Veterinary professionals will be able to access free online CPD on preventive care, client communication and the human–animal bond at the Purina Institute Global Summit 2026.
The virtual event, taking place on 27–28 May 2026, will bring together speakers from veterinary medicine, nutrition, behavioural science and human healthcare to explore how the relationship between pets and owners is influencing the future direction of veterinary care.
The summit is free to attend and will be available live and on demand, with up to 8.5 hours of CPD available.
What the summit will cover
The 2026 theme is “Proactive, Not Reactive: Changing the Care Paradigm”, reflecting a growing focus on preventive healthcare and longer-term pet wellbeing.
Across the two-day programme, sessions will consider how veterinary teams can use the human–animal bond as a foundation for more effective preventive care conversations, including nutrition, client motivation, adherence and the use of emerging tools and technologies.
The programme includes 17 speakers, with sessions from experts including Dr James A. Serpell, professor emeritus of animal welfare at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, who will discuss the origins of the human–animal bond.
Dr Gregory Berns, from Emory University, will present on the use of functional MRI to explore canine cognition, while Dr Zoe Belshaw, an RCVS and European Recognised Specialist in Small Animal Medicine, will look at the differences between client and veterinary perceptions of preventive care.
Behavioural design will also feature in the programme, with Dr Kit Delgado, faculty director of the Penn Medicine Nudge Unit, discussing how behavioural economics can support better preventive care decisions.
Practical communication for veterinary teams
A key focus of the summit will be the practical challenge of helping clients understand and act on preventive healthcare recommendations.
Dr Jason Coe, from the University of Guelph’s Ontario Veterinary College, will lead a session on communicating the value of preventive veterinary care, while Dr Alison Lambert, founder of Onswitch, will examine the partnership between pet owners and the veterinary healthcare team.
Other sessions will consider the role of nutrition and feeding in the human–animal bond, pet healthspan, accessible veterinary care and how technology may influence future models of care.
Daniel Rodes, Innovation and Renovation Lead at Purina Europe, said: “Pet owners increasingly expect personalised, preventive care shaped around the human–animal bond. The Purina Institute Global Summit will equip veterinary teams with practical communication strategies and emerging tools to improve client adherence and ultimately deliver better long-term patient outcomes.”
Access and registration
The event will be delivered entirely online, with no software download required. Delegates can access the summit from a desktop, laptop, mobile or tablet device.
Presentations will be recorded and made available afterwards, and live translations will be available during the event. The full programme is approved for 8.5 hours of CE in jurisdictions that recognise the American Association of Veterinary State Boards’ Registry of Approved Continuing Education (RACE) programme.
Registration is free - sign up here
