Dr Dean Felkler
BSc BVetMed CertAVP (ZooMed), Diplomate, ABVP (Reptile & Amphibian Practice) MRCVS
RCVS Advanced Practitioner (ZooMed)
Founder | Exotic Vet Support
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.
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
Dr. Joerg Mayer
Dr. Shangzhe Xie
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
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.
- Dr. Capello only mentors on exotic companion mammal patients.
Dr. Paul Raymond
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.