Dr Dean Felkler
BSc BVetMed CertAVP (ZooMed), Diplomate, ABVP (Reptile & Amphibian Practice) MRCVS
RCVS Advanced Practitioner (ZooMed)

Founder | Exotic Vet Support

About us

Welcome to Exotic Vet Support

Welcome and thank you for visiting us.

Exotic animal medicine can be incredibly rewarding, but it can also feel isolating and difficult to find answers we are looking for. Many of us work without easy access to experienced colleagues, structured mentorship, or a safe space to ask the “small” questions that actually matter most to patient outcomes.

That gap is exactly why EVS was created.

I founded EVS to provide practical, supportive, and judgement-free mentorship for veterinarians working with exotic species. Whether you are early in your career, transitioning into exotics, or already experienced but wanting a trusted specialist for complex cases.

This mentoring platform is not about textbook answers or rigid protocols. It’s about:

  • Real-world clinical decision-making
  • Case-based discussion grounded in evidence and experience
  • Support with diagnostics, treatment plans, surgery, and pain management
  • Building confidence when you are a sole charge exotics clinician

You don’t need to have everything figured out. You just need access to the right support at the right time.

EVS mentoring is designed to feel like having an experienced colleague on hand, someone you can talk cases through with, challenge ideas safely, and grow as a clinician.

I’m genuinely glad you’re here, and I look forward for our team to support you on your journey in exotic animal medicine.

Meet your Mentors

Where Board-Certified Expertise Meets Practical Mentorship.

Learn from internationally recognised leaders in zoological and exotic animal medicine. Each mentor brings clinical, academic, and case-based experience to support veterinarians ongoing learning goals.

Dr. Javier G. Nevarez

DVM, PhD, DACZM, DECZM (Herpetology)

Dr. Javier G. Nevarez is a tenured professor of zoological medicine at Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine (LSU SVM). He obtained his BS with a concentration in Animal Science in May of 1998, his DVM degree in 2001, and a PhD in 2007, all from Louisiana State University.  In 2002 he completed an internship in zoological medicine at the LSU SVM. Dr. Nevarez became a diplomate of the American College of Zoological Medicine and the European College of Zoological Medicine (Herpetology) in 2011.
 
He has been a faculty member of the Zoological Medicine service at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine since 2003. Dr. Nevarez served as the as director of the Wildlife Hospital of Louisiana from 2007-2020. In addition, Dr. Nevarez has served as the veterinarian for the Louisiana Alligator industry since 2003. Dr. Nevarez has over 100 peer reviewed publications. He is the editor and author of the book 5 Minute Veterinary Consult: Reptile and Amphibian. He is also co-editor and author of the book Urgencias y cuidados intensivos en nuevos animals de compañía (Emergency and critical care of companion zoological species) and has authored multiple chapters in zoological medicine books. 
 

Dr. Joerg Mayer

DVM, MS, DABVP, DECZM, DACZM

Dr. Joerg Mayer grew up in Germany and studied veterinary medicine at the University of Budapest, Hungary, shortly after the fall of the Iron Curtain. During his training, he gained international experience working with veterinarians in South Africa and Namibia. Following his doctoral degree, he completed an internship in Zoological Medicine and Surgery at the Roger Williams Park Zoo in the USA and participated in field research on wild tree kangaroos in Papua New Guinea. He later earned a Master of Science in Wild Animal Health from the Royal Veterinary College in London, focusing on lead toxicity in wildlife.
 
Dr. Mayer served for 10 years at Tufts University as Clinical Associate Professor and Head of the Exotic Animal Service before joining the University of Georgia in 2010, where he is currently Full Professor of Zoological Medicine.
 
He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (Exotic Companion Mammals), and both the American and European Colleges of Zoological Medicine. He is a former President of the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians and an International Fulbright Specialist. Dr. Mayer is an internationally recognized speaker, prolific author, and award-winning educator in exotic animal and honey bee medicine.

Dr. Shangzhe Xie

BSc/BVMS; MVS (Conservation Medicine); PhD; CertAqv; DABVP (Avian Practice); DACZM; DACCM

Shangzhe obtained his veterinary degree and Masters in conservation medicine at Murdoch University. He then completed a PhD studying the physiology of heat stress in Australian desert birds at the University of Adelaide.

He is a Diplomate of the American College of Zoological Medicine, American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in Avian Practice and the Asian College of Conservation Medicine. He has worked in various exotic pet practices around the world and is currently the Vice President of the Veterinary Healthcare and Scientific Programmes at Mandai Wildlife Group.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Vittorio Capello

DVM, DECZM (Small Mammals), DABVP (Exotic Companion Mammal)

Dr. Vittorio Capello graduated in 1989 from the School of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Milano, Italy. He has practiced exotic animal medicine exclusively since 1996, and provides professional services for two veterinary clinics in Milano. Dr. Capello’s focus is the medicine and surgery of exotic companion mammals, with particular interest in dentistry.

He has taught exotic animal courses and practical laboratories throughout Italy, Europe, US, North America, Asia, and other parts of the world. He was voted best speaker at the International Conference on Exotics in 2003 and 2004 and received the Exotic DVM Paper of the Year Award in 2005.
 
Dr. Capello published 57 scientific articles, 4 book chapters and 3 books (the Rabbit and Rodent Dentistry Handbook, the Clinical Radiology of Exotic Companion Mammals and the Ear Surgery in Pet Rabbits dynamic eBook) and has both written and served as guest editor for numerous publications, including The Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine (Dentistry of Exotic Companion Mammals) and The Veterinary Clinics of North America-Exotic Animal Practice (Disorders of the Oral Cavity).
 
  • Dr. Capello only mentors on exotic companion mammal patients.

Dr. Paul Raymond

DVM, Dipl. ECZM. EBVS® European Veterinary Specialist in Small Mammal Medicine and Surgery

French veterinary graduate from the University of Agronomic and Veterinary Sciences of Cluj-Napoca, Romania, since 2017, and diplomate of the European College of Zoological Medicine in small mammalian species, since 2025.  
 
Dr. Raymond works exclusively with exotic pets (small mammals, reptiles, birds, fish, and other fascinating species). He has worked in various French veterinary hospitals (Frégis, Advetia, Alliance), in clinics (l’Arche des NAC – Cergy Pontoise, Cabinet Sevetys Crozatier- Paris), and also in vet schools (Oniris Veterinary School, before completing his residency with Charly Pignon at the ENVA (National Veterinary School of Alfort)).
 
Dr. Raymond’s clinical interests are particularly focused on maxillofacial surgery and dentistry. Implicated in the progress of veterinary science and willing to share knowledge with students and colleagues, he is proud to join the EVS mentoring program, and looking forward to exchange with you all.

Board-certified Specialist Mentors

Mentoring for Continued Learning

International Support

Led by a Trusted Expert in Exotic Animal Care

Meet Dr Dean Felkler, an RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Zoological Medicine with over a decade of hands-on experience. As the founder of Exotic Vet Support, he is dedicated to mentoring veterinary professionals and raising the standard of exotic animal care worldwide.

Select your currency