‘Medicine is constantly presenting new challenges: unusual diseases, unclear diagnoses, difficult treatments. But this is precisely where the opportunity for growth lies. Challenges open doors to new experiences, expanded knowledge and improved skills,’ explains Prof Alef.

The programme of the Dog/Cat focus area at the Leipzig Veterinary Congress 2026 addresses precisely these challenges - from medical issues to organisational, communicative and economic aspects of veterinary practice. ‘Our colleagues face unforeseen situations every day: atypical disease progressions, complications in treatment, but also challenging pet owners or economic decisions. The congress should not only show solutions, but also open up a new perspective on such situations,’ emphasises Prof. Alef.

One example of the exciting range of the programme is the area of neurology. The programme deals with the difficulties of diagnosis, therapy-resistant clinical pictures and rare phenomena such as werewolf syndrome - a still poorly understood clinical picture with fascinating facets.

Many years of expertise and close collaboration

Prof. Alef has been responsible for the Dog/Cat programme since the 4th Leipzig Veterinary Congress and is passionately committed to its continuous development. ‘I am proud of how our programme has developed. Our aim is to create and continuously improve an attractive, practical training programme, especially for colleagues in private practice.’

However, she underlines: ‘The programme is not created alone. It is the result of close collaboration with colleagues from the various specialist disciplines who are responsible for their respective programme areas. I pull the strings and act as an interface to the congress organisation. I also design key areas myself, for example in anaesthesiology or where support is needed at short notice.’

Passion for the congress - down to the last detail

The Leipzig Veterinary Congress is very important to Prof Alef. For many years, she has not only contributed her expertise, but also taken care of the small details that make the congress special.

A loving tradition, for example, is the small thank-you gift for speakers in the dog/cat section: ‘For many years, they have been given “Leipziger Lerchen” - and a “Rotkäppchen-Pikkolo” for a second lecture. I take care of that myself. After all, it has to be perfect on all sides!’ She is equally proud of the idea of decorating the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine's stand with flags for midterms celebration - a highlight that is now a permanent fixture at the congress.