Treats and Obesity

Treats and Obesity

How can your entire veterinary team work together to treat pet obesity and prevent weight problems early in life? Interviewer Ernie Ward speaks with Rachel Lumbis and Georgia Woods-Lee about launching a successful, clinic-wide weight program. First, Rachel Lumbis shares how to make nutrition the fifth vital assessment in every consultation, train staff on common scenarios, and empower veterinary nurses to lead independent conversations. Then, Georgia Woods-Lee tackles the medical side of weight management, explaining why cutting regular food portions risks serious nutrient deficiencies, and how tracking evidence-based growth charts stops obesity early. Resources & Links * WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee [https://wsava.org/committees/global-nutrition-committee/] * WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines [https://wsava.org/global-guidelines/global-nutrition-guidelines/] * Association for Pet Obesity Prevention [https://www.petobesityprevention.org/] – Educational data, toolkits, and clinical research dedicated to pet weight management.  * Waltham Puppy [https://www.waltham.com/resources/puppy-growth-charts] and Kitten [https://www.waltham.com/resources/kitten-growth-charts] Growth Charts – Free, evidence-based clinical tracking tools to monitor healthy growth patterns. Contributors * Ernie Ward, DVM, CVFT: Founder of the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention and the World Pet Obesity Association. (Website [https://www.drernieward.com/] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/drernieward/] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/drernieward/]) * Rachel Lumbis MSc, BSc (Hons), PGCert (MedEd), CertSAN, RVN, FHEA: Postgraduate Research Student at the University of Glasgow, and WSAVA Nutrition Committee Member. (ORCID [https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3321-9968]) * Georgia Woods-Lee BSc(Hons), RVN, CertCFVHNut, VTS (Nutrition): Clinical Lead for the Obesity Care Clinic at the University of Liverpool. (LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgiarvnvts/] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/thefatvetnurse/]) This podcast was edited and produced by Contento Media Ltd.

Dermatology and the Impact of Nutrition

How much does diet truly affect chronic skin issues, and how do you run a successful food trial for an allergic pet?   Interviewer Cat Henstridge sits down with veterinary dermatologists Galia Sheinberg and Meagan Painter to separate science from online myths. First, Galia Sheinberg explains that only 30% of allergic dogs react to food, notes how popular home diets can cause rare zinc and vitamin deficiencies, and looks at the limited evidence for probiotics. Then, Meagan Painter dives into atopic dermatitis management, detailing how to use prescription hydrolysed diets as strict diagnostic tools while easing owner financial and caregiving fatigue. Resources & Links * WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee [https://wsava.org/committees/global-nutrition-committee/] * WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines [https://wsava.org/global-guidelines/global-nutrition-guidelines/] * AAHA Allergic Skin Diseases Guidelines [https://www.aaha.org/wp-content/uploads/globalassets/02-guidelines/2023-aaha-management-of-allergic-skin-diseases-in-dogs-and-cats-guidelines/resources/2023-aaha-management-of-allergic-skin-diseases-guidelines.pdf] – Modern, evidence-based consensus roadmap for diagnosing and managing canine atopy and allergy exclusions. * Probiotics Systematic Review & Meta-Analysis [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40603066/] – Scientific evidence evaluating the limited efficacy of probiotic strains as adjuvants for canine atopy. Contributors * Cat Henstridge, BVSc, MRCVS: Episode Interviewer; First-opinion small animal Veterinary Surgeon, prominent clinical commentator on social media and WSAVA Nutrition Committee Member. (Twitter/X [https://x.com/Cat_The_Vet] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/cat_the_vet/] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/catthevet]) * Galia Sheinberg, MVZ, ESP. DLACVD: Veterinary Dermatology Specialist; Director and Owner of Dermatología Especializada CVM and WSAVA Nutrition Committee Member. (Website [https://dermatologiacvm.mx/]) * Meagan Painter, DVM, DACVD: Board-Certified Veterinary Dermatologist and creator of The Allergic Dog™ (Website [https://www.theallergicdog.com/]) This podcast was edited and produced by Contento Media Ltd.

Nutrition for Chronic Disease

What is the best way to use nutrition when treating pets with long-term conditions like diabetes and kidney disease? Interviewer Peter Higgins speaks with Scott Campbell and Lisa Weeth to provide a clear guide to managing these complex conditions. First, Scott Campbell focuses on stabilising diabetic pets, explaining why matching identical food portions and insulin timing is vital for dogs, and why cats require strict low-carbohydrate plans to recover. Then, Lisa Weeth looks at chronic kidney disease, explaining how to manage different stages by evaluating protein quality and showing why controlling dietary phosphorus is the true key to slowing down kidney damage. Resources & Links * WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee [https://wsava.org/committees/global-nutrition-committee/] * WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines [https://wsava.org/global-guidelines/global-nutrition-guidelines/] * IRIS Kidney Guidelines [https://www.iris-kidney.com/iris-guidelines-1] – Official international guidelines for staging and managing kidney disease in dogs and cats. Contributors * Peter Higgins BVSc, MBA, Dip Ed (tert), MRCVS, FAICD, FLS: Episode Interviewer; Veterinary Surgeon, former clinician at the School of Veterinary Science at The University of Sydney, and WSAVA Nutrition Committee Member. (LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-higgins-paladin/] | ResearchGate [https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Peter-Higgins-13]) * Scott Campbell, BVSc (Hons), MANZCVS (Small Animal Medicine), DACVIM (Nutrition): Director and Small Animal Veterinarian at Ipswich Veterinary Group, Queensland, and WSAVA Nutrition Committee Member. * Lisa Weeth, DVM, DACVIM (Nutrition): Clinical Nutritionist with Weeth Nutrition Services and WSAVA Nutrition Committee Member. (Website [https://www.weethnutrition.com/]) This podcast was edited and produced by Contento Media Ltd.

Supporting Clients Feeding Non-Traditional Diets

How can veterinary teams handle the global rise of raw and homemade diets while keeping client trust intact? In the first episode of our series on nutrition, interviewer Gregg Takashima talks with Marge Chandler and Grace Lin to look closely at non-traditional feeding trends. First, Marge Chandler discusses raw food facts, explaining why a dog's starch metabolism differs from a wolf's, and how unbalanced raw meals can cause weak bones, pathogen shedding, and antibiotic resistance. Then, Grace Lin looks at homemade diets, highlighting the hidden dangers of using artificial intelligence to write recipes for sick pets and offering practical ways to assess indoor pets while communicating kindly with anxious owners. Resources & Links * WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee [https://wsava.org/committees/global-nutrition-committee/] * WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines [https://wsava.org/global-guidelines/global-nutrition-guidelines/] * Balance It Formulation Service [https://balance.it/] – Software mentioned for designing safe homemade recipes.  * University of Illinois Digestibility Study [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6127788/] – Research mentioned regarding raw food nutrient digestibility variances.  * University of Liverpool Research [https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/3176683/2/200283442_Jul2023_edited_version.pdf] – Study tracking antibiotic-resistant E. coli in the faeces of raw-fed pets.  * UK Raw Pet Food Contamination Survey [https://science.food.gov.uk/article/155340-a-survey-of-microbiological-and-antimicrobial-resistance-amr-contamination-found-in-raw-dog-and-cat-food-on-retail-sale-in-the-uk] – Government study tracking microbiological risks and leaky packaging in retail raw food.  Contributors * Gregg K. Takashima, DVM: Episode Interviewer; CEO of GKT Enterprises and retired Small Companion Animal Practitioner. (LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregg-takashima-9776333a/]) * Marge Chandler, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Small Animal Internal Medicine and Nutrition), MANZCVS, MRCVS: Independent Consultant in Small Animal Nutrition and Internal Medicine at Chandler Veterinary Nutrition and WSAVA Nutrition Committee Member. * Grace (Hsiu Chia) Lin, BVSc: Founder and Veterinary Director of AVC Veterinary Hospital (Shanghai, China), and WSAVA Nutrition Committee Member. This podcast was edited and produced by Contento Media Ltd.

Treatment Strategies for Advanced Procedures

In the final episode of the WSAVA Podcast season produced with the WSAVA Dental Committee, interviewer Jon Tam speaks with two experts about advanced treatment strategies for managing complex dental disease in companion animals. First, Kevin Ng discusses periodontal and endodontic disease, focusing on why these conditions are so common and often underdiagnosed. He explores how dental disease progresses, the factors that influence whether teeth can be saved, and the role of thorough assessment and imaging in guiding treatment decisions. Kevin also reflects on how clinicians balance tooth preservation with extraction, taking into account patient health, owner expectations, and long-term outcomes. In the second conversation, Cedric Tutt examines prosthodontics and dental implants in veterinary patients. He outlines where restorative procedures such as crowns may be appropriate, and discusses the ethical and practical considerations surrounding dental implants. Cedric emphasises the importance of careful case selection, advanced diagnostics, and aligning treatment choices with animal welfare. Together, these conversations close the series by exploring how advanced dental procedures fit into modern veterinary practice, highlighting the need to balance technical possibilities with responsible, patient-centred care. Resources & Links * WSAVA Global Dental Committee [https://wsava.org/committees/global-dental-committee/] * WSAVA Global Dental Guidelines   * WSAVA Educational Resources [https://wsava.org/education/]  * Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) [https://vohc.org/]  Contributors * Kevin Ng, BSc BVMS MANZCVS DAVDC DEVDC – LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-ng-06021b43/] * Cedric LC Tutt, Diplomate EVDC – LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cedric-tutt-a6183a21/?originalSubdomain=za] | ResearchGate [https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Cedric-Tutt] * Jonathan Tam, BVSc(Massey), MANZCVS (Small Animal Dentistry & Oral Surgery) - Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/apexvetdentist/] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/jonathan.tooth.vet/] Click here for the full transcript [https://share.transistor.fm/s/ef72cca4/transcript.txt] This podcast was edited and produced by Contento Media Ltd.