Why You Shouldn't Rely on Your Vet for Nutrition Advice

We all trust our vets for medical care, but when it comes to nutrition, there’s a significant gap in standard veterinary education. Here’s why its better to consult a certified canine nutritionist to ensure your dog’s diet meets their specific health needs:

Minimal Nutrition Education in Veterinary School

Why is it that vets are the only professionals that recommend a highly processed diet for an entire life span.. would you want to eat this every day?

Studies show that most veterinary students receive just a few hours to, at most, a couple of days of overall nutrition training over their entire program.

In a survey published in Veterinary Record, only 40% of veterinary schools in North America required a course in nutrition, and many relied on basic or industry-supplied materials. This limited focus means that vets are primarily trained to treat medical conditions rather than manage or prevent issues through nutrition.

What’s more, much of their learning is funded by pet food companies (Mars Inc. (which owns brands like Royal Canin, Pedigree, and Iams), Nestlé (Purina), and Colgate-Palmolive (Hill's Science Diet) with a vested interest in promoting their own products. The focus leans heavily on processed, commercial diets, rather than teaching about fresh foods, whole diets, or how to nutritionally address specific health conditions naturally.

Influence of Big Pet Food Companies on Veterinary Education

Mars Petcare and Hill’s Pet Nutrition are some of the largest funders of veterinary offices, courses, research, and materials. According to The Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, several veterinary programs receive free pet food and nutrition coursework from these companies. This influence on industry-backed content tends to limit recommendations to highly processed diets, such as kibble and canned foods. This relationship can create a bias, focusing on industry-sponsored diets rather than offering a range of nutrition approaches, including fresh or whole foods.

As a result, many vets are educated in the benefits of these companies diets rather than being trained to consider a wide range of dietary options that would benefit your dog’s individual health needs.

Canine Nutritionists Are Trained to Focus on Whole Foods

Certified canine nutritionists have specific training in food-based solutions that align closely with a dog’s natural dietary needs. Research published in Animals journal found that dogs fed a whole-food, species-appropriate diet had improved skin, coat, and digestive health compared to those on a highly processed diet.

Canine nutritionists are skilled in:

• Designing whole-food, species-appropriate diets using fresh, minimally processed ingredients.

• Tailoring diets for different breed, size, life stages, allergies, and chronic conditions.

• Gut health and Immune System Support

• Nutritional management of specific conditions like allergies, skin issues, joint problems, and digestive health.

For example, a certified canine nutritionist can work with you to create a diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods, which help with issues like arthritis or allergies, or can recommend whole proteins and fruits with specific antioxidant properties to support a strong immune system.

Bias Toward Processed Diets in Veterinary Recommendations

Many vets recommend diets from brands they’ve worked with during training or that offer incentives within vet practices. Which pushes vets toward recommending processed kibble and canned food options that contain synthetic vitamins and fillers.

Studies, like one from BMC Veterinary Research, have shown that dogs on processed diets can lack or in some cases have extreme toxicity of essential nutrients over time, and may be at higher risk of chronic inflammation, digestive issues, and even dental disease.

When you work with a specialized canine nutritionist, they help identify whole foods that naturally support and improve health.

Nutritional Needs Evolve with Health Stages

Dogs go through many life stages, each with unique nutritional needs. Puppies, adult dogs, pregnant dogs and senior dogs require different nutrient balances, and conditions such as kidney issues, UTI's, pancreatitis, or allergies demand very specific diet adjustments. Nutritionists trained in canine health and longevity understand how to tailor meals to support dogs through all life stages and health concerns, creating diets that are designed specifically for "each individual dog".

A study published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science highlighted that a balanced microbiome in a dog’s gut directly impacts their immune function and behaviour. Dogs fed a fresh, balanced diet with probiotics and prebiotics were shown to have improved gut flora and better overall health.

Certified canine nutritionists focus on the digestive system to help:

• Enhance nutrient absorption

• Support gut health

Preventive Care Over Treatment

Nutrition plays a vital role in preventing common issues like obesity, arthritis, and allergies. In fact, a long-term study from The Journal of Nutrition found that dogs on a balanced, minimally processed diet had better mobility and fewer age-related issues than dogs on standard kibble. By working with a nutritionist, you’re offering your dog a preventive, wellness-focused approach that can help them lead a healthier, longer life.

Bottom Line: Trust Your Vet for Medical Care, but Go to a Canine Nutritionist fix to the Root Cause

While vets play an essential role in our dog’s health, canine nutrition is a highly specialized field that deserves deeper consideration. By consulting with a qualified canine nutritionist, you’re giving your dog the best chance at a balanced, natural diet that supports their individual health journey.

Nutrition is a powerful foundation of health. Make it count! 🐾

*Note: although I refer to dogs during this post, this information is also very relevant actually more relevant to our feline friends..who are 100% obligate carnivores.

#CanineNutrition #WholeFoodDiet #AskAnExpert