Veterinarian. Mom. Advocate
Dr. Nelson is an associate veterinarian at the Belle Haven Animal Medical Centre in Alexandria, VA. as well as the host and executive producer of "The Pet Show with Dr. Katy" on Washington DC's News Channel 8 - the show airs at 11am on Saturday mornings. She serves as an expert on animal health on Washington DC's All News Radio Station, WTOP News as well as on W
ashington DC’s ABC affiliate WJLA ABC 7. She has been featured on the TODAY Show, Fox & Friends, NPR, CNBC, The Meredith Vieira Show, HuffPost Live, and is the expert for the second season of the popular show “Unlikely Animal Friends” to air this Spring on NatGeo Wild.
Dr. Katy is the Medical Director of Pet Health for Stop Aging Now, a leading nutrition and lifestyle company that relies on the latest clinical research to guide them in their efforts to help people and pets. She is also the Medical Director of Pet Health for BioStem Logics, the leader in regenerative medicine for humans and pets. She is a frequent contributor to HuffPost Pets, BarkPost and PetMD and you can also read "Ask Dr. Katy" quarterly in the Virginia-Maryland Dog Magazine, or online.
Dr. Nelson is passionate about health and fitness, and she strives to help dogs and cats to live the longest, fullest life that they can lead by staying fit and trim. Along with Steve Pelletier from SlimDoggy and Krista Wickens from DogTread, she is a founding partner of PetsMove.org, a national health and fitness initiative aimed at getting people healthy alongside their dogs.
A lover of fashion and beauty, she envisions a world where all products are cruelty-free, not tested on animals, made in a sustainable manner, and free of harsh chemicals that are unsafe not only for us, but for our pets. She is also a passionate advocate for pet rescue and Pit Bull Type Dogs, and speaks ardently on the subjects in many different forums.
Dr. Nelson is a Certified Veterinary Journalist (CVJ), accredited by the American Society of Veterinary Journalists (ASVJ). She is the former President of the District of Columbia Academy of Veterinary Medicine, the oldest and largest veterinary continuing education society in the United States. Through her consulting business, KJN Pet Marketing, she has served as a valuable source to reporters around the country for the past 6 years, and as a marketing consultant for pet-related companies - from Fortune 500 corporations to pet/pet parent targeted start-ups.
A native of Louisiana, Dr. Nelson was raised on a small farm in the heart of the state where her childhood was filled with many beloved pets. She earned her veterinary degree in 2001 from the Louisiana State University’s School of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Nelson has had some very unique opportunities in her career to hone her skills in both small animal practice and corporate veterinary medicine. She lives in Washington DC with her husband, their son and daughter, their rambunctious dogs Papi (Dr. Nelson's co-host on "The Pet Show"), an incredibly lovable Labradoodle, Eddie Underbite, a Shih Tzu/Poodle mix obtained through Mutts Matter Rescue and Petfinder.com, and The Lizard of Oz, a bearded dragon rescued through the Fairfax County Animal Shelter.
Despite being a very busy wife, Mom, pet parent and doctor, Dr. Nelson still carves out time for many charitable organizations in the DC area and beyond. She is committed to helping the Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary in Newtown, CT, become a reality. She serves on the Washington Humane Society's Fashion for Paws Advisory Board, the Washington DC area's premier philanthropic fashion event. She is a proud member of the advisory board for The Chaos Foundation and is a long-term supporter of The Tigerlily Foundation and St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.