
  Dr Philip Judge

Current Evidence on the Use of Glucocorticoids in Emergency and Critical Care



  July 23, 2026 | 19:30 AEST
  Dr Nathalie Dowgray

Feline Idiopathic Cystitis: Understanding, Diagnosing, and Managing FIC in Cats.
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This conference is included in the Vet Education Annual Webinar Membership!
As a Vet Education Webinar Member, your membership benefits will include exclusive access to the Zoomies 2026 Conference – at no extra cost!

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  • Access to The “Focus On” webinar series, The Online Toxicology Symposium, Online Vet Nurse/Tech Conference & more
  • Get access to the exclusive Vet Education Webinar library which hosts over 300 archived lectures
  • Get access to the Journal Library and the Procedural Video Library
  • Exclusive benefits of being a Vet Education Webinar Member …and much more
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Entry to attend the OVC 2026

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  • Access to all the live lectures of the conference
  • Get all conference related resources
  • Access to the lecture recordings of the conference
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Get the Lot!

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  • Annual Fee for 5 Members
  • Everything in the Conference pass
  • Access to The “Focus On” webinar series, The Online Toxicology Symposium, Online Vet Nurse/Tech Conference & more
  • Get access to the exclusive Vet Education Webinar library which hosts over 300 archived lectures
  • Get access to the Journal Library and the Procedural Video Library
  • Exclusive benefits of being a Vet Education Webinar Member …and much more
Become a Member
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Entry to attend the OVC 2026

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  • 16 hours of CPD points
  • Access to all the live lectures of the conference
  • Get all conference related resources
  • Access to the lecture recordings of the conference
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ZOOMIE WITH US!

Sole Mates Challenge

Grab your sneakers and your sole mate - whether it’s your dog, your cat in a pram, your bird on your shoulder, or your ride-or-die bestie - and hit the pavement! During the conference, we’re stepping out together (virtually) for feel-good walks, wagging tails, and flapping wings. Move your body, clear your mind, and make it part of your Zoomies experience!

Paws for a Cause

Charity Trivia Night


Put your brain to the test and do some good while you're at it! Join our live Charity Trivia Night - every participant means a donation from Vet Education to a worthy cause, made on your behalf. It’s your chance to learn, laugh, and make a real difference just by showing up. Let’s turn knowledge into kindness!

Ready, set… ZOOM!



Join the Fun

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Zoomies?

Zoomies: The Online Vet Conference 2026 is Vet Education’s annual two-week online veterinary conference, running every year since 2008. It’s the first and longest-running online veterinary conference in the world, bringing together 16 of the world’s top veterinary presenters for 16 CPD lectures, wherever you happen to be. No travel, no time off the clinic floor. 

Zoomies: The Online Vet Conference 2026 runs from July 13 to 23, 2026. Sessions are held Monday through Thursday across both weeks, with two veterinary CPD webinars per day at 12:00 AEST and 19:30 AEST (Sydney time). The schedule is designed to fit around work and family commitments, without the all-day lecture room marathon of a traditional veterinary conference.  And if a session time doesn’t work for you, the recording is available in your Vet Education Webinar Library afterwards.

12 pm AEST lectures – check the time in your zone

19:30 AEST lectures – check the time in your zone

Zoomies 2026 features sixteen veterinary presenters covering anaesthesia, surgery, internal medicine, feline medicine, behaviour, neurology, pain management, diagnostic imaging, ophthalmology and emergency care. View the full speaker lineup and veterinary CPD lecture program on the Zoomies 2026 program page.

Zoomies 2026 is designed for veterinarians at every career stage, from new graduate vets to experienced clinicians looking for a refresh. Vet nurses and veterinary technicians are very welcome, as are final year veterinary students approaching the end of their formal training.

Whatever suits you. Watch the sessions live as they happen, or catch the recordings later in your Vet Education library. Every Zoomies 2026 lecture is recorded and saved to your library afterwards, so nothing is missed if you’re rostered on, away, or simply prefer learning at your own pace.

It depends on how you join. Vet Education members can access the Zoomies 2026 lectures anytime in the Vet Education Webinar Library for at least two years, and usually longer, unless a topic or diagnostic approach is superseded by newer research or technology. If you purchase a standalone conference pass instead, your access to the recordings runs for one year. 

Yes. Attend all 16 Zoomies 2026 lectures, and you earn 16 hours of CPD. In Australia and New Zealand, these count as structured CE because each veterinary lecture includes an assessed component (a quiz).

Yes, wherever our members are based. Zoomies 2026 CPD is recognised internationally:

  • Australia & New Zealand: 16 hours of structured CE (each lecture has an assessed quiz), whether you watch live or as a recording.
  • USA & Canada: we apply for 16 hours of non-interactive RACE CE in the medical category, recognised in jurisdictions that accept AAVSB RACE approval.
  • South Africa: we’re an approved SAVC education provider, so the event can be claimed there.
  • Asia: recognised in most countries.
  • Elsewhere: our veterinary CPD is widely accepted on a self-recorded basis. Just check your local requirements, and we’re happy to help.

Need your certificate customised to reflect a specific language or requirement for your jurisdiction? Just reach out to [email protected].

Certificates are issued at the end of each lecture, every day. 

One important step for Vet Education members: log in to the lecture room using the same email address you registered with for your Vet Education membership. That way your attendance syncs automatically to the CPD dashboard in your personal Vet Education library account. From there you can download a CE certificate for each webinar you’ve attended from that webinar’s page, and keep everything in one place with the built-in Vet Education CE tracker, which even lets you upload CE from other providers.

Zoomies: The Online Vet Conference 2026 is included free with your annual Vet Education membership. So you’re not just buying a two-week veterinary conference, you’re getting a whole year of CPD, with Zoomies 2026 included as part of it. Prefer the event on its own? You can also purchase a standalone Zoomies 2026 Vet Conference pass for conference-only access.

Quite a lot. Alongside Zoomies 2026, your annual Vet Education membership includes 45+ live veterinary CPD events a year, a library of 300+ archived lectures (filter by organ system, disease or staff type), short procedural videos, structured Learning Pathways, a journal library, and automatic CPD tracking with downloadable certificates. Find out more about Vet Education membership ›

No, there’s nothing you need to do. Zoomies is already included in your membership, so there’s no registration or checkout required. Simply add the dates to your calendar, and we’ll email you login instructions a couple of days before the conference and again on the day of each lecture. Just be sure to log in with your registered email so your attendance records correctly. We look forward to seeing you in July.

No hidden charges. Your annual Vet Education membership is exactly that, one transparent annual fee. The separate interactive online courses (Deep Dive Live courses) aren’t included in the webinar membership, but members receive a discount on them.

Absolutely, and a Vet Education practice membership is the best-value way to do it. One practice membership covers your whole veterinary team, and every team member gets their own individual login rather than sharing one. Watch together or each pick your own favourites, whatever suits your clinic and team. Whether you’re a team of 5 or 200, reach out to [email protected], and we’ll cover your team’s CPD  and learning needs

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Anaesthesia Mythbusters

Surgical Antimicrobial Prophylaxis is the Most Common Indication for Antimicrobial Use in Australian Hospitals. Discuss.

The above statement is taken from the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare. Worryingly high rates of inappropriate use were reported. The picture is almost certainly similar in veterinary medicine. What can vets do to change the narrative? Which procedures can be safely performed without surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis (SAP)? What difference does SAP make on typical surgical site infection rates? What other measures can be adopted to prevent SSIs and reduce the need for SAP? The talk will try to answer these questions and also set targets for future SAP in practice.

Pardon my French(ie) - When Big, Beautiful, Bug-Eyes Turn into a Clinical Problem!

With the rise in popularity worldwide of the French Bulldog (e.g. “Frenchie”), veterinarians are faced with more and more ocular problems in this breed. This lecture will focus on a myriad of problems afflicting this, and other, brachycephalic breeds. We will review anatomical differences that render them more susceptible to ophthalmic issues and discuss medical and surgical strategies to restore patient comfort and preserve vision!

The Gut-Brain Axis in Epilepsy and Cognitive Dysfunction

The gut and brain are closely connected through the nervous system, bloodstream, and microbiome. In dogs with epilepsy, seizures are only part of the story – the gut-brain axis and changes in the microbiome may also influence disease progression and cognitive function. In this lecture, Dr. Volk explores the role of dietary modification, including medium-chain triglycerides and fecal microbiota transplantation, in the management of idiopathic epilepsy and cognitive dysfunction in dogs.

Controversies and Decision-Making in Small Animal Soft Tissue Surgery: A Case-Based Review

As a clinical surgeon working in both academia and private practice, Dr McCarthy receives many clinically relevant questions from general practitioners daily. Some questions appear repeatedly, suggesting both that the clinical problem is common in private practice and a general lack of training by teaching institutions on these specific issues. In this lecture, frequently asked questions from private practitioners will be answered and discussed in a case-based approach. Included in the discussion will be topics such as:
  • How to best manage a recurrent foreign body abscess when advanced imaging is either unavailable or not financially feasible.
  • Treatment of stenotic nares in cats with a method that is both simple and safe.
  • A novel method of managing wound tension during skin closure without flaps and grafts.
  • Surgical management of mammary gland tumours in dogs
  • Management of brachycephalic obstructive syndrome in dogs: Soft palate resection techniques and “Snoretox”
  • Urethral prolapse in dogs
  • Episioplasty as a method to manage incontinence in dogs
The goal of this lecture is to provide improved understanding of several soft tissue surgical conditions frequently encountered in private practice, as well as offer some simple methods and techniques to manage these conditions that practitioners can use to improve their surgical armamentarium.

When Cats Worry: The Hidden Impact on Feline Health

This presentation will consider how protective emotions such as fear-anxiety impact on the overall health of feline patients, taking into account the physical, emotional and cognitive domains of health. The relationship between emotional health, physiological stress and allostatic load will be discussed. The potential reasons for cats to “worry” when living in a domestic environment will be explored as well as the range of potential behavioural responses that can occur when protective emotions are triggered. In addition, the potential impact of emotional compromise on common physical health presentations in feline practice will be considered. The importance of addressing contributions from all three parts of the health triad when managing and treating feline patients will be discussed.

Bladder and Urethral Surgery in Dogs: When Referral is Not an Option

Biomarkers in Canine and Feline Enteropathies: Are They Useful in Practice?

A biomarker is a naturally occurring molecule, enzyme or gene found in blood, other bodily fluids or tissue that can be measured objectively as an indicator of a pathogenic process or normality. While some biomarkers are only research tools, there is now a plethora of markers suggested for the investigation of enteropathies in dogs and cats. None are the holy grail of a test that will give a diagnosis with 100 % specificity and sensitivity. However some may be more useful and reliable than others. This lecture will discuss what tests are available to practitioners and whether they are worthwhile as one should only do a test if the result is going to alter the patient’s outcome.

They ARE Telling Us - We Just Have to Listen: Identifying Chronic Pain in Animals

Chronic pain is a disease that causes negative changes in health, behavior, quality of life, and the human-animal bond. It is among the most common chronic conditions in dogs and cats, yet paradoxically, it is also among the least frequently diagnosed. Why? What are we missing? What does pain actually look like in our patients? The reality is that we do not see pain – we see the IMPACT of pain. Rather than overt signs, affected patients often exhibit subtle changes that are often misattributed to normal aging or other non-pain-related conditions. In this discussion, we will explore ways to more readily identify chronic pain in dogs and cats. Emphasis will also be placed on the critical role of client education and helping pet owners understand what pain looks like in their animals to support earlier identification and intervention.

Beyond the Pale: The Approach to the Anaemic Cat

It’s 6pm on a Friday and your final consult is an anaemic cat – help! How worried do you need to be? Does it need a transfusion now? Why is it anaemic? What are your first steps? This case-based overview of feline anaemia is designed to give you a framework for troubleshooting these tricky kitties in clinic and empower you in your decision-making.

Rational Use of Parasiticides in Dogs and Cats: Where Are We Going?

The clinical use of parasiticides is essential for controlling parasites in companion animals, but growing evidence of resistance raises concerns about long-term effectiveness. While some parasiticides, like imidacloprid and isoxazolines, have not yet shown resistance in companion animal parasites, others, such as pyrethroids and macrocyclic lactones, have documented cases of resistance, particularly in fleas, ticks, and heartworms. Given the rise in resistance and environmental concerns, the veterinary community must reconsider current broad-spectrum parasite prevention strategies to promote better stewardship and sustainability of these treatments. In this session, the current parasiticide landscape is discussed, including evidence for resistance and environmental impacts. Guidance is given on how to tailor parasiticide use for specific situations and educate clients on the need for parasiticide use while minimizing negative consequences.

The Top 7 Most Useful Things That Will Make a Difference in Your Chronic Kidney Cat

  • Dr Danielle Gunn-Moore
  • July 21, 2026
  • 19:30 AEST
  • World Time

Why Did My Rabbit Stop Eating? Principles of Radiology and CT Interpretation of the Gastrointestinal Tract in Small Mammals

This lecture will cover a systematic approach to interpreting radiographs of small mammals, with a focus on the gastrointestinal tract. Case examples will center on rabbits and guinea pigs. Because small mammals have large volumes of ingesta and many superimposed structures, radiographic evaluation of the GI tract can be challenging. We will review the radiographic and CT anatomy of the stomach, cecum, appendix, and colon, comparing their expected positions on radiographs with schematics and cross-sectional images. CT plays a key role in understanding the location and appearance of these gastrointestinal structures, enabling more accurate radiographic interpretation. Assessment will begin with stomach size and position, including both subjective evaluation and objective measurements. Examples of gastric dilatation–volvulus (GDV) in rabbits and guinea pigs will be provided, with CT correlation. We will also discuss identifying signs of obstructive ileus, noting that the character of gastric contents can help differentiate mechanical obstruction. Obstruction is typically indicated by fluid and gas accumulation in the stomach, along with distended small intestines containing similar material. Trichobezoars are often difficult to detect radiographically, but they tend to have more characteristic appearances on CT. Serial radiography will also be discussed as an option to monitor content and size of the gastrointestinal tract. Cecal distention and content will be reviewed as key indicators of cecal volvulus and impaction, with corresponding radiographic and CT examples. The anatomy and appearance of the rabbit appendix will also be addressed. Appendicitis and sacculitis in rabbits is very difficult with radiography. Computed tomography is the best method to have a detailed assessment of the enlarged, thickened structures and assessment for heterogenous and even emphysematous content contents with necrosis and abscessation of these structures.

Spotting and Managing Neuromuscular Weakness

In this webinar, participants will learn how not to miss the key neurological signs suggestive of generalised neuromuscular weakness and how they differ from spinal disorder. Video examples of dogs and cats with various degree of neuromuscular weakness will be used to illustrate the red flags suggestive of neuromuscular weakness with emphasis on evaluation of the extensor tone and strength of the flexor withdrawal. The discussion will then move to how to establish a logical step-wise diagnostic approach to neuromuscular disorders as a whole. This webinar will also discuss common neuromuscular conditions including acquired myasthenia gravis, polyradiculoneuritis, polymyositis and hypokalaemia in cats.

Current Evidence on the Use of Glucocorticoids in Emergency and Critical Care

Feline Idiopathic Cystitis: An Individualised Disease

Understanding, Diagnosing, and Managing FIC in Cats.

Feline Idiopathic Cystitis (FIC) is a common cause of lower urinary tract disease in cats and the most common cause of urethral obstruction in male cats. Diagnosis is made by excluding other diseases, and management requires a tailored approach that addresses environmental stress, diet, and behavioral support. In this lecture, you will learn about the pathophysiology of the disease and how to tailor your management of these cases to reduce the severity and frequency of episodes.

Dr Emma Johnson

BVSc, MVS (Murdoch), MVS (Melbourne), MVSc, MANZCVS, DACVAA

Emma graduated with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science from James Cook University in 2011. After some time in general practice, she completed a small animal rotating internship at the University of Sydney and then a three-year anaesthesia and analgesia residency at the University of Melbourne.
She passed her speciality board exams and became a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia in 2020. Emma is also a member of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists Anaesthesia chapter.

Since 2019 Emma has been a veterinary anaesthetist at the Small Animal Specialist Hospital (SASH). Her interests include critical care anaesthesia, drug regulation &management and pain management, particularly local anaesthesia – with her Master’s thesis assessing the transversus abdominal plane local anaesthesia block in dogs.

Dr Fergus Allerton

BSc BVSc CertSAM DipECVIM-CA MRCVS

Fergus graduated from the University of Bristol and completed a residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Liege, Belgium. He is a diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Medicine. Fergus is actively involved in veterinary antibiotic stewardship and contributed to the development of the PROTECT ME guidelines.
Within ENOVAT he is working on recommendations for antibiotic use for canine acute diarrhoea and surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis. He is the current editor of Companion and the BSAVA formulary and is also a member of the WSAVA Therapeutics Committee and a clinical medicine lead for RCVS Knowledge.

Dr Elizabeth A. Giuliano

DVM, MS | Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists

Dr. Giuliano received a Bachelor of Science with honors from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York in 1991 and her DVM degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1996.
Following graduation from veterinary school, she completed a small animal rotating internship at the Animal Medical Center in New York City in 1997 and remained in private practice in midtown Manhattan the following year. In 1998, she returned to the University of Wisconsin-Madison to complete a Comparative Ocular Pathology Fellowship. Since July 1, 1999, Dr. Giuliano has been a member of the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Missouri where she completed a residency in veterinary ophthalmology and a Masters of Science degree. She is currently a tenured Professor of the department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery at the University of Missouri and Section Chief of their comparative ophthalmology service. She has authored over 100 articles and textbook chapters. Dr. Giuliano is a dynamic, engaging speaker and has lectured extensively in the academic setting and at national and international meetings. She is the recipient of numerous teaching/leadership awards, including three Golden Aesculapius Teaching Awards, the Gold Chalk Award, the Dadd Award, Western Veterinary Conference’s “Educator of the Year” (2018), and the 2023 Jordan Hoyt Memorial Tribute to Women faculty award. Since becoming an ACVO diplomate in 2002, Dr. Giuliano has demonstrated sustained devotion to her profession through volunteer work. This includes serving on more than 12 ACVO standing, Ad-Hoc, and associated committees [Residency Committee (2002-2006), Resident Forum Committee Co-Chair (2003 & 2006), ACVO Nominating Committee (2008 & 2017), Job Task Analysis Task Force (2008), Resident Presentation Judge at Annual Conference (2008 & 2009), Governance Committee (2009 – 2011), Maintenance of Certification Committee (2007-2012), Vision for Animal Foundation Grants Committee (Member 2007- 2009; co-Chair 2010 – 2012), William Magrane Basic Science Course in Ophthalmology Steering Committee (2011-2017), and the ABVO Examination Committee (2019- 2022)]. In 2011, she was elected to the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO) Board of Regents (2011-2016) and served as the ACVO President from 2015-2016.

Dr Holger Volk

DVM, PhD, DipECVN, EBVS®recognised specialist in Veterinary Neurology, FHEA, FRCVS

Holger Volk is the Department Chair and Clinical Director of the Small Animal Clinic of the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Visiting Professor at the Royal Veterinary College and Affiliate Professor at University of Copenhagen.
He graduated from the Veterinary School of Hanover in 2001, where he also did a PhD in Neuropharmacology studying basic mechanisms of drug-resistant epilepsy. He then completed his specialist clinical education doing an internship and a residency in Neurology and Neurosurgery at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC). He stayed on at the RVC as faculty and in his time at the RVC did hold multiple leadership roles (Head of Neurology, Clinical Director and Head of Department for Clinical Science and Services). In January 2019, he returned to his Alma Mater to fulfil his current role. Holger is internationally known for his work in the field of epilepsy, neuropathic pain/Chiari-like malformation/syringomyelia, cognition and recently SARS-CoV-2 medical detection dogs. Holger has been leading the International Veterinary Epilepsy Task Force, and was one of the members for multiple published ACVIM consensus statements about medical treatment of epilepsy, movement disorders and status epilepticus. He has published multiple book chapters and books, >320 articles, hundreds of conference abstracts, and is a frequent flyer on the international conference circuit, having won multiple awards for teaching and his research.

Dr Robert McCarthy

DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS

Dr Robert McCarthy graduated from Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine in 1983. After internship and residency training at the University of Minnesota he spent several years in private surgical referral practice and as faculty at Louisiana State University.
He was boarded by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 1992. Dr McCarthy returned to Tufts in 1994 where he spent 28 years as a clinical faculty member in Small Animal Surgery, while simultaneously running his own mobile surgery practice. In his career he has written over 50 journal publications, textbook chapters, and abstracts, as well as help train over 30 surgery residents, 200 small animal interns and 2500 surgery students. When Dr McCarthy transitioned from regular to adjunct faculty in 2022, he was simultaneously elected to the Tufts Faculty Hall of Fame and received the Outstanding Alumni Award.

Dr McCarthy is presently involved in all aspects of veterinary surgery He is extremely dedicated to elevating the level of surgical expertise of small animal practitioners and has frequently lectured both nationally and internationally on a wide variety of clinically relevant topics to this group. He has a special interest in surgical control of reproduction and for 15 years coordinated a feral cat control program in the British Virgin Islands utilizing hysterectomy and vasectomy for sterilization rather than traditional spay and neuter. He presently sits on the World Small Animal Veterinary Association’s Reproduction Control Committee. When not working in his own surgical practice, Dr McCarthy frequently does gratuity surgery and consultations for zoos, wildlife centres and special needs organizations.

Dr Sarah Heath

BVSc DipECAWBM(BM) PGCert Vet Ed CCAB FHEA FRSM FRCVS

Sarah qualified from Bristol and spent four years in mixed general practice before setting up Behavioural Referrals Veterinary Practice in 1992.
In 2018 she was made a Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in recognition of her work in establishing Behavioural Medicine as a veterinary discipline. She is an RCVS and EBVS® European Veterinary Specialist in Behavioural Medicine. Sarah is an External Lecturer in small animal behavioural medicine on the veterinary undergraduate courses at Liverpool University and also lectures at University of Lancashire School of Veterinary Medicine as well as veterinary schools in other countries. She is a Certificated Clinical Animal Behaviourist under the ASAB accreditation scheme. Sarah sees clinical cases across North West England. In 2002 she became a Founding Diplomate of the European College of Animal Welfare and Behavioural Medicine (formerly the ECVBM-CA) and served as President from 2002 to 2008. She served as Treasurer of the College from 2011 to 2017, the Chair of the Behavioural Medicine Credentialing Committee from 2017 to 2024 and is currently the Chair of the Behavioural Medicine subspecialty of the College. Sarah is the author of the Heath Model and promotes the concept of Comprehensive Veterinary Healthcare. She has a special interest in the interplay between emotional and physical illness in dogs and cats and particularly in the role of pain. She promotes the recognition of emotional health issues in companion animals and the role of the veterinary profession in safeguarding the welfare of animals in this context. Sarah lectures at home and abroad and is an author, co-author and editor of several books and papers.

Dr James King

BVSc (hons) BAPpSc MANZCVs FANZCVS

Dr King grew up in Brisbane and graduated with a Bachelor of veterinary Science from the University of Queensland with first class honours in 2013.
He then went on to complete a rotating 12 month internship, and once completed, he worked in Emergency and Critical Care and general practice in Brisbane and the Gold coast for the next 2 years. He completed a surgical residency with Veterinary Specialist Services, passed his fellowship examinations in 2021 and now a registered specialist in small animal surgery and practicing at VSS on the gold coast.

He has strong interest in neurosurgery, orthopaedics and brachycephalic dogs. He is passionate about continuing education and is very active in running and assisting practical surgery workshops for general practitioners.

Outside of work, he loves everything outdoors, surfing, keeping fit and spending time at the beach with his wife, daughter and crazy dogs.

Dr Edward Hall

MA, VetMB, PhD, DipECVIM-CA, FRCVS

Emeritus Professor of Small Animal Internal Medicine, University of Bristol Ed Hall is Emeritus Professor of Small Animal Internal Medicine at the University of Bristol, retiring from seeing referral GI cases at Langford Vets in 2021. A Cambridge graduate, he undertook postgraduate clinical and research training in Philadelphia and Liverpool, and is a Diplomate of the ECVIM-CA. He is a Past President of the BSAVA and an RCVS Recognised Specialist in Small Animal Medicine (Gastroenterology).

Dr Tamara Grubb

DVM, PhD, CVMA, CVPP, DACVAA

Dr Tamara Grubb is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Anaesthesia & Analgesia and a Certified Veterinary Pain Practitioner. She owns an anaesthesia/analgesia & continuing education consulting practice for both small and large animals. Dr Grubb is a national/international educator and lecturer, a certified acupuncturist, a Certified Veterinary Pain Practitioner, an Adjunct Professor of Anaesthesia & Analgesia and the President of the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management (IVAPM). She is co-author of two books, including ‘Veterinary Anaesthesia & Pain Management for Nurses & Technicians’. Dr Grubb’s favourite achievement is winning the Distinguished Teaching Award from students at two Universities.

Dr Hannah Darcy

MA VetMB MVetMed DACVIM DECVIM-CA MRCVS

Hannah graduated from Cambridge Veterinary School in 2013, and spent two years enjoying the ups and downs of mixed practice in rural Herefordshire, before deciding that her passion lay in small animal practice.
Hannah then spent four years at the Royal Veterinary College (London), completing her specialist training in small animal medicine and becoming a member of both the American and European Colleges of Veterinary Internal Medicine in 2019.

Following this, Hannah worked as an Internal Medicine Specialist in Sydney for a year, honing her coffee appreciation and sea turtle endoscopy skills, before heading back to the UK. Hannah joined The Ralph in April 2022, and is very excited to be part of a growing medicine team, with particular interests in endocrinology, immune-mediated diseases and teaching.

Outside of work, Hannah can usually be found running, swimming or cycling, or locked in a battle of wills with her Mini Schnauzer, Tilpa.

Dr Jane Sykes

BVSc(Hons) PhD MPH MBA FNAP DACVIM(SAIM)

Jane Sykes is a Professor at the University of California-Davis School of Veterinary Medicine with a special interest in small animal infectious diseases and Co-Director of the School’s Center for Continuing Professional Education. Her research interests are focused on infectious diseases of dogs and cats with public health significance.

Dr Danielle A. Gunn-Moore

BSc(Hon), BVM&S, PhD, MANZCVS (Feline), FHEA, FRSB, FRCVS, RCVS Specialist in Feline Medicine

Danielle Gunn-Moore graduated from the R(D)SVS, University of Edinburgh, with the Dick Vet Gold Medal in 1991.
After a year in small animal practice she joined The Feline Centre, University of Bristol, initially as the Feline Advisory Bureau Scholar, then the Duphar Feline Fellow, and completed a PhD study into Feline Infectious Peritonitis in 1997. After a short period as Lecturer in Veterinary Pathology, University of Bristol, she returned to Edinburgh to establish the Feline Clinic and became Professor of Feline Medicine in 2006. She is interested in all aspects of feline medicine; she is an internationally recognised expert in her area, has lectured extensively and published over a 130 peer-reviewed research papers, plus many reviews and book chapters. In 2009 she was awarded the BSAVA Woodrow Award for outstanding contribution in the field of small animal veterinary medicine, in 2011 she was awarded the International Society for Feline Medicine/Hill’s award for Outstanding Contributions to Feline Medicine, in 2012 the Royal Dick students voted her “The clinician I would most like to be”, in 2016 FECAVA awarded her “Increased Vocalisation in Elderly Cats” the most original paper in the European Journal of Companion Animal Practice that year, and in 2017 she became a Fellow of the RCVS. She shares her home with her husband Frank, a 16 year old Maine Coon boy called Mortlach (named after a Scottish single malt whisky), and a tiny little 16 year old black cat called Sheba-Ardbeg.

Dr Lorrie Gaschen

DVM PhD

Lorrie received her DVM from the University of Florida, was in private practice in Florida for two years after which time she did a diagnostic imaging residency at the University of Bern in Switzerland and became a diplomat of the European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging.
She received her PhD in renal transplant imaging in animal models at the University Medical School in Utrecht then returned to the University of Bern where she became an associate professor upon completion of her work in vascular ultrasound of the canine gastrointestinal tract. She was a full professor of diagnostic imaging in the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, Dept. of Veterinary Clinical Sciences for 15 years and has authored numerous publications and book chapters mainly in the field of gastrointestinal ultrasound where she has done the majority of her research.

Lorrie was also the Executive Associate Dean for Diversity, Student, and Faculty Affairs for 6 years at LSU and is the recipient of the 2022 AAVMC award for Excellence in Diversity in the Veterinary Profession. Lorrie is now working in teleradiology with VetCT and enjoys reporting on all species and all modalities with a special interest in exotic imaging.

Dr Laurent Garosi

DVM, FRCVS, DipECVN – RCVS & EBVS® European recognised specialist in veterinary neurology

Laurent is a Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Neurology (ECVN), RCVS/European Specialist in Veterinary Neurology and Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeon by meritorious contribution to clinical practice. 

He is currently clinical director of a Teleradiology company called Vet Oracle, the first of its kind, offering off-site neuro-imaging (MRI and CT) and neurology/neurosurgery specialist advice across the globe as well as general imaging. His main clinical and research interests are cerebrovascular diseases, neuro-imaging, paroxysmal dyskinesia and feline neurology.

Laurent has published widely in the field of neurology and is a regular speaker on the national and international continuing education circuit. He is past president of the ECVN, past chief examiner of the ECVN examination committee, co-founder of the Facebook page Veterinary Neurology and co-editor with Simon Platt of a textbook on Small Animal Neurological Emergencies. He is the 2021 recipient of the WSAVA best speaker of the year and 2022 recipient of the BSAVA Bourgelat award for truly outstanding international contribution to the field of small animal practice.

Dr Philip Judge

BVSc MVS PG Cert Vet Clin Stud MACVSc (Vet. Emergency and Critical Care; Medicine of Dogs)

Philip graduated from Massey University in New Zealand in 1992, and spent 7 years in small animal practice before undertaking a 3-year residency in veterinary emergency and critical care at the University of Melbourne in 1998.
Following his residency, Philip worked for nearly 6 years at the Animal Emergency Centre in Melbourne, becoming the Senior Veterinarian at the centre in 2004. In 2006, Philip undertook a 1-year surgical externship before moving to Townsville to take up the position of Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care at JCU. Philip is also co-founder, and director of Vet Education Pty Ltd (www.veteducation.com) – one of Australia’s leading providers of online continuing education for veterinarians and veterinary nurses.

Philip has published numerous manuals and guides concerning emergency medicine, including a CRI manual, haematology and biochemistry interpretation guide, emergency anaesthesia guide, and a ventilation therapy manual for small animals, in addition to being published in peer reviewed literature.

Philip’s key interests in veterinary science include respiratory emergencies, ventilation therapy, envenomations and toxicology.

Dr Nathalie Dowgray

BVSc, MANZCVS (feline), PGDip IAWEL, PhD, MRCVS

Nathalie graduated from Massey University, New Zealand in 2002. She worked in mixed practice in New Zealand and the UK for a number of years before moving to small animals only in 2006.
In 2010 she moved to feline shelter medicine running the veterinary clinic at the largest adoption centre of the UK charity Cats Protection and then moving to teach final year veterinary students on the shelter medicine rotation for the Royal Veterinary College. In 2012 she sat the Membership exams for the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in Feline Medicine. Nathalie received a post graduate diploma in international animal welfare ethics and law from Edinburgh University in 2016 and completed a PhD in the ageing of cats at the University of Liverpool in 2021. As part of her PhD Nathalie established the Feline Healthy Ageing Clinic and continues to work on the project as an honorary researcher. The head of the International Society of Feline Medicine from August 2020 to Febuart 2025, she is currently at St George’s University in Grenada in an Assistant Professor role in the department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery. Nathalie’s areas of interest are all things feline including feline health screening, musculoskeletal disease and age-related disease. She has published primary research and review articles in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, Frontiers of Veterinary Science and Plos One and was the co-chair of the 2022 AAFP and ISFM Cat Friendly Interaction Guidelines.