Neurosurgery – Spinal Surgery

Neurosurgery – Spinal Surgery

Dec 1, 2025

Ventral slot and hemilaminectomy are the most frequently performed spinal surgeries for treating cervical and thoracolumbar intervertebral disc disease in dogs. The course will teach how to perform both procedures step by step, through theoretical lectures and practical wetlabs using cadavers. However, spinal surgery is only the final stage in the work-up of clinical patients. Therefore, the course will also cover clinical reasoning, spinal neurolocalisation, as well as spinal imaging, ensuring a complete and structured approach from diagnosis to surgical decision-making.

Thomas Flegel (Germany)
Diplomate ACVIM (Neurology), Diplomate ECVN
(Neurology)

Veterinary Training
1986-1992 – Humboldt-University Berlin, Germany

Working Experience
1992-1998 – Working experience in large and small animal medicine in university (Freie University Berlin) as well as in private practice in Berlin
1998-1999 – Department of Companion Animals and Special Species College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, USA, Internship in Veterinary Neurology
1999-2001 – Department of Veterinary Clinical Scienes, The Ohio State University, USA, Residency in neurology and neurosurgery
Since November 2002 – Department of Small Animal Medicine, University of Leipzig, Germany, Head of the section of neurology and neurosurgery

Veterinary and Academic Qualifications
1994 – Doctor medicinae veterinariae (summa cum laude)
2001 – Master of Veterinary Sciences (The Ohio State University, USA)
2003 – Diplomate American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Neurology)
2005 – Diplomate European College of Veterinary Neurology
2008 – European Specialist in Veterinary Neurology
2010 – Dr. med. vet. habilitatus (small animal surgery and small animal neurology)
2016 – 2018 – President of the European College of Veterinary Neurology

DAY 1

09.00-09.15 – Welcome and Introduction
09.15-09.45 – Neurolocalisation spinal cord
09.45-10.45 – Talk: Thoracolumbar hemilaminectomy
10.45-11.15 – Coffee break
11.15-11:45 – Wetlab Demonstration: Thoracolumbar hemilaminectomy (done by Flegel)
11.45-13.00 – Wetlab: Thoracolumbar hemilaminectomy Part I (done by participants)
13.00-14.00 – Lunch break
14.00-15.45 – Wetlab: Thoracolumbar hemilaminectomy Part II (done by participants)
15.45-16.15 – Coffee break
16.15-17.00 – Talk: Spinal imaging
17.00-17.45 – Day recap and welcome cocktail

DAY 2

09.00-10.30 – Neurolocalisation spinal cord based on videos of cases spinal diseases
10.30-11.00 – Coffee break
11.00-11.45 – Talk: Cervical ventral slot
11.45-12.15 – Wetlab: Demonstration: Cervical ventral slot (Flegel)
12.15-13.15 – Lunch break
13.15-15.30 – Wetlab: Cervical ventral Slot Part I (done by participants)
15.30-16.00 – Coffee break
16.00-17.30 – Wetlab: Cervical ventral Slot Part II (done by participants)
17.30-17.45 – Closing remarks

Medicine and Surgery of Exotic Pets – 3 days course

Medicine and Surgery of Exotic Pets – 3 days course

Nov 1, 2025

Objectives

  • Update knowledge in the medicine of small mammals, birds, and reptiles
  • Deepen surgical and anesthetic skills
  • Practice through hands-on workshops using models/animals/cadavers where feasible
  • Develop an integrated clinical approach adapted to real-world practice
Norin Chai

Norin Chai

DVM, MSc, PhD, Dipl. ECZM

Graduated from the National Veterinary School of Alfort, Norin completed two Masters of Science in 1995, one in “Tropical Animal Pathology” and one in “Tropical Animal Production”. In 1996, he completed his veterinary thesis on “Ecology and ethology of the leopard (Panthera pardus)”. In the meantime, he began his career as the director of the Manda National Park (Chad) from 1995 to 1996. In 1997, he joined the National Museum of Natural History (France) as a research engineer, deputy director and Head vet of the Parc de la Haute Touche (zoological park in central France). In 2000, Norin returned to Paris as a veterinarian at the Ménagerie du Jardin des Plantes. In 2008, he obtained his PhD on amphibian medicine. In 2013, he became Diplomate of the European College of Zoological Medicine (Zoo). From 2005 to September 2020, he held the position of headvet and deputy director of the Menagerie. At the same time, Norin was the veterinary manager of all the transgenic animal research facilities of the National Museum, president of the NGO Elefantasia and co-founding president of the Regional Wildlife Monitoring Laboratory. He left his position at the zoo in October 2020 to follow his own personal conservation and humanitarian projects, in particular with his association Yaboumba, founded in 2000. He is regularly requested for expertise on medical and surgical cases in wildlife and on conservation projects around the world.

Currently, Norin consults in a referral veterinary clinic specialized in exotic animals (Spenac Argos, Paris), in a zoo-rescue Center (La Tanière Zoo, Chartres), in other several rescue centers (Costa Rica and Asia) and has a business coaching activity.

He has published numerous articles in indexed veterinary journals, national magazines and given hundred lectures in national and international conferences.

Day 1 – Internal Medicine and Diagnostics

  • Session 1: Introduction – Physiological and clinical specificities of exotic pets
    (comparative approach)
  • Session 2: Internal medicine of small mammals
  • Session 3: Internal medicine of birds
  • Session 4: Internal medicine of Reptiles

Workshops

  • Workshop 1: Hematology and biochemistry in Birds and Reptile – sampling techniques,
    interpretation of results (interactive case studies)

Day 2 – Imaging diagnostics

  • Session 5: Radiography, ultrasound in small mammals and birds, reptile
  • Session 6: Endoscopy in Exotics

Workshops

  • Workshop 2: radiography in exotic pets
  • Workshop 3: ultrasound in small mammals and reptile
  • Workshop 4: Endocopy in Birds and Reptiles

Day 3 – Surgery and Anesthesia

  • Session 7: Anesthesia and analgesia in exotic pets
  • Session 8: Surgery in small mammals
  • Session 9: Surgery in birds
  • Session 10 : Surgery in reptiles

Workshops

  • Workshop 5 (surgery on models/cadavers): Dentistry in Rabbits
  • Workshop 6 (surgery on models/cadavers): Orthopedics in Rabbits
  • Workshop 7 (surgery on models/cadavers): Orthopedics in Birds
  • Workshop 8 (surgery on models/cadavers): Main surgeries in Chelonians
Orthopedic surgery for practitioner

Orthopedic surgery for practitioner

Oct 10, 2025

The course is aimed to everyone from newly qualified veterinarians to assistants and practitioners who are about to set up to explore most common joint surgeries in dogs. Even if you have already performed some surgeries, many colleagues are happy to have their technique confirmed or refined and to exchange practical experience with each another.
Is your current technique correct? Can you perhaps make your life as a surgeon a little more elegant and easier while performing joint surgeries?

Expansion of the surgical repertoire and learning practical surgical skills for everyday life in small animal joint surgery. We will review your existing skills and supplement them with practical tips, more safety and thus more enjoyment of the most common joint surgeries.

After studying Veterinary Medicine at the Vet School Hannover and a short period in a private practice Dr. Neumann has started working at the Institute of Veterinary Medicine, University of Goettingen in 1992.
In 1996. he received the diploma as a national specialist for small animals and in 1998. for clinical pathology. In 2004. he received the certificate of the ECVCP. 2007. he finished his habilitation and since 2010. he is Professor at the University of Goettingen.
His scientific fields of interest are; orthopedic diseases, especially osteoarthritis; cytokine research of different disease mechanisms and development of biomarkers, gastroenterology, especially liver diseases.
Dr. Neumann is author of about 70 publications in international journals and he is lecturing at four faculties in the fields of small animal surgery, CT, general subjects and clinical pathology.
Dr. Neumann is active in continuing education and specialization in Lower Saxony and nationwide.

DAY 1

Time Title
09:00 – 10:30 Common causes of front and hind limb lameness Shoulder surgery (OCD, Biceps tenotomy, M. infraspinatus myotomy)
10:30 – 11:00 Coffee break
11:00 – 13:00 PRACTICAL WORK: Shoulder surgery (OCD, Biceps tenotomy, M. infraspinatus myotomy)
13:00 – 14:00 Lunch break
14:00 – 15:30 Elbow surgery (IPC resection, IPA resection, Ulna osteotomy)
15:30 – 16:00 Coffee break
16:00 – 17:30 PRACTICAL WORK: Elbow surgery (IPC resection, IPA resection, Ulna osteotomy)

DAY 2

Time Title
09:00 – 10:30 Hip surgery (Symphysiodesis, Joint capsule suturing, Denervation, Femoral head and neck resection)
10:30 – 11:00 Coffee break
11:00 – 13:00 PRACTICAL WORK: Hip surgery (Symphysiodesis, Joint capsule suturing, Denervation, Femoral head and neck resection)
13:00 – 14:00 Lunch break
14:00 – 15:30 Stifle surgery (Ruptured cranial cruciate ligament, patella luxation)
15:30 – 16:00 Coffee break
16:00 – 17:30 PRACTICAL WORK: Stifle surgery (Ruptured cranial cruciate ligament, patella luxation)
Soft tissue surgery 2

Soft tissue surgery 2

Oct 10, 2025

ADVANCED SOFT TISSUE SURGICAL PROCEDURES

10 ADVANCED SURGERIES HANDS ON IN 2 DAYS

This is a two-day practical course in small animal surgery. The course will cover some advanced surgical procedures that are commonly found in practice and it is also designed to be flexible so people can practice at their own pace and concentrate on techniques that they would like to perfect. The tutors will be available to observe, and have direct involvement in teaching the procedures.

The learning objectives of the course will help delegate to understand when to perform certain techniques and the potential complications one could encounter. Practical lab and lectures will assure a review of the associated anatomy of each technique and surgical approaches.

The procedures we will cover include:

  • Perineal hernias – internal obturator flap (dogs)
  • Perineal hernias – semitendinosis (dogs)
  • Scrotal urethrostomy (dogs)
  • Perineal urethrostomy (cats)
  • Cholecystectomy
  • Gastropexy
  • GDV surgery
  • Gastrectomy
  • Diaphragmatic hernia
  • Colectomy for megacolon / tumours

Jackie Demetriou will be one of the course tutors. She is a European Boarded Specialist in Small Animal Surgery, who has practiced specialist level soft tissue surgery for the past 20 years. She has worked in both academia (University of Edinburgh, University of Cambridge and University of Nottingham) and private referral practice. She has extensive experience teaching general practitioners the theory and practice of surgery and really enjoys seeing how surgeons gain confidence in managing cases and performing surgeries after these CPD events.

Soft tissue surgery 2

Soft tissue surgery 1

Oct 10, 2025

COMMON SOFT TISSUE SURGICAL PROCEDURES

14 SURGERIES HANDS ON IN 2 DAYS

This is a two-day practical course in small animal surgery. The course is designed to cover first day skills and the most common procedures you will encounter in practice. It is suitable for beginners and intermediate level surgeons who want to improve their surgical skills. It is also designed to be flexible so people can practice at their own pace and concentrate on techniques that they would like to perfect. The tutors will be available to observe, and have direct involvement in teaching the procedures.

The learning objectives of the course will help delegate to understand when to perform certain techniques and the potential complications one could encounter. Practical lab and lectures will assure a review of the associated anatomy of each technique and surgical approaches.

The procedures we will cover include:

  1. Suturing techniques
  2. Reconstructive techniques to minimise tension (suture patterns, advancement flaps, transposition flaps)
  3. Exploring the abdominal cavity
  4. Gastrointestinal surgery: enterotomy, gastrostomy, end to end anastamosis
  5. Biopsy techniques: lymph nodes, liver, bladder
  6. Cystotomy
  7. Placement of feeding tube – oesophagostomy and gastrostomy

Jackie Demetriou will be one of the course tutors. She is a European Boarded Specialist in Small Animal Surgery, who has practiced specialist level soft tissue surgery for the past 20 years. She has worked in both academia (University of Edinburgh, University of Cambridge and University of Nottingham) and private referral practice. She has extensive experience teaching general practitioners the theory and practice of surgery and really enjoys seeing how surgeons gain confidence in managing cases and performing surgeries after these CPD events.

Jackie Demetriou will be one of the course tutors. She is a European Boarded Specialist in Small Animal Surgery, who has practiced specialist level soft tissue surgery for the past 20 years. She has worked in both academia (University of Edinburgh, University of Cambridge and University of Nottingham) and private referral practice. She has extensive experience teaching general practitioners the theory and practice of surgery and really enjoys seeing how surgeons gain confidence in managing cases and performing surgeries after these CPD events.