International Canine Gait Summit

Dr. Daniel Koch

Diplomate ECVS · Specialist in Small Animal Surgery · Diessenhofen (Switzerland)

Dr. Daniel Koch brings more than three decades of veterinary experience to the Canine Gait Summit 2026. After completing his veterinary studies in Utrecht and Zurich, he specialized early in small animal surgery. Since 1999, he has been a Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Surgeons (ECVS) and currently runs a specialized referral practice for small animal surgery in Diessenhofen, Switzerland, on a part-time basis.

His clinical expertise includes joint surgery, osteosynthesis, treatment of airway disorders in brachycephalic breeds, and veterinary dentistry. Scientifically, Dr. Koch focuses on brachycephalic syndrome and canine stifle joint function. He has published numerous peer reviewed articles, contributed multiple book chapters, and authored a comprehensive textbook on orthopedic examination in small animal practice.

Dr. Koch’s lectures provide valuable insights for professionals seeking a biomechanical understanding of canine movement across all life stages, supported by sound veterinary evidence.

 

Dr. Alexandra Keller

Board-Certified Veterinary Chiropractor · Director, Veterinary Orthopaedic Team Frankfurt (Germany)

Dr. Alexandra Keller is a recognized specialist in functional diagnostics, conservative orthopaedics, and rehabilitation in small animals. After completing her veterinary degree and doctorate at Justus Liebig University Giessen, she pursued advanced training in veterinary chiropractic at the IAVC and founded her first private practice in Frankfurt in 2005.
Today, she leads the Veterinary Orthopaedic Team Frankfurt, a multidisciplinary referral center employing more than 15 professionals, including specialized veterinarians and veterinary physiotherapists.

Her clinical focus lies in the diagnosis and treatment of lameness and sports related conditions in dogs and cats. She integrates advanced therapeutic approaches such as regenerative medicine (PRP, IRAP, ArthramidVet), chiropractic techniques, ultrasound guided injection therapies, and objective digital gait analysis. The latter enables precise identification of subtle lameness, controlled load testing, and reliable therapy monitoring.

In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Keller is actively involved in research and education, supervising doctoral projects in cooperation with universities. She is a board member of the Veterinary Orthopaedic Association (VOA) and serves as an official evaluator for the GRSK and VDH patellar luxation schemes. She is also certified for PennHIP hip dysplasia screening.
 

Dr. Rico Vannini

Specialist in Small Animal Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine · Former Clinic Director, Switzerland

Dr. Rico Vannini is one of the most respected names in veterinary orthopaedics in Europe. He graduated from the University of Zurich in 1984 and completed a three-year specialization in small animal surgery at Ohio State University, USA. He then served for nine years as senior surgeon and lecturer at the Small Animal Surgery Department of the University of Zurich.

In 1995, together with his wife, he founded Bessy's Small Animal and Referral Clinic in Watt Regensdorf, Switzerland, which became one of the largest veterinary clinics in the country. After 20 successful years, he sold the clinic to IVC Evidensia and shifted his focus to canine sports medicine and orthopaedic care for canine athletes.

Dr. Vannini has served as president of prestigious veterinary organizations, including AO-VET and the European Society of Veterinary Orthopaedics and Traumatology (ESVOT). He has taught and lectured internationally, published in peer-reviewed journals, and contributed to major veterinary surgery textbooks.

Today, he brings together his surgical expertise and personal experience as an agility handler of Border Collies, making him a true authority on sports-related injuries and performance care.

 

Dr. Kirsten Häusler, CCRP, PhD (Ethology)

Expert in Objective Gait Analysis & Veterinary Physiotherapy · Center for Animal Physiotherapy, Stuttgart (Germany)

Dr. Kirsten Häusler is a leading expert in objective canine gait analysis and veterinary physiotherapy. She brings a unique combination of scientific training and clinical expertise, having studied Agricultural Biology with a focus on Ethology (Animal Behavior) at the University of Hohenheim, where she also earned her PhD. She later completed her certification as a Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner (CCRP) at the University of Tennessee, USA.

Since 2008, Dr. Häusler has been running her own practice in Stuttgart, where she combines evidence based physiotherapy with advanced gait analysis using the CanidGait® system. Her work focuses on detecting subtle gait abnormalities, documenting therapy progress, and providing scientifically grounded rehabilitation for dogs—especially after orthopedic surgery or with chronic joint diseases.

Dr. Häusler is actively involved in research projects such as Gangwerkentwicklung and collaborates with academic institutions, where she also supervises doctoral theses. Her mission is to bridge the gap between science and clinical practice—for the benefit of animals, their caregivers, and veterinary professionals.
 

Dr. Katja Söhnel

Biomedical Engineer & Movement Scientist · Jena (Germany)

Dr. Katja Söhnel combines engineering expertise with biological movement research, focusing her work entirely on canine locomotion. After studying Biomedical Engineering at the Technical University of Ilmenau, she completed her doctorate in Biology at Friedrich Schiller University Jena under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Martin S. Fischer, one of the world’s leading experts in functional anatomy and vertebrate locomotion.

Her doctoral research examined movement patterns in canine sports, particularly agility, analyzing biomechanical demands and coordination using objective measurement data. Alongside her scientific work, Dr. Söhnel gained extensive practical experience as a dog trainer with a specialization in movement training and coordination.

Her research centers on the objective analysis and evaluation of complex movement patterns, with a particular focus on comparing different biomechanical measurement systems.

Dr. Katja Söhnel represents interdisciplinary research with direct practical relevance—scientifically robust, technology driven, and consistently focused on the dog as both athlete and patient.
 

Dr. Jana Gams, DVM, CCRP

Veterinarian · Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner · CEO, Dogs4motion (Slovenia)

Dr. Jana Gams is a veterinarian, certified canine rehabilitation specialist, and founder of Dogs4motion, an internationally recognized center for veterinary rehabilitation and sports medicine located in Ravne na Koroškem, Slovenia. She also established the Dogs4motion Academy, an online education platform dedicated to training professionals and owners of canine athletes.

After earning her veterinary degree at the University of Ljubljana, she completed the internationally renowned Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner (CCRP) program at the University of Tennessee (2017–2019). In 2023, she further expanded her expertise through advanced training in diagnostic musculoskeletal ultrasound with Dr. Debra Canapp at Canapp Sports Medicine (USA).

Dr. Gams is an international speaker at conferences and educational events, including VOACON (UK), SCIVAC (Italy), ECVSMR (Croatia), and numerous continuing education formats across the DACH region. Her lectures focus on functional training, therapeutic exercises for canine athletes, and evidence based rehabilitation following orthopedic surgery.
Her professional expertise is complemented by hands on experience as an active competitor in agility and FCI obedience, giving her a deep understanding of the specific demands involved in managing canine athletes.

 

Lukas Pratschker

Dog Trainer · Movement Specialist · Founder, School of Dog (Austria)

Lukas Pratschker is a well known figure in the German speaking dog training community, both on television and on stage. After completing his secondary education with a focus on music, he dedicated his career entirely to working with dogs. In 2013, he gained international recognition by winning the RTL show “Das Supertalent” together with his dog Falco.

This success was followed by numerous television appearances, including America’s Got Talent, Guten Morgen Österreich, and Entenfellners Tierwelt.

As founder of the School of Dog in Vienna, Lukas Pratschker integrates dog sports, trick training, and positive reinforcement methods into a holistic training philosophy. His approach emphasizes physical and mental engagement, joy of movement, and a strong human dog relationship.

In recent years, he has focused intensively on coordination, body awareness, and movement development in dogs, aiming to design training that is not only entertaining but also health promoting. Through his work with sport and performance dogs, he has developed a keen eye for movement quality and early gait abnormalities.
 

Dr. Beate I. Egner

Expert in Veterinary Cardiology & Hypertensiology · Founder, VAHL GmbH (Germany)

Dr. Beate I. Egner is one of the most influential figures in veterinary continuing education in the German speaking world. After studying veterinary medicine and completing her doctorate at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich—focusing on gastric dilatation volvulus in dogs and associated cardiovascular changes—she began her career in clinical veterinary cardiology, including an externship at the prestigious Animal Medical Center in New York.

From 1995 onward, her work increasingly combined scientific marketing with cardiology, contributing significantly to the international dissemination of modern cardiovascular diagnostics. She is an active member of numerous professional organizations, including the DVG Cardiology Group, ESVC, ECVIM, IAVRPT, BVRSMA, and VBPS, which she co founded.

As founder of Schloss Seminare, VetVerlag Beratung & Seminar GmbH, and since 2022 the Veterinary Academy of Higher Learning (VAHL GmbH), Dr. Egner has established a global platform for postgraduate veterinary education. VAHL is the exclusive worldwide partner of the University of Tennessee for certified programs such as CCRP and CCFT, offering advanced training at the highest international level.

Dr. Egner lectures extensively across Europe, Asia, North and South America, Australia, and South Africa. She is editor and co author of numerous internationally recognized textbooks and reference works on veterinary cardiology, rehabilitation, sports medicine, and blood pressure diagnostics.