PET NUTRITION: THE IMPORTANCE OF WHAT YOU KNOW AND WHO YOU LEARN IT FROM
DR. MARLENE SIEGEL
JULY 2025
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Over the past 40 years, my journey as a veterinarian has been one of constant discovery. I started in conventional medicine, where symptom suppression was the primary focus. Treatments often relied heavily on medications like corticosteroids, antibiotics, and antihistamines, which temporarily alleviated symptoms but did not address the underlying cause(s).
In veterinary school, we were given a few hours of nutritional training and indoctrinated with the belief system that the large box companies were providing “all the nutrition the pet needed.” No one questioned whether processed foods were actually healthy for our pets.
But as I began to see patterns of chronic disease and worsening health in pets, it became clear that whatever we were doing was not helping pets live a long, healthy life. In fact, on average, pets were living 7 years shorter than they did 25 years ago.
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As my education in functional medicine was growing, I began to make the connection between diet, digestion, gut health, and the microbiome to overall pet health and longevity. I could no longer “name the problem", prescribe a pill or prescription diet for the ill and go home feeling good about the medicine I was practicing.
I found solutions in the study of functional medicine, bioregulatory medicine, and holistic treatments that helped me to uncover the root causes of illness and experience a truly integrative approach to pet health.
Knowledge Shapes Care
The right information empowers pet parents to make lasting, health-focused choices.
The Rise Of Pet Nutrition Experts – The Good And The Gaps
In recent years, with the rise of more health-conscious pet parents, many pet nutritionists and advisors have stepped up to share valuable insights. It is wonderful that more pet parents are asking questions and challenging the status quo, especially when the conversation is about raw food feeding. Though many of these “professionals” are well-intended, many are working for big-box companies that promote processed foods. They may understand the basics of nutrition, but not connect the dots on the importance of how food contributes to disease, detoxification, gut microbiome balance, and metabolic function. Without this deeper understanding, well-intended advice can do more harm than good.
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Knowledge Is Power
There is massive “noise” on social media and marketing regarding pet nutrition. Ads that promote “symptoms go away with the use of…” may sound tempting to the pet parent dealing with chronic relapse, but these products are only addressing the symptom, not the root cause. Instead of “a pill for the ill,” they are misleading well-intended pet parents with a “shampoo, cream, herb, or supplement for the ill.”
Animals in the wild exemplify proper nutrition and instinctively are able to eat a " balanced diet”. In addition to eating muscle meat, they consume organ meats, fat, bone, tendon, cartilage, intestines, and hair.
When transitioning pets to a “raw diet”, it must be balanced with the macronutrients (meat, fat, bone, and organ meat) along with the micronutrients (essential vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, and microbiome replenishment). All ingredients should be organic and natural (no synthetics).
Beyond the Bowl
True pet wellness goes deeper than diet.
Who And Where Your Information Comes From Matters
The source of your knowledge is just as important as the knowledge itself
What is this person’s background and experience? Have they spent years studying integrative nutrition, or were they trained in the allopathic medical model?
Formal Training? Did they complete an online certification? Are they a well-intentioned pet parent giving personal experience advice?
Do they work for or represent the interests of a company producing pet food or supplements?
Are they addressing nutrition holistically? Do they understand how diet, gut health, and the microbiome impact inflammation, detoxification, and disease progression?
Do they stay up-to-date with research? Science evolves, and a good expert continues learning.
I’ve dedicated my career to bridging the gap between conventional veterinary education and BioRegulatory medicine, the deeper understanding of pet health. I’ve created resources like The Empowered Pet Parent Course, so pet parents can make informed decisions based on science, experience, and holistic principles.
Pet health is a lifelong learning journey, one that I am still on today. I encourage every pet parent to be discerning about where they get their information. Seek out professionals who understand the full picture, who continue to evolve their knowledge, and who prioritize the long-term health of your pet over trends or marketing tactics.
Because at the end of the day, it’s not just about what you know, it’s about knowing enough to make the right choices for your pet’s health and longevity. Take the course today - go to www.transformingvetmedicine.com.
