Veterinarians are often seen as the “front line” when it comes to companion animal nutrition, if for no other reason than they’re the ones with the most direct communication link to pet owners concerned about their animals’ well-being. But pet owners also look to pet food for everything from basic nutrition requirements to preventive health to help with treating any number of concerns or ailments. That makes it all the more important to ensure that the veterinary space and the pet food space are not only on the same page but also consider themselves to be partners in promoting the best companion animal nutrition has to offer.
“I think the reality, looking at it as a veterinarian and someone who works in the pet food manufacturing business, is that every single individual — whether it's an expert or an influencer or a vet — they all seem to have their own set of information and misinformation,” said Dr. Danielle Bernal, BVSc, global vet nutrition director for Wellness Pet Company. “When you talk to pet parents, they're like, ‘I think I'm doing the right thing but I'm not sure if I'm doing the right thing, because this one’s saying I should do this and that one’s saying I should do that, but I want to do the right thing for my pet's health.’ I feel like we haven't got any clear individual [communicator]. The veterinarian, obviously, is one of the best because they understand the pet’s health and nutritional requirements, but they haven't got their arms fully wrapped around it. And I think then they're leaning more on manufacturers who are the ones supporting them from a vet channel positioning, but without having that holistic step back and really understanding the whole category to then advise these pet parents outside of the manufacturers’ claims. Our gold star influencer doesn't always have all the facts, so that makes it so hard to advise and help that pet parent out.”
