For small animal practitioners, the standout drawcard at the AVA Conference 2026 is Professor Holger A. Volk, one of the world’s most influential veterinary neurologists. Professor Volk is currently Professor of Small Animal Diseases and Head of Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery at the University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover, and Visiting Professor of Veterinary Neurology and Neurosurgery at the Royal Veterinary College. He is internationally renowned for his prolific work in the field of epilepsy.
Professor Volk will deliver an exceptional set of sessions across all three days. He opens on Tuesday 19 May with “Behind the growl: from pathophysiology to compassionate care,” a Small Animal Neurology session bridging clinical science and patient welfare.
Wednesday 20 May brings a demanding schedule of four sessions, covering “One health, one brain,” “What’s new in psychopharmacology,” “Paws, claws, and cause: decoding cat behaviour one case at a time,” and “Tails of insight: clinical cases in dog behaviour medicine.” His Thursday 21 May presentations include “Silent clues: decoding feline behaviour and urinary health,” and “Equine psychopharmacology: the good, the bad and the ugly.”
Volk’s presentations bring neurology and behaviour medicine into direct conversation with general practice, urology, and equine care. For small animal vets, his sessions promise practical, case-based insights drawn from one of the field’s most respected clinical and research careers, offering guidance attendees can apply on returning to practice.