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“Let food be thy medicine and medicine by thy food.” Hypocrites
Good nutrition is a cornerstone for health and can play a critical role in illness recovery. Here at Vital Vet, our veterinary nutrition department, headed by Dr Danielle Conway, works closely with your pet’s specialists and primary care veterinarian to make nutritional recommendations. Choosing a diet for your pet can be confusing, and the internet can be more harmful than helpful. The latest possible link between grain-free diets and a serious heart condition (Dilated Cardiomyopathy) is a sad example.
Did you also know that feeding a homemade diet that is not complete and balanced can harm your pet? One study looked at 200 recipes available online written by non-veterinarians and veterinarians alike. The study found that 95% of the 200 recipes lacked one essential nutrient, and more than 83% of the recipes had multiple nutrient deficiencies! Chronic nutritional deficiencies can be widespread and lead to immune deficiency and diseases in the heart, skin, or eyes (just to name a few).
We provide clients and veterinarians with scientific, safe, and unbiased companion animal nutrition information. If you would like additional information on what is a veterinary nutritionist, please read on.
We look forward to partnering with you to meet your pet’s (or patient’s) nutritional needs!
We believe that quality nutrition consultation services should be accessible to all!
The internet is simultaneously a wonderful and misleading resource about veterinary care in general and especially veterinary nutrition. Vital Vet Nutrition is here to provide both consuls, resources, and courses to change that and provide you with valid, scientific, safe, and unbiased information.
When searching the internet for nutrition information, there are a plethora of people who label themselves as “animal, dog, cat, or pet nutritionists.” The credentials of these individuals can range from those taking a few courses in small animal nutrition to those who are self-taught.
The information these individuals present is often their own personal bias or based upon their personal experiences without science or medicine to back up these claims. Many of these people could offer well-intentioned advice that could be harmful for your pet because they don’t have the complete medical picture or training in veterinary nutrition.
These well-intentioned individuals most often do not have the expertise needed to provide complete and balanced nutrition for dogs and cats. When making decisions about your pet’s health, it is best to take advice from knowledgeable veterinarians with a comprehensive understanding of and avoid unfounded opinions and hidden agendas.
The hard-earned label “Veterinary Nutritionist” should be reserved for veterinarians who have undergone formal residency training in veterinary nutrition, either large or small animal. It is a similar certification process to a board-certified veterinary surgeon or cardiologist. This training typically lasts 2-3 years after completion of college, and veterinary school and an internship.
Dr Conway has completed a residency and has passed all required credentials to sit for boards. She has been in the nutrition world training under a board-certified veterinary nutritionist since 2013 and possesses the knowledge and creativity to recommend/ create commercial and/or homemade diets for your pet(s).
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