Free pet nutrition e-book released for veterinary professionals

The Purina Institute recently released a new handbook on canine and feline nutrition. According to the institute, the book, which veterinary professionals can access online for free, is a product-agnostic resource that offers scientific and practical information on the nutritional management for healthy cats and dogs.¹

The e-book, titled the Purina Institute Handbook of Canine and Feline Well-Pet Nutrition, contains contributions from 54 experts across 20 countries and builds on the Purina Institute Handbook of Canine and Feline Clinical Nutrition, released by the Purina Institute in 2023. According to Purina, the latest e-book addresses questions and challenges veterinary professionals often face during discussions with clients about nutrition.

Purina Institute Handbook of Canine and Feline Well-Pet Nutrition. (Image courtesy of Purina Institute)

“The [handbook] is a one-of-a-kind resource with a global perspective containing unbiased, science-based information, and it’s designed with the busy veterinary professional in mind, containing tips and tools to help with veterinary health care teams having those difficult nutrition conversations with clients,” Jason Gagné, DVM, DACVIM (Nutrition), director of external relations at the Purina Institute, said during a virtual panel discussion on the handbook’s launch.²

"Nutritional science has evolved significantly, and there are many facets to consider in a well-pet diet, not just from the pet's perspective, such as life stage, activity level, and body condition, but also the owner's perspective—their lifestyle, budget, and preferences," Natalia Wagemans, global head of the Purina Institute, said in an organizational news release.¹ "This resource simplifies the process of making informed recommendations and can be a vital tool for veterinary professionals to both facilitate nutrition conversations with their clients and provide informed responses to questions."

Specifically, the handbook contains information on the following¹:

• The functions of various nutrients
• Specialized nutrition for different life stages
• Proactive nutrition strategies
• Communication techniques for discussing nutrition with pet owners

According to Catherine Lenox, DVM, DACVIM (Nutrition), one of the coauthors and editors of the book, a 2023 survey found that 96% of pet owners consider veterinarians their most trusted source for nutrition advice.² However, only 22% of veterinary professionals reported regularly having proactive nutrition discussions with clients during most visits.² The same survey also found that 78% of pet owners view receiving nutrition advice as an “important” or “extremely important” factor in their satisfaction with their veterinary clinic.²

“Overall, the data show that we, as veterinarians, may not be having nutrition conversations as often as ideal, and when I say 'often as ideal,' that refers to both the pet and pet health, but also what the owner desires,” Lenox said.²

Coauthor and coeditor of the e-book, Jonathan Stockman, DVM, DACVIM (Nutrition), believes the disparity between pet owners’ wants and the actual frequency of nutrition discussions is due to short appointment times and a lack of education surrounding nutrition in veterinary school.

“Many times, the appointments are pretty short. You don’t really have a lot of time to refer to any resources that you want to look at before you have these conversations with owners,” Stockman said during the panel discussion.² “Also, a global issue in veterinary education...is sometimes nutrition is not emphasized enough, so a lot of veterinarians graduate without having the confidence that they need [for] having these conversations, especially when there are opposing opinions regarding nutrition.”

He added that having the handbook as a reliable, credible resource is valuable for veterinarians. “It’s...quick to refer to and [provides] us [with] additional information that you need for these discussions in the clinic,” he said.²

“Each chapter is designed to be concise and accessible, featuring key takeaways, communication tips, and visual aids that serve as quick references during busy clinic days,” Purina wrote in its launch announcement.¹ “This resource not only enhances the veterinary team's ability to provide informed dietary recommendations but also fosters a collaborative approach to pet health that includes the entire veterinary staff.”

References

1. Unlocking the power of nutrition: Purina Institute releases new well-pet nutrition handbook for veterinary professionals. News release. Nestle Purina PetCare. August 28, 2025. Accessed September 8, 2025. https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/unlocking-the-power-of-nutrition-purina-institute-releases-new-well-pet-nutrition-handbook-for-veterinary-professionals-302540777.html?tc=eml_cleartime
2. Purina Institute YouTube page. Accessed September 8, 2025. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8zUSRY0NHA