The African Pet Health Summit is South Africa’s premium education-focused event dedicated to natural and integrative pet health, bringing internationally recognised vets and researchers to Stellenbosch for a full weekend of expert-led sessions. Rather than treating nutrition, gut health, stress and environment as separate issues, the Summit explores how they work together to shape a pet’s wellbeing. It’s designed for pet parents, veterinarians, vet nurses and pet professionals alike, whatever stage of their pet health journey they’re on.
What Is the African Pet Health Summit?
The African Pet Health Summit (APHS) is South Africa’s premium education-focused event dedicated to natural and integrative pet health. The inaugural event in 2025 was well received by a sold-out audience and this year the second Summit will be held in Stellenbosch in the Cape Winelands, bringing together internationally recognised veterinarians, researchers and pet health experts alongside pet parents, veterinary professionals and industry leaders, all with one shared goal: helping pets live longer, healthier lives.
Unlike a typical pet expo or commercial showcase, APHS is a carefully structured, knowledge-driven experience. Over a full weekend of expert-led sessions and panel discussions, attendees learn how nutrition, gut health, environmental factors, stress and lifestyle all work together to shape an animal’s wellbeing, rather than being treated as separate, unconnected issues.
Why the Summit Exists
The idea for APHS came from a simple but growing problem: pet parents are searching for answers at all hours of the night and the information they find is often conflicting, overwhelming or incomplete.
Co-founder Retha van der Walt describes it plainly: “Pet parents are asking better questions about their animals’ health, but the usual answers; a prescription here, a switch of food there, are running out of road. For decades, the world’s leading voices in natural and integrative veterinary medicine gathered on stages in Europe and North America, while South African pet parents and professionals could only watch from a distance through webinars, imported books and second-hand summaries.”
The African Pet Health Summit was created to close that gap: bringing world-class, science-based knowledge in natural pet health directly to African soil, so that pet parents and professionals no longer have to piece together their understanding from a distance.
What Makes This Event Different
APHS is intentionally different from a traditional pet trade show:
- Depth over trends. Every session is grounded in both science and real-world clinical experience, not quick fixes or fads.
- A capped, boutique experience. Delegate numbers are deliberately limited to keep the event intimate and focused, with real access to speakers rather than a crowded trade-floor feel.
- A whole-animal philosophy. Nutrition, the gut microbiome, chronic disease, herbal support, stress and environment are treated as interconnected pieces of the same puzzle, not separate silos.
Global expertise, locally accessible. The line-up would typically require several international flights to see in person. APHS brings that calibre of speaker to a single stage in South Africa.
Who Should Attend
The Summit is designed to meet people wherever they are on their pet health journey:
- Pet parents who want clear, practical answers to the questions that keep them up at night and a real understanding of what prevention, real food and natural support can do for the animals they love.
- Veterinarians and veterinary nurses, who can also take part in a dedicated Veterinary Professional Day of advanced clinical sessions before the main summit begins.
- Pet professionals like nutritionists, groomers, behaviourists, trainers and rehabilitation specialists, looking to deepen their knowledge and connect with a network of like-minded colleagues.
- Industry leaders seeking a clearer view of where pet care is heading next.
Whether someone is just beginning to explore natural pet health or has been immersed in it for years, the programme is built to take every attendee further than where they started.
What Topics Are Covered
Across the weekend, speakers tackle the conditions and questions that fill vet waiting rooms and pet parents’ late-night search bars every single day, including:
- Species-appropriate nutrition and feeding strategies
- Gut health and the microbiome
- Chronic disease and inflammatory conditions, including cancer and arthritis
- Natural and herbal support protocols
- Hormones and the endocrine system
- Preventative care and longevity
- The impact of environment, stress and modern lifestyles
- Feline-specific health, stress and behaviour
Whatever an animal is facing, the chances are that someone on the APHS stage has spent a career studying it.
Meet the Speakers
The APHS brings together some of the most respected names in natural and integrative veterinary medicine from around the world. Speakers for 2026 include:
Dr Judy Morgan
With over 40 years of clinical experience, Dr Judy Morgan, DVM, CVA, CVCP, CVFT, is one of the world’s most respected voices in integrative and holistic veterinary medicine. An accomplished veterinarian, acupuncturist, chiropractor, food therapist, best-selling author, international speaker and podcast host, she is also the founder of Naturally Healthy Pets. Her life’s work centres on transforming pet health through education, empowerment and natural healing, helping pet parents move away from excessive chemicals, over-vaccination and poor-quality processed foods, while bridging conventional veterinary care with nutrition-focused, minimally invasive therapies for long-term wellness.
Dr Nick Thompson
Dr Nick Thompson is a highly respected holistic veterinary expert and a founding member of the Raw Feeding Veterinary Society (RFVS), with over two decades of clinical experience at the forefront of integrative animal care. Renowned for blending conventional veterinary science with acupuncture, herbal medicine and homeopathy, he takes a deeply individualised approach that focuses on root causes rather than symptom suppression and his work has helped advance evidence-informed raw feeding within the veterinary profession.
Dr Peter Dobias
With more than 35 years of experience spanning conventional and integrative veterinary medicine, Dr Peter Dobias, DVM, HMC, is internationally recognised as a pioneer in holistic pet healthcare and preventive wellness. Originally trained in the Czech Republic before expanding his career in Canada, his approach blends natural nutrition and plant-based medicine with modern science, focusing on strengthening the body’s own healing capacity. He is the founder and CEO of Dr Dobias International, a global platform offering plant-based supplements and educational resources for dogs and their guardians.
Dr Brendan Clarke
Dr Brendan Clarke is a highly regarded preventive care specialist with deep expertise spanning both clinical practice and academia. A passionate advocate for proactive, prevention-first pet healthcare, he emphasises the critical role of nutrition, lifestyle and early intervention in shaping long-term health and resilience, bridging scientific research with real-world application to help pet parents and professionals move from reactive treatment to informed, sustainable wellness strategies.
Dr Amaya Espíndola
Dr Amaya Espíndola, MRCVS, is an internationally respected veterinary surgeon whose work over the past 13 years has focused exclusively on feline health through a holistic and integrative lens. Her approach gives equal weight to physical health, emotional wellbeing and the human–cat relationship, exploring the emotional, behavioural and environmental drivers behind feline disease. She is the Director of Felvet Limited, the creator of Lullabies for Cats, and Senior Vice President of the Raw Feeding Veterinary Society.
Rita Hogan
Rita Hogan is an internationally recognised clinical canine herbalist with over 20 years of experience in holistic dog health. Her integrative yet traditional approach combines nutrition, medicinal herbs, flower essences, oils, mushrooms and phytoembryonic therapy to support the whole animal; physically, emotionally and energetically. She is the best-selling author of The Herbal Dog and founder of the Ethos School of Canine Herbalism, and a proud member of the Veterinary Botanical Medicine Association.
Holly H. Ganz, PhD
Holly H. Ganz, PhD, is a leading microbiome scientist whose work sits at the cutting edge of companion animal health, longevity and disease prevention. As a researcher and co-founder of AnimalBiome, she studies how diet, antibiotics, environment and lifestyle shape the gut microbiome of cats and dogs and how restoring balance can profoundly impact lifelong health. Her work bridges laboratory research and clinical relevance, helping vets and pet guardians make informed, evidence-based decisions.
Dr Barbara Royal
Dr Barbara Royal, DVM, CVA, CVNN, CIVTN, FACVBM, is an integrative veterinarian, author and international lecturer and consultant in integrative practice, pet nutrition, zoo and wildlife medicine, acupuncture, herbal remedies, physical rehabilitation and alternative modalities for health and longevity. Her book, The Royal Treatment, draws on her wildlife and zoo experience to offer practical solutions for pets and she has been featured in the documentary Pet Fooled alongside other films, books and media. Dr Royal practices and teaches full-time at The Royal Treatment Veterinary Center, is an owner, CEO and professor at The College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies (CIVT, Australia), and is a past president of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association (AHVMA) and its Foundation (AHVMF).
The Sponsors
The African Pet Health Summit is made possible by a group of sponsors who share the event’s commitment to ethical, science-based and holistic pet care. Each has been chosen not simply as a brand partner, but as an organisation whose products, research or values genuinely align with the Summit’s mission of improving the health and longevity of pets across South Africa.
The Founding Sponsors
Pawsome Raw (Founding & Main Event Sponsor) As Founding and Main Event Sponsor, Pawsome Raw made the African Pet Health Summit possible from day one. Dedicated to elevating pet nutrition and wellbeing across the continent, their visionary support helps bring together leading vets, nutritionists, and pet parents committed to raising the standard of pet health in Africa.
Gold Sponsors
We Love Pets SA (Founding & Official Media Partner)
As the Founding and Official Media Partner, We Love Pets SA provides the platform and reach to amplify the Summit’s mission across South Africa. By bringing digestible, holistic pet care knowledge to a passionate community, they ensure the vital conversations started in Stellenbosch inspire and inform pet owners nationwide.
1st for Women Pet Insurance (Gold Sponsor) As a Gold Sponsor, 1st for Women Pet Insurance demonstrates a major investment in raising the bar for African pet health. They understand that comprehensive care extends to financial readiness when the unexpected happens, ensuring pet parents can protect their furry family members with complete peace of mind.
Core Sponsors
Quantum Silver (Gold Sponsor) Gold Sponsor Quantum Silver brings next-generation, science-backed antimicrobial solutions to the Summit. Engineered to support immune health, skin care, and overall vitality without harsh side effects, their advanced, natural silver technology empowers pet parents and professionals with effective, cutting-edge tools for holistic wellness.
Pegasus Homeopathics (Core Sponsor/Exhibitors) Core Sponsor Pegasus Homeopathics is a trusted household name delivering safe, gentle, and non-invasive remedies for acute pet ailments. Suitable for all life stages with zero risk of overdose, their natural complexes work seamlessly alongside conventional care, making holistic first-aid simple and accessible for every pet parent.
Collaborative Sponsors
Spencers Natural Pet Products (Core Sponsor/Exhibitor) Spencers Natural Pet Products joins as a Core Sponsor, offering scientifically proven, vet-formulated natural protection. From non-toxic tick and flea solutions to skin-soothing Neem shampoos and Valerian calming care, their ISO-certified European range provides effective, eco-friendly care that never enters your pet’s bloodstream.
Dr Barker Homeopathics (Core Sponsor/Exhibitor) Dr Barker Homeopathics supports the Summit with gentle, 100% natural remedies designed to align with the body’s innate healing ability. Free from synthetic additives, their targeted formulations address everyday health challenges, from anxiety and joint stiffness to digestive balance, offering safe, non-invasive support for long-term vitality.
Equine-Librium (also an Exhibitor)
The All-Natural Pet Health Expo: A First for South Africa
Running alongside the Summit is the All-Natural Pet Health Expo, South Africa’s first dedicated natural pet health expo and unlike any pet expo the country has seen before.
Where a typical pet expo can feel like an aisle-after-aisle of anything-goes stalls, every exhibitor at the All-Natural Pet Health Expo is hand-selected against strict ethical, scientific and holistic criteria. Attendees are exposed only to products and services that genuinely support the Summit’s overall vision of better pet health, rather than a purely retail-driven showcase.
The Expo gives pet parents and professionals a rare chance to meet the founders, formulators and clinicians behind the raw nutrition, supplements and herbal medicine their community is already asking about and to connect with breeders, raw feeders, groomers, trainers and fellow pet parents who share the same standards. It’s an opportunity not just to shop with confidence, but to ask questions directly of the people building these products and to walk away better informed.
For many attendees, the Expo and the Summit together represent something bigger than an event: a shift toward a more connected, informed and holistic way of caring for the animals in our lives.
Where and when does the African Pet Health Summit take place in 2026?
The Summit takes place in Stellenbosch in South Africa’s Cape Winelands.
18 September 2026: Veterinary Professional Day
19-20 September 2026: Main African Pet Health Summit + All-Natural Pet Health Expo
Visit www.africanpethealth.co.za for more information and to buy tickets to the Summit. Attendance is limited.
Visit QUICKET for your R50 expo ticket on either Saturday or Sunday. The All-Natural Pet Health Expo is open to the public. All profit from the Expo entrance fees will be shared to animal rescue. This event is not pet friendly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the African Pet Health Summit? A: The African Pet Health Summit is an education-focused event held in Stellenbosch, South Africa, bringing together international and local experts in natural and integrative pet health. It helps pet parents, veterinarians and pet professionals make more informed, compassionate decisions about animal wellbeing, through expert-led sessions rather than a typical trade-show format.
Q: Who should attend the African Pet Health Summit? A: The Summit welcomes pet parents wanting practical, science-based answers; veterinarians and vet nurses exploring integrative approaches, including a dedicated Veterinary Professional Day; pet professionals working in nutrition, behaviour or rehabilitation; and industry leaders interested in the future of natural pet care.
Q: What topics are covered at the African Pet Health Summit? A: Sessions cover species-appropriate nutrition, gut health and the microbiome, chronic disease and inflammatory conditions such as cancer and arthritis, natural and herbal support protocols, hormones, preventative care and longevity, feline-specific health, and how environment and stress affect pets.
Q: Is there an expo alongside the Summit? A: Yes. The All-Natural Pet Health Expo runs alongside the African Pet Health Summit and is South Africa’s first dedicated natural pet health expo. Every exhibitor is hand-selected against strict ethical and scientific criteria, so attendees can browse products and services with confidence.
Q: Where and when does the African Pet Health Summit take place? A: The African Pet Health Summit takes place in Stellenbosch, in South Africa’s Cape Winelands. For current dates and booking details, visit www.africanpethealth.co.za.
Disclaimer: This article is for general educational purposes only and does not replace individualised veterinary advice. Always consult your own veterinarian before making changes to your pet’s diet, supplements or healthcare routine.