Bio

Natasha Olby gained her veterinary degree from Cambridge University in the UK in 1991, and after a brief period spent in mixed general practice, returned to Cambridge to complete a PhD in spinal cord injury and a surgical training.

Following completion of her PhD and a post doctoral position, also focused on spinal cord injury, she moved to North Carolina State University to do a neurology/neurosurgery residency and she has stayed at NCSU as a faculty member since then.

Dr. Olby is the 2014 recipient of the Faculty Achievement Award from the American Association of Veterinary
Clinicians. The award is presented to an AAVC member who has achieved national recognition in academic or institutional practice, teaching, research, or in another endeavor that advances veterinary medicine.

In 2017, Dr. Olby was awarded the Dr. Kady M. Gjessing and Rahna M. Davidson Distinguished Chair in Gerontology. Read more here.

She is the author or co-author of more than 100 scientific publications, is the co-editor of both the British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) Manual of Canine and Feline Neurology, and Advances in Veterinary Neurology, 2014. Vet Clinics of North America. Additionally, Dr. Olby authors book chapters in a variety of veterinary textbooks and manuals.

Natasha Olby is a professor of veterinary neurology and neurosurgery. She is board certified in the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Neurology Specialty and is a past president of the organization (2008-2011).

CERTIFICATIONS

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, UK, 1996
Veterinary degree (VetMB), University of Cambridge, 1991
Bachelor of Arts (BA), University of Cambridge, 1988

Area(s) of Expertise

GENETICS, NEUROBIOLOGY, VETERINARY CANCER CARE
Treatment of spinal cord injury
Understanding the genetic basis of hereditary neurodegenerative diseases and brain neoplasia
Therapy of canine brain tumors
Veterinary Genetics Laboratory (Cardiology/Neurology)

Publications

• A reliable and holistic approach to evaluating hearing and cognitive auditory processing in adult and aged companion dogs , Scientific Reports (2026)
• Development and pilot testing of U1 Adaptor therapy targeting SOD1 expression for dogs with degenerative myelopathy , Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine (2026)
• Development and validation of the Chiari-like malformation and syringomyelia evaluation: the CHASE questionnaire , Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine (2026)
• Mapping the canine gut microbiome: insights from the Dog Aging Project , Nature Communications (2026)
• Owner Observed Sleep Disturbances in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels with and Without Clinical Signs Compatible with a Chiari-like Malformation , Animals (2026)
• Thoracic limb stride length is associated with cognitive impairment in aging dogs , Frontiers in Veterinary Science (2026)
• Acquired Myasthenia Gravis in a Juvenile Australian Shepherd Dog and Efficacy of Leflunomide Treatment , Case Reports in Veterinary Medicine (2025)
• Adverse Drug–Drug Interaction Between Phenobarbital and Fluconazole in Two Dogs , Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine (2025)
• Aging is modifiable: current perspectives on healthy aging in companion dogs and cats , Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (2025)
• An update on practice patterns of North American and European veterinary neurology and surgery specialists for surgical management of acute canine thoracolumbar intervertebral disc extrusion , Journal of Small Animal Practice (2025)

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