The
World Small Animal Veterinary
Association’s (WSAVA’s)
Global Nutrition Committee (GNC) has updated its Global Nutrition Toolkit which
helps veterinary healthcare teams educate clients on optimal nutrition for
their dog or cat.
The
first update is a revision to its “Selecting a pet food” tool. While many owners regard
the ingredient list as the most important factor in choosing a pet food, a list
alone gives no reassurance as to the quality of the products used, nor does it
give an indication as to whether a fully qualified nutritionist was involved in
the food’s formulation. The revised version points out the most useful advice
to be found on the label and highlights the importance of the manufacturer
providing contact details so that follow up questions can be asked. It also
reminds veterinarians and owners of the benefits but limitations of Association
of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) adequacy statements.
With “raw feeding” growing in popularity, the GNC has also created a new and
engaging infographic to illustrate the potential risks of
the use of raw foods in pet diets.
Both
are available for free download, together with the other tools in the GNC’s
Nutrition Toolkit, from the WSAVA’s website.
Commenting,
WSAVA GNC Co-Chair Dr Marge Chandler DVM, MS, MANZCVS, DACVN, DACVIM, MRCVS,
said: “Owners want to best for their pets but there is so much confusing or
simply wrong information out there that it can be hard for them to navigate
their way. Veterinary healthcare teams should, of course, be the first port of
call for advice on nutrition and, we hope they will find that the educational
resources we have created in our Toolkit, together with the WSAVA’s Global
Nutrition Guidelines, give them the confidence to engage proactively with
owners on the subject of nutrition and put them on the right path to feeding
their pets an appropriate and well-formulated diet.”
The
WSAVA’s Global Nutrition Committee promotes the importance of high-quality
nutrition for companion animals and recommends that veterinarians perform a
nutritional assessment on every animal at every visit. It also advocates the
inclusion of nutrition as a component of all veterinary and veterinary
nurse/technician curricula. Fully independent in its work, the GNC is
co-chaired by Marge Chandler and Gregg Takashima DVM, owner and clinician at
The Parkway Veterinary Hospital in Oregon, USA. The Committee’s members, who
are based around the world and hold different roles within the profession,
lecture and publish widely on all aspects of nutrition for companion animals.
The
GNC’s work is generously supported by the Purina Institute, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, and Royal Canin.
The WSAVA
represents more than 200,000 veterinarians worldwide through its 115 member
associations and works to enhance standards of clinical care for companion
animals. Its core activities include the development of WSAVA Global Guidelines
in key areas of veterinary practice, including nutrition, pain management and
vaccination, together with lobbying on important issues affecting companion
animal care worldwide.
