Proper nutrition is the cornerstone of good health, not just for humans but also for our beloved pets. Cats and dogs, being the most common companions in households worldwide, rely on their owners to provide them with the essential nutrients they need to thrive. Just like humans, animals require a balanced diet to maintain optimal health, energy levels, and longevity. In this article, we delve into the benefits of proper animal nutrition, focusing particularly on cats and dogs. (more…)

Let’s talk pet nutrition. When adopting a new pet, it’s important to start them off on the right foot at their new forever home. Things like feeding a healthy diet, getting necessary veterinary care, and proper socialization and training are all important steps to help create a longer, healthier, happier life for your new family member. (more…)

In recent years, American pet parents have gone beyond providing basic care for their dogs and cats. One of the fastest-growing areas in pet wellness is pet nutrition, and with it comes a rise in demand for pet dietitians and animal nutritionists. While data about exactly how much is spent on pet dietitians each year is limited, spending across the broader pet wellness industry, including supplements and premium foods, offers a glimpse into a growing trend. Pet parents are more concerned than ever about providing science-backed, personalized nutrition plans for their beloved animals. (more…)

If you’re passionate about pursuing a career as an animal nutritionist, here are some key essential steps you should follow: First, obtain an undergraduate degree. Most animal nutritionists and clinical pet nutritionists hold a bachelor’s degree, preferably in animal nutrition or a related scientific field. During your undergraduate studies, you’ll delve into coursework – covering topics such as chemistry, animal nutrition, mathematics, animal science, ration formulation, anatomy and physiology, and animal husbandry. Consider minoring or double majoring in advanced disciplines like biochemistry or biology to enhance your skill set and knowledge base.

Gain practical experience

Employers often seek candidates with hands-on experience in animal nutrition. Look for internships or apprenticeships while pursuing your undergraduate degree to gain valuable experience in the field. Many opportunities for internships are available at zoos and veterinary offices, where you can work under the guidance of board-certified veterinarians or nutritionists. These experiences can pave the way for future employment opportunities.

Consider pursuing an advanced degree

If you aspire to teach at the college level or conduct research in the field of animal nutrition, you may want to pursue a master’s degree or a Ph.D. in a relevant discipline. Some employers, particularly those with animals requiring specialized care, may prefer candidates with a master’s degree in animal science or a related field. Advanced degrees provide opportunities to develop advanced laboratory skills and specialize in specific areas of animal nutrition.

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Obtain certifications

Once you’ve completed your education and gained sufficient experience, pursue certifications that are relevant to your desired career path. For those aiming to work as clinical animal nutritionists in veterinary settings, obtaining credentials from organizations such as the American College of Veterinary Nutrition (ACVN) is beneficial. This certification typically requires completion of veterinary school and residency. Alternatively, the Academy of Veterinary Nutrition Technicians (AVNT) offers certification options for experienced professionals who have been working in the field for at least three years. By following these steps and continually seeking opportunities for learning and professional development, you can embark on a rewarding career as an animal nutritionist and make a positive impact on the health and well-being of animals.

“At Petworks, we believe that optimal animal nutrition isn’t just about feeding pets. It’s about fueling their health, longevity, and happiness. Proper nutrition is the foundation of preventative care, and when we nourish our pets with intention, we’re giving them the best chance to thrive as cherished members of our families.” – Kevin Kinyon, Co-Founder, Petworks.

Join a marketplace platform and get paid to consult with pet parents

Animal nutritionists and clinical pet nutritionists can apply to join  pet care marketplace platforms like Petworks.com, and secure bookings with pet parents for online consultations. Creating a detailed profile showcasing your expertise and qualifications in animal nutrition will help you start to get hired by pet parents who need help creating customized nutrition and wellness plans for their beloved pet dogs and cats.

About Petworks

In 2021, Dr. Marty Goldstein DVM joined the pet care platform Petworks as an advisor in its Animal Nutrition care division. Dr Marty Nature’s Blend is on a mission to help your pets live their healthiest lives possible. Dr. Marty’s pet nutrition expertise and guidance has helped Petworks evolve and become the preeminent animal and pet nutrition consultation service for pet parents in North America.

In 2022, Blue Buffalo Founder Bill Bishop Jr. joined Petworks as Senior Advisor in our Animal Nutrition Care Division. Bill brings his extensive expertise in pet food innovation and business leadership. His guidance helps Petworks enhance our pet nutrition service offerings, helping to ensure that pet parents throughout the world receive trusted, science-backed nutritional support for their dogs, cats, and animals.

Pet Wellness. As good pet parents, we continually do everything we can to make sure our beloved pets are happy and thriving. However, how do we really know whether our animals are healthy? Sadly, it’s become true that people often think their dogs and cats are in a state of health when really they aren’t.

However, because the signs that their bodies are not operating at an optimal level, indicators like skin allergies; a dry or dull coat; bad breath; tooth decay; smelly, soft, and excessive poop; and obesity; to name just a few, are so common, we don’t even blink anymore when our pets experience them. Further, when our pets are young, they may seem to be healthy, but there is a breaking point (which is different for each animal) that they experience where their bodies can no longer handle the toxins that are being flooded into their systems, and they present with disease, illness, and/or chronic pain. In this post, we explore this topic by going over some of the ways you can do a wellness assessment on your dog or cat, to ensure that they are in optimal health. This is a helpful exercise to get in the habit of doing on a regular basis, and to do no matter how you feed your pets or whether you choose to apply traditional preventives (such as flea and tick treatments or heartworm medication) or not. My point is that every single animal should exhibit wellness in all of the following areas, and if they don’t, you need to adjust something to help them rebalance and come back to a state where they can thrive.

Animal Homeostasis

Remember, our animals are not machines. Their bodies are continually working to maintain homeostasis, or balance. That balance is affected by every single thing that goes into their bodies, the food they eat, the pesticides on the grass they run through, the preventives that they receive. As well as things like their quality of sleep, the amount of exercise they get, their owner’s mood, and so on. What this means is that you must continually attend to the clues your dog or cat is giving you to determine whether they are thriving or if something needs to be tweaked. It doesn’t have to be a daunting task, either. Once you are in the habit of regularly looking at them, noticing their energy level, and paying attention to what they feel like when you pet them, you will find that you are doing these mini “Wellness assessments” every day. In fact, it will become so second nature that you won’t even notice you’re doing it, but you will notice if something is a bit “off” and you need to help your dog or cat rebalance.

So, what should you start training yourself to look for and notice? Remember that you know your pet better than anyone else, and pay attention to your intuition if something just doesn’t seem right. Beyond that, though, there are some good indicators to be able to tell if your pet is thriving. These are especially useful if you are new to thinking this way, and maybe have a pet that has some of the common issues we frequently see crop up in our companion animals. If that’s the case, you may be so used to these issues that your brain doesn’t notice them anymore, so when you start looking at your pet to really assess their wellness, step back a bit and practice looking at them objectively.

Coat

A dog or cat that is thriving should have a shiny, soft coat. When you pet them, you shouldn’t come away with an excess of oily residue on your hands.

While they will still shed according to the dictates of their species and breed, the shedding is usually reduced. The skin will be supple and in good condition, and it will be free from hot spots, allergies, and excessive itchiness.

Eyes

When a dog or cat is in optimal health, its eyes are clear and bright. No matter what breed your dog or cat is, and whether they are a purebred or a mix of many breeds, their eyes should not be weepy or runny.

Parasites

A dog or cat with a strong, balanced immune system doesn’t suffer from flea and tick infestations, even when you don’t use conventional flea and tick preventives (such as Frontline). While they may pick up a flea or tick every once in a while, particularly in areas where those insects abound, it never gets out of balance.

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Body Condition/Weight

A dog or cat that is at the peak of health is lean and muscular. When you look down at them from above, you should be able to see a narrowing in their waist. When you touch them, you should be able to easily feel their ribs. Additionally, they don’t have excess fat on their chest or back.

Oral Health

A healthy, vital dog or cat’s teeth are sparkling white and clean, and they don’t have bad breath. The gums are not excessively red or inflamed, and there isn’t a buildup of plaque or tartar.

Odor

A dog or cat that is balanced and thriving doesn’t have a strong odor—in fact, they don’t have much, if any, smell at all!

Stool and Anal Glands

A thriving dog or cat has small, dense, compact stools, and they move their bowels less frequently than an animal that isn’t thriving. Because they have to strain a bit to defecate, their anal glands are kept clean, clear, and in good working order, without frequent trips to the vet or groomer to have their anal glands cleared.

Behavior

Dogs and cats that are truly healthy are neither lethargic nor hyperactive, but instead have an appropriate amount of energy for their species, breed, age, and individual character.

Mental Ability

Healthy, thriving dogs and cats have incredible mental capabilities. Their brains can function at their optimal level, right along with their bodies and their spirits, which means they are extraordinarily perceptive and able to focus.

Endurance

When dogs and cats are properly supported, they have lots of endurance within the parameters of their individual and breed characteristics. This is especially nice for performance animals, such as dogs that are used for agility, showing, and hunting.

Aging

Dogs and cats that are flourishing do so even when they’re what society terms “senior”—9, 10, 11, or 12 for dogs (and in fact, well beyond those ages), and 14, 15, or 16 (or more!) for cats! They still have energy, are mentally sharp, and exhibit all the other qualities of a thriving animal.

Assess Pet Wellness

Take some time to really assess your pet each day, until it becomes habit. Remember, you know them best, and there are lots of ways to check to make sure that they are thriving. These are some of the biggest ones, and once your pet is thriving, you will notice big changes in all of these areas, no matter what age, breed, species, or gender they are. And regularly seek visits to your vet, to ensure your pet remains healthy and happy.

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Kristin Clark started Canine Health Promotion so she could help dogs thrive.  Serving clients whose dogs range from top performance dogs to beloved family pets, Kristin is passionate about helping all dogs live their best lives. She truly understands this journey, because she walks it herself every single day. With four dogs of her own, she knows just how hard it can be to find help for health issues using conventional means.  Kristin is board certified by the American Council of Animal Naturopathy as a Carnivore Nutrition Consultant and a Small Animal Naturopath, and devotes a great deal of time to researching how best to help dogs live their optimal lives. Kristin also writes for, edits, and publishes Raw Pet Digest, an international online magazine devoted to helping dogs and cats live and thrive naturally.

In 2021, Dr. Marty Goldstein DVM joined the pet care platform Petworks as an advisor in its Animal Nutrition care division. Dr Marty Nature’s Blend is on a mission to help your pets live their healthiest lives possible. Dr. Marty’s pet nutrition expertise and guidance has helped Petworks evolve and become the preeminent animal and pet nutrition consultation service for pet parents in North America.

In 2022, Blue Buffalo Founder Bill Bishop Jr. joined Petworks as Senior Advisor in our Animal Nutrition Care Division. Bill brings his extensive expertise in pet food innovation and business leadership. His guidance helps Petworks enhance our pet nutrition service offerings, helping to ensure that pet parents throughout the world receive trusted, science-backed nutritional support for their dogs, cats, and animals.