Pet Company Start-Up consults by Samantha Henson - Grand Rapids, MI
***2020 and 2021 Best of Petworks Award Winner***
Hi! I'm Samantha Henson, an award-winning clinical pet nutritionist and founder of Next Generation Pet Wellness.
I am an expert in helping pet food, treat, and supplement companies go from idea to launch and beyond!
My work has been featured in Forbes, Fox News, Pet Product News, The Dodo, and many more publications over the years.
I currently run a pet nutrition practice based out of Michigan but serving pets and pet companies worldwide!
I have a team of incredibly talented nutritionists and formulators that are helping me towards my goal of helping 1 million pets. Current count: over 275,000!
About me:
I have spent the last 15 years dedicating my life to the health and wellness of animals and I can truly say that I love what I do. My practice has helped hundreds of thousands of cats and dogs (and other animals) live their happiest and healthiest lives through proper, biologically appropriate nutrition, supplementation, and exercise. I give both business owners and pet owners the tools and education they need to help their furry family members.
I started Next Generation Pet Wellness as a way for people to get unbiased information about pet nutrition. It’s so difficult for pet owners to research online, or even in a store, and not feel overwhelmed by all the choices. I don’t sugarcoat things, and because I’m not tied to any specific brand of food, I can be completely honest and remain impartial.
To date, I have helped 14 companies be able to launch their products and can help with:
Formulating AAFCO or FEDIAF balanced diets
Formulating treats, toppers, broths, etc
Formulating supplements geared towards gut health, joint health, skin health, and more
Helping with labeling requirements
Helping with sourcing
Helping with shipping
And anything else that can come with starting a pet food business in 2023
First calls with businesses are always free of charge, feel free to reach out or book a "B2B Initital Reach Out" on the book now button.
Consultations can be done via phone or virtual meeting and range from 30 minutes to 1 hour typically.
- Licensed
- Certified
- Insured
Pricing Packages
How do you serve precious pets?
- Pet Nutrition Consulting
Do you offer online sessions?
- Yes
What part of the animal kingdom do you serve?
- Birds
- Cats
- Chickens
- Chinchillas
- Dogs
- Ducks
- Ferrets
- Fish
- Frogs
- Gerbils
- Goats
- Guinea Pigs
- Hamsters
- Hedgehogs
- Lizards
- Mice
- Parrots
- Rabbits
- Rats
- Snakes
- Turtles
What licensing do you have?
- Business License
On a scale of snail to elephant, what size animals do you work with?
- 20-39 lbs
- 40-79 lbs
- 80+ lbs
- under 20 lbs
Pet Certifications
- Applied Animal Behavior Certified (UW-AAB)
- Clinical Pet Nutritionist - Academy of Natural Health Sciences (ANHS)
Proud member of...
- Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO)
Cat-astrophes happen! What is your cancellation policy?
- 24 hours notice required
Which part of the country do you serve pets?
Worldwide
What year did you begin serving pets?
2008
How did you hone your craft?
I honed my craft over the past 15 years by constantly treating patients, educating owners and growing and continuously adapting to new information.
What tip would you give pet parents for working with animals that you've learned as a pro?
Always make sure there is no motive behind the person recommending things to you. It would amaze you how many professionals are being paid to tell you to use something.
What is one thing you want pet parents to know about you? It can be whatev-fur you'd like!
I will always be honest and unbiased, especially when it comes to the crazy world of pet nutrition. I run a science based practice and I refuse to accept money from pet food companies.
Distinction







Customer Reviews
I can't wait to get started on a plan for healthy pups!
- Melissa GreerGreat communication! Polite and friendly.
- Ryan MaddoxSamantha was wonderful. This consultation exceeded everything I had hoped for! Thank you!
- Holly McSpaddenThanks a lot, everything has been awesome so far!
- Dawanda AndersonSamantha took the time to listen to my concerns and answered all of my questions. She built custom recipes based on my dog's extensive list of sensitivities. I could not be happier with her customer service or her product!
She was a joy to work with; I highly recommend!
Samantha was extremely knowledgeable and kind. She listened to all my concerns and was very responsive to all my questions. Can’t wait to start Lola on her gut healing journey.
- Christy JuddWent super well!
- Gina MobassalehSuper awesome initial session!
- Gina MobassalehI can't wait to see what you all create for my pups!
- Melissa GreerQuick and helpful response!
- Rosalyn BlakeVery informative and knowledgeable
- Isabella SheltonGreat
- Lindsay StoneI am so happy to have found this resource for Tetley. Amanda was fantastic - surpassed expectations!
- Karen SpanoverSamantha is exactly what I’ve been looking for!
- Kimberly RussellI was pleased with my consultation, I feel confident in the advice I received and the direction I am heading with my best boy. I wish so many others would take the time to consult a nutritionist on their pets needs as there is so much bad information out there that could really cause harm to our pets. I am hopeful that I can turn my little guys health around and support him in living his best, healthiest life! I will definitely be telling my friends and family to do the same.
- Jennifer DemoffSamantha and Sarah have been great we have received our recipe and I’m hoping we will see some improvement in Charlees allergies!!
- Kim BraggSamantha was so helpful and did a great job explaining everything. I would definitely recommend her!
- Elizabeth EliasLoooove Dr. Samantha. She answered all my questions regarding my dog's new CKD recipe very patiently. She's very helpful and explained everything very carefully. She even gave me options/ substitutes for certain ingredients because some aren't readily available where I live. Will definitely recommend her and Next Generation Pet Wellness to my friends and family. I'll be in touch soon for another recipe for my other pets. Thanks heaps!
- Marnelle OngI spoke with Samantha about getting a custom diet for our Doberman with protein losing nephropathy (PLN) which requires a low-protein diet to protect the kidneys. Samantha has vast knowledge and definitely knows her stuff. In the call she made me feel like I was talking to a friend rather than a salesman. Never felt rushed. After speaking with her I feel so much better about the situation and have a sense of trust in the information she provided.
- Michael AbtsThe nutritionist got back to me in a timely manner about confirming our appointment. She was very helpful and I’m glad this website was able to easily help me find what I was looking for.
- Danielle GoldstonSamantha is the best! So knowledgeable and so helpful. We feel so lucky to have found her.
- Candy KayeEverything was great. Samantha is very nice and professional. I got the recipe and look forward to start seeing improvements in my dog’s health. Thanks
- Marie OjedaI completely recommend Samantha. She’s a knowledgeable pet nutritionist and very very helpful. It was a very positive experience for me and my dog.
- Darren TaitchSamantha was wonderful and so helpful! I can't wait to make Abbie's new food recipe!
- Gabrielle KleinowI am quite pleased with Samantha’s nutritional report. It showed me some things that I need to adjust in my dog’s homemade food recipe. Thank you :-)
- Darren TaitchEverything went smoothly. Thanks a lot !
- Shoma PrasadSamantha contacted me immediately because my dog is in stage 4 renal failure she helped me understand the importance of getting her to eat. She immediately sent me a recipe that I prepared and my dog loves it and eat all her food. Samantha is very experienced in her field. I’m so grateful for her help
- Jenny Gregorioworked with me on a budget. appreciate her hard work
- Carlina LebusEverything was perfect. She is very knowledgeable, understanding and truly cared for my pups. So glad I found her. Thank you
- Erika SolisGreat as always!
- Karen SpanoverVery well - thank you!!!
- Candy KayeSamantha was terrific! Very knowledgeable, thorough and professional. Certainly would highly recommend her.
- Candy KayeSamantha was very knowledgeable and it helped knowing what foods to feed my dog for a healthy diet. Thank you!!
- Lynda LombardoExcellent! Samantha was fabulous and gave me so much great information. I am really excited to put this all in motion for my pets.
- Jeanne BauerSamantha is fantastic, I am so glad we connected with her! We have 2 Sheepadoodles with IBD who have just switched to a natural food diet and Samantha is helping us ensure they are getting all the proper nutrients. Really appreciated learning from her expertise.
- Erin SteinbrueggeEverything went great! Honestly the information I was able to receive was amazing definitely worth it. Still waiting on the topper recipe and i look forward to trying it out!
-Samantha is very knowledgeable and extremely helpful. She was straight to the point and let me know areas I can improve with easy to implement suggestions.
- Sarah WinnSamantha is very knowledgeable, I was super impressed. She really seems like she cares and wants to help. I would definitely recommend her to anyone.
- Michelle GoodmanSamantha is absolutely terrific! She eased my mind, was fun to talk to and is incredibly knowledgeable. I look forward to putting her advice into motion and seeing it impact my cats lives for the better
- Benjamin PierceShe was super helpful and knowledgeable! Thanks!
- Katie KitagawaSuper easy to chat with! such a great source of information! thank you again!
- Tabitha CardenSamantha was so helpful!! She is very knowledgeable and had some excellent insight. Cant wait to see the results of changing our pups diet. Thank you!
- Gabriella TrippEverything went smoothly, thanks a lot for the helpful information!
- Tammy JonesSamantha is extremely knowledgeable, friendly and straight to the point. It was a very smooth and informative conversation. She gave me a lot of good advice and a peace of mind. I am extremely happy with the consultation.
- Hebe Tam-GreeleySamantha was an amazing help, and gave great pancreatitis nutrition advice for my senior Lab. She was incredibly kind and informative. Definitely money well spent!
- Imani PearsonSamantha is kind, caring and very knowledgeable! I am extremely hopeful about recommendations she has made!
Appreciate her advice and counsel!
Samantha was so knowledgeable and quick to provide all the answers I needed fir my pup!
- Crisi TempleAbsolutely amazing. So insightful and I learned so much about my dogs nutrition
- Sarah DobbrastineVery informative session, we feel prepared to tackle our pup's weight problem.
Thank you Samantha
Everything went well
- Robert HerndonThis was $$ very well spent !! Samantha was so helpful and knowledgeable. I only wish I had found her at the beginning of my home cooked journey
- Terri KaderaSamantha took the time to listen to concerns and explain all the benefits and options. Super pleased with our session!
- Vanessa CulverShe was all booked already but she gave me recommendations about other specialists.
- Sarah Dos Santos FrancaEverything went great, thanks so much!
- Patrice DagataWonderful experience, which is why I am now going through again for another recipe!
- Jennifer AnnisConsultation went very smoothly - seems very knowledgeable and caring!
- Aarlyn FerrisEverything went very well! Chewy has started on his new diet and loving it! A huge thank you to Samantha and her patience with all the follow ups.
Thank you again,
Michael
Great very easy to talk to and knowledgeable.
- Kyle PeotSamantha is an amazing consultant
She gave us a free consultation over the phone and then sent us contracts that describe exactly what we needed.
She was flexible, very knowledgeable, and we got some excellent advice for our dog cookies.
We love working with her and we will definitely reach out in the future for further help!
Samantha was very helpful and thorough
- Vanessa CulverEverything went great! Emily was amazing and helped me so much
- Taylor ClarkGreat consult. Samantha Henson gave me so much information and helpful advice. Looking forward to my dog's improvement.
- Adriana RosselliSamantha is very knowledgeable. Her recommendations are customized to your pet and your lifestyle.
- Alexandra JosephVery helpful.
- De HuffordGreat advice , very helpful and answered all our questions.
- Peggy HypseImmediate response! I am so pleased with Samantha and Emily’s professional advice. Communication was excellent. Upon initial contact I was able to make an appointment for the following morning and received the personalized recipe and instructions for my
pups by that afternoon! Thank you Samantha and Emily!
Everything went great! Samantha's partner Emily helped us out and I couldn't be happier with our service. I now feel confident that I am providing the healthiest, well balanced meals for my puppy. I definitely recommend!
- Alysha AlanizWe never had the appointment. Abby said she would have another do it but i preferred not to have the appointment.
- A. KhemsaraHow do you serve precious pets?
- Pet Nutrition Consulting
Do you offer online sessions?
- Yes
What part of the animal kingdom do you serve?
- Birds
- Cats
- Chickens
- Chinchillas
- Dogs
- Ducks
- Ferrets
- Fish
- Frogs
- Gerbils
- Goats
- Guinea Pigs
- Hamsters
- Hedgehogs
- Lizards
- Mice
- Parrots
- Rabbits
- Rats
- Snakes
- Turtles
What licensing do you have?
- Business License
On a scale of snail to elephant, what size animals do you work with?
- 20-39 lbs
- 40-79 lbs
- 80+ lbs
- under 20 lbs
Pet Certifications
- Applied Animal Behavior Certified (UW-AAB)
- Clinical Pet Nutritionist - Academy of Natural Health Sciences (ANHS)
Proud member of...
- Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO)
Cat-astrophes happen! What is your cancellation policy?
- 24 hours notice required
Which part of the country do you serve pets?
Worldwide
What year did you begin serving pets?
2008
How did you hone your craft?
I honed my craft over the past 15 years by constantly treating patients, educating owners and growing and continuously adapting to new information.
What tip would you give pet parents for working with animals that you've learned as a pro?
Always make sure there is no motive behind the person recommending things to you. It would amaze you how many professionals are being paid to tell you to use something.
What is one thing you want pet parents to know about you? It can be whatev-fur you'd like!
I will always be honest and unbiased, especially when it comes to the crazy world of pet nutrition. I run a science based practice and I refuse to accept money from pet food companies.
Customer Reviews
I can't wait to get started on a plan for healthy pups!
- Melissa GreerGreat communication! Polite and friendly.
- Ryan MaddoxSamantha was wonderful. This consultation exceeded everything I had hoped for! Thank you!
- Holly McSpaddenThanks a lot, everything has been awesome so far!
- Dawanda AndersonSamantha took the time to listen to my concerns and answered all of my questions. She built custom recipes based on my dog's extensive list of sensitivities. I could not be happier with her customer service or her product!
She was a joy to work with; I highly recommend!
Samantha was extremely knowledgeable and kind. She listened to all my concerns and was very responsive to all my questions. Can’t wait to start Lola on her gut healing journey.
- Christy JuddWent super well!
- Gina MobassalehSuper awesome initial session!
- Gina MobassalehI can't wait to see what you all create for my pups!
- Melissa GreerQuick and helpful response!
- Rosalyn BlakeVery informative and knowledgeable
- Isabella SheltonGreat
- Lindsay StoneI am so happy to have found this resource for Tetley. Amanda was fantastic - surpassed expectations!
- Karen SpanoverSamantha is exactly what I’ve been looking for!
- Kimberly RussellI was pleased with my consultation, I feel confident in the advice I received and the direction I am heading with my best boy. I wish so many others would take the time to consult a nutritionist on their pets needs as there is so much bad information out there that could really cause harm to our pets. I am hopeful that I can turn my little guys health around and support him in living his best, healthiest life! I will definitely be telling my friends and family to do the same.
- Jennifer DemoffSamantha and Sarah have been great we have received our recipe and I’m hoping we will see some improvement in Charlees allergies!!
- Kim BraggSamantha was so helpful and did a great job explaining everything. I would definitely recommend her!
- Elizabeth EliasLoooove Dr. Samantha. She answered all my questions regarding my dog's new CKD recipe very patiently. She's very helpful and explained everything very carefully. She even gave me options/ substitutes for certain ingredients because some aren't readily available where I live. Will definitely recommend her and Next Generation Pet Wellness to my friends and family. I'll be in touch soon for another recipe for my other pets. Thanks heaps!
- Marnelle OngI spoke with Samantha about getting a custom diet for our Doberman with protein losing nephropathy (PLN) which requires a low-protein diet to protect the kidneys. Samantha has vast knowledge and definitely knows her stuff. In the call she made me feel like I was talking to a friend rather than a salesman. Never felt rushed. After speaking with her I feel so much better about the situation and have a sense of trust in the information she provided.
- Michael AbtsThe nutritionist got back to me in a timely manner about confirming our appointment. She was very helpful and I’m glad this website was able to easily help me find what I was looking for.
- Danielle GoldstonSamantha is the best! So knowledgeable and so helpful. We feel so lucky to have found her.
- Candy KayeEverything was great. Samantha is very nice and professional. I got the recipe and look forward to start seeing improvements in my dog’s health. Thanks
- Marie OjedaI completely recommend Samantha. She’s a knowledgeable pet nutritionist and very very helpful. It was a very positive experience for me and my dog.
- Darren TaitchSamantha was wonderful and so helpful! I can't wait to make Abbie's new food recipe!
- Gabrielle KleinowI am quite pleased with Samantha’s nutritional report. It showed me some things that I need to adjust in my dog’s homemade food recipe. Thank you :-)
- Darren TaitchEverything went smoothly. Thanks a lot !
- Shoma PrasadSamantha contacted me immediately because my dog is in stage 4 renal failure she helped me understand the importance of getting her to eat. She immediately sent me a recipe that I prepared and my dog loves it and eat all her food. Samantha is very experienced in her field. I’m so grateful for her help
- Jenny Gregorioworked with me on a budget. appreciate her hard work
- Carlina LebusEverything was perfect. She is very knowledgeable, understanding and truly cared for my pups. So glad I found her. Thank you
- Erika SolisGreat as always!
- Karen SpanoverVery well - thank you!!!
- Candy KayeSamantha was terrific! Very knowledgeable, thorough and professional. Certainly would highly recommend her.
- Candy KayeSamantha was very knowledgeable and it helped knowing what foods to feed my dog for a healthy diet. Thank you!!
- Lynda LombardoExcellent! Samantha was fabulous and gave me so much great information. I am really excited to put this all in motion for my pets.
- Jeanne BauerSamantha is fantastic, I am so glad we connected with her! We have 2 Sheepadoodles with IBD who have just switched to a natural food diet and Samantha is helping us ensure they are getting all the proper nutrients. Really appreciated learning from her expertise.
- Erin SteinbrueggeEverything went great! Honestly the information I was able to receive was amazing definitely worth it. Still waiting on the topper recipe and i look forward to trying it out!
-Samantha is very knowledgeable and extremely helpful. She was straight to the point and let me know areas I can improve with easy to implement suggestions.
- Sarah WinnSamantha is very knowledgeable, I was super impressed. She really seems like she cares and wants to help. I would definitely recommend her to anyone.
- Michelle GoodmanSamantha is absolutely terrific! She eased my mind, was fun to talk to and is incredibly knowledgeable. I look forward to putting her advice into motion and seeing it impact my cats lives for the better
- Benjamin PierceShe was super helpful and knowledgeable! Thanks!
- Katie KitagawaSuper easy to chat with! such a great source of information! thank you again!
- Tabitha CardenSamantha was so helpful!! She is very knowledgeable and had some excellent insight. Cant wait to see the results of changing our pups diet. Thank you!
- Gabriella TrippEverything went smoothly, thanks a lot for the helpful information!
- Tammy JonesSamantha is extremely knowledgeable, friendly and straight to the point. It was a very smooth and informative conversation. She gave me a lot of good advice and a peace of mind. I am extremely happy with the consultation.
- Hebe Tam-GreeleySamantha was an amazing help, and gave great pancreatitis nutrition advice for my senior Lab. She was incredibly kind and informative. Definitely money well spent!
- Imani PearsonSamantha is kind, caring and very knowledgeable! I am extremely hopeful about recommendations she has made!
Appreciate her advice and counsel!
Samantha was so knowledgeable and quick to provide all the answers I needed fir my pup!
- Crisi TempleAbsolutely amazing. So insightful and I learned so much about my dogs nutrition
- Sarah DobbrastineVery informative session, we feel prepared to tackle our pup's weight problem.
Thank you Samantha
Everything went well
- Robert HerndonThis was $$ very well spent !! Samantha was so helpful and knowledgeable. I only wish I had found her at the beginning of my home cooked journey
- Terri KaderaSamantha took the time to listen to concerns and explain all the benefits and options. Super pleased with our session!
- Vanessa CulverShe was all booked already but she gave me recommendations about other specialists.
- Sarah Dos Santos FrancaEverything went great, thanks so much!
- Patrice DagataWonderful experience, which is why I am now going through again for another recipe!
- Jennifer AnnisConsultation went very smoothly - seems very knowledgeable and caring!
- Aarlyn FerrisEverything went very well! Chewy has started on his new diet and loving it! A huge thank you to Samantha and her patience with all the follow ups.
Thank you again,
Michael
Great very easy to talk to and knowledgeable.
- Kyle PeotSamantha is an amazing consultant
She gave us a free consultation over the phone and then sent us contracts that describe exactly what we needed.
She was flexible, very knowledgeable, and we got some excellent advice for our dog cookies.
We love working with her and we will definitely reach out in the future for further help!
Samantha was very helpful and thorough
- Vanessa CulverEverything went great! Emily was amazing and helped me so much
- Taylor ClarkGreat consult. Samantha Henson gave me so much information and helpful advice. Looking forward to my dog's improvement.
- Adriana RosselliSamantha is very knowledgeable. Her recommendations are customized to your pet and your lifestyle.
- Alexandra JosephVery helpful.
- De HuffordGreat advice , very helpful and answered all our questions.
- Peggy HypseImmediate response! I am so pleased with Samantha and Emily’s professional advice. Communication was excellent. Upon initial contact I was able to make an appointment for the following morning and received the personalized recipe and instructions for my
pups by that afternoon! Thank you Samantha and Emily!
Everything went great! Samantha's partner Emily helped us out and I couldn't be happier with our service. I now feel confident that I am providing the healthiest, well balanced meals for my puppy. I definitely recommend!
- Alysha AlanizWe never had the appointment. Abby said she would have another do it but i preferred not to have the appointment.
- A. Khemsara