Dog Nutritionist?

[PWCorgi]

Last year I was at my local feedstore getting horse food (they also sell dog food) and I ended up talking to this lady (I don't even remember how, lol) about dogs. Anyways, she mentioned that she was an, I can't remember if it was only dogs or all animals) nutritionist. She had originaly been going to school to be a vet, but ended up dropping out to become a nutritionist.

I only got to talk to her for about 10 minutes cause she had to go but I was wondering if anybody else has ever heard of this as a career, thanks.

 

[Saje]

Like mordy?

http://www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?page=bio

I don't know if that's her title exactly but she'd know.

 

[gaddylovesdogs]

I've heard of it. It's a career I've thought about.

 

[Mordy]

I've researched the issue and there is actually no such thing as a "dog nutritionist" or "canine nutritionist" and no official certifying body or professional association.

The closest job description I found was that of a veterinary nutritionist, which is reserved for veterinarians with a PhD in animal nutrition who are certified by the American College of Veterinary Nutrition. Only very few of them exist, and most of them work for, or are affiliated with, the pet food industry.

Pet or animal nutritionist is a job description in the pet food industry, people in these positions are individuals with a PhD in small animal nutrition at the very least and their responsibility is to supervise research and development of commercial products, maintain ingredient and product data and provide direction for product evaluation.

Then there's the option to become certified as a "Veterinary Nutritional Consultant" or "Veterinary Healthcare Advisor" by Hill's (the manufacturer of Science Diet/Prescription Diet pet food), which is of course hardly a truly qualifying title and in my opinion the same thing as a human nutritionist/dietitian certified by McDonald's or Taco Bell.