Can one of veterinary medicine's top neurologists outsmart the week's biggest headlines?

On this special WVC Nashville 2026 edition of Brain Smarts, hosts Caitlin and Clay Palmer put Dr. Lauren Downey Koos—clinical neurologist at BluePearl Veterinary and WVC Nashville headliner—through Vet Candy's fast-paced veterinary trivia showdown.

From CRISPR-engineered screwworms to augmented reality surgery, a $230 million veterinary teaching hospital, and the surprising science behind your cat's slow blink, Dr. Koos breaks down what's hype, what's real, and why these stories matter to veterinarians.

Along the way, she tackles rapid-fire questions, shares specialist insights, and proves that even neurologists can be stumped.

• Colorado State University's game-changing $230 million veterinary expansion
• The USDA's $105 million plan to stop the New World Screwworm
• Could augmented reality become the future of veterinary surgery?
• The science behind why slow blinking at cats actually works
• A lightning-round made just for veterinary neurologists

Whether you're a veterinarian, veterinary technician, student, or simply obsessed with veterinary medicine, you'll walk away with surprising facts, practical takeaways, and a few laughs.

About Dr. Lauren Downey Koos

Dr. Lauren Downey Koos is a clinical neurologist at BluePearl Veterinary in Franklin, Tennessee, and a featured speaker at WVC Nashville 2026, where she'll share the latest advances in veterinary neurology.

About Brain Smarts

Brain Smarts is Vet Candy's fast-paced veterinary news game show, where the brightest minds in veterinary medicine compete against the week's biggest headlines. Think Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!—but for veterinarians.

Don't miss WVC Nashville 2026!

Join thousands of veterinary professionals August 15–18 in Nashville for four days of world-class CE, hands-on labs, networking, and the biggest names in veterinary medicine—including Dr. Lauren Koos. Sign up here: https://www.viticusgroup.org/wvc-nashville?utm_campaign=45126685-WVCN26%20-%20Vet%20Candy&utm_content=280x1920px%20%28webpage%20ad%29&utm_source=280x1920px%20%28webpage%20ad%29

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