Taking stock of how far the world of canine nutrition has come in the 28 years since I bought my first copy of Richard Pitcairn’s seminal Natural Health for Dogs and Cats, I am always blown away by how far we have come, in terms of consumer knowledge, science, and attitudes towards dogs in general – and often reminded of how far we still have to go. I remember those early days so vividly, being laughed at right to my face, when shopping for large quantities of meat for the dogs, or the few times I set up a table at some event or other with the sign “Canine Nutritionist” – probably before I had earned the right to call myself that, but still bursting with energy and keen to share what I could.
When I eventually decided to hang out a shingle and help others professionally as well as endlessly on Yahoo and All Experts, there were maybe four of us doing the work? Whenever someone new arrived on the scene it was a really big deal. And two decades plus change later, I like to joke it’s a strange day on social media when I meet someone who isn’t a canine nutritionist. That is to say, of course, there are thousands with that shingle out, and as with all professionals, some excellent, some competent, and some who need to take a few more serous courses, in my honest opinion. It is Buyer Beware, as with anything – but that’s not the point of this post.
I’m reaching out today to share a bit about WHY, having made up your mind to start home feeding your dog, you benefit the most from finding one of the best consultants to work with, and start your journey off with a professionally formulated recipe.
Below – some reasons why hiring a pro is your best bet.
- The single most consistent remark I hear from newcomers to the canine nutrition world is – “but it’s all so confusing? Everyone disagrees!” Hiring a pro cuts down on the confusion, because any well-trained professional knows the myths and hype from the science and facts, and can help you get grounded in the difference.
- If anything should go wrong, if your dog gains weight or has loose stool or doesn’t enjoy a recipe, you have someone right there to help. If your dog should develop a health issue, which they do even with the best diets possible, you have an expert right there who knows your dog’s whole history- likes and dislikes, reaction to various foods and nutrient levels, and much more.
- A professional will always take into consideration much more than adhering to a strict set of rules, to meet NRC determined needs. We also look at the ingredients used, considering much more than adequacy, but also digestibility, anti-nutrient content, and health supportive but non-essential compounds such as plant flavonoids that protect the body against inflammation, cardiovascular disease, and even cancer.
- The most important of all, in my view – your dog is not a guinea pig, whose diet may or may not be adequate, much less optimal, while you try to navigate the opinions and theories and argument. You can get used to the process of home feeding right off the bat, while resting assured your dog is going to be healthy!
- Hopefully, you form a relationship with your nutritionist that can guide you and support you all along the way, through all the changes in life, from puppyhood to the prime years and then on to those sweet golden years too. Having someone you can email anytime and ask, “hey, I recently heard about (fill in the blank) and wanted your input” is just invaluable.
Nutritionist support can and does go way beyond someone banging out a recipe for you and charging fifty bucks. It’s an amazing addition to the team of experts your dog will benefit from throughout life.
So, we can see how important reliable, science-based support is right off the bat. And make no mistake, if you have a dog who needs a THERAPEUTIC diet, there’s no room for trying to go from “what’s a fatty acid?” to formulating for a dog with cancer, pancreatitis, and several food intolerances, it’s just asking way too much. In these cases, some kind of professional support is essential.
All therapeutic diets should be formulated by an experienced and educated canine nutrition specialist, and while many owners can figure out how to use diet formulators and develop recipes for their HEALTHY dog, they are still missing a lot of the nuance and specific knowledge that only comes with years of formulating, research, study. For me, it follows that the relatively small investment of hiring a professional even for proactive recipes is not just well worth it, it is insurance against nutritionally related health problems that could have been avoided. (Download my free pdf on this very topic for more information). https://thepossiblecanine.com/download/the-importance-of-nutrient-balance-in-a-home-made-recipe
I’ve come out strongly here in support of owners finding a nutritionist who clicks with them, who is reasonably priced, who can add an incredible dimension of health and wellbeing to a dog’s life – length and quality. Proactive consults are usually very affordable – hey, I’ve been doing this work for over 20 years, have multiple “certifications” and still learning, and I charge just 75$ Canadian for a proactive – 100$ for two!
What can you expect to get, what should you expect for that investment?
I believe that for your investment, you should receive the following:
- Any questions answered prior to booking, including but not limited to qualifications and experience.
- The nutritionist should be willing to work with your vet, answer any questions he or she has, either directly or through you
- Regular email replies, as laid out in whatever Terms and Conditions they issue, or at least an explanation/partial refund if they cannot meet their end of those Terms.
- A description of what the service consists of (I send mine in three places) in terms of times allotted, cost of following up, how many adjustments are covered, and how long between recipes (I usually ask for the dog to be stable on one before sending a second).
- Recipes your dog enjoys, that maintain weight (or support gaining or losing a bit) that produce consistent good stool, and work over time to build optimal health overall, insofar as nutrition can do so.
- It’s incredibly important that your professional assesses your dog via a detailed Intake form, and works with your own needs and preferences – do you want a fulltime recipe? Raw, cooked or some of each? And respects your budgetary realities and access to foods, too. If there are any philosophical differences between you and your professional that cannot be resolved, the service should be terminated, although it is always better to establish this prior to booking.
Remember, the consultation is your gift to your dog, but it should be a rewarding process, fun and informative for YOU as well, and should exceed your hopes and needs wherever possible.
To wrap up; in this day of seemingly endless free recipes and 10$ generic diet plans and TCVM feeding strategies written by people with next to no real TCVM training – there is nothing like the value and power of connecting with a lifelong canine nutritionist who can work with YOUR dog, throughout life, as needed, and with respect for you and your lifestyle. The goal is always to make sure that working with me is an investment you will always be glad you made. 😊
If working with me interests you, please review my Service Offerings here: https://thepossiblecanine.com/consultations
And shoot me an email anytime. I’m happy to discuss your needs and ensure we are a good fit, and usually able to take on new clients within a week. I hope that whether you choose me or one of the other experienced practitioners available these days, you do choose to go this route, and take the stress, worry and confusion out of what should be a happy and fun part of life with your dog. 😊
