The Purina Institute Global Summit 2026 gathered veterinary professionals from more than 100 countries May 27-28 to explore how the latest science can be applied to preventive care and veterinarian-client partnerships. Summit sessions are now available for on-demand viewing at globalsummit2026.purinainstitute.com.
Built around the theme "Proactive, Not Reactive: Changing the Care Paradigm," the summit examined how veterinary medicine can identify health risks earlier and make prevention a more routine part of pet care. Sessions focused on how preventive care works best when it is easy to deliver, easy for clients to follow and embedded into routine visits. Key topics included:
- Using existing visits, such as vaccination appointments and wellness checks, as opportunities to talk with pet owners about what they can do now to help prevent future health issues.
- Treating pet owner communication as a clinical skill that should be taught and practiced intentionally across the whole veterinary team. Multiple sessions focused on making recommendations simple, specific and realistic for pet owners to implement.
- Reinforcing that prevention should be individualized, with more attention paid to what pet owners value, where they consume information, and what barriers may prevent action. Sessions discussed the importance of offering practical alternatives for pet owners when cost is a barrier — helping ensure pets have access to the care they need.
- Underscoring that prevention is broader than a single intervention, sessions examined the role of healthy weight and nutrition as foundational health maintenance tools; connected pet technologies, such as activity monitors and smart feeders that can help track changes in pets' behavior, activity and eating patterns over time; and the use of emerging biomarkers for earlier detection.
- Nutrition was a key area of discussion, including the role of maintaining a lean or optimal body condition in dogs throughout life to help improve lifespan and health, as shown by the Purina Life Span Study.
"The Purina Institute Global Summit continues to serve as the forum for translating science into practical strategies for veterinary professionals," said Dr. Marianne Lomberg, global head of the Purina Institute. "The goal of this year's summit was to empower veterinary professionals to design care plans for their practices that makes prevention understandable, relevant and achievable."
On-demand content is available at globalsummit2026.purinainstitute.com.
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