The WSAVA Podcast

This special stand-alone episode is supported by Royal Canin and is independent of the regular Nutrition Series.

What if we could modify or even slow down the ageing process itself, shifting the veterinary conversation from managing inevitable decline to expanding a pet's vibrant health span?

In this special stand-alone episode, host Dr Peter Higgins sits down with veterinary specialist physician and Royal Canin feline health specialist Dr Tanya Schoeman to unpack the rapidly evolving science of pet gerontology and proactive clinical care. First, Tanya discusses shifting the clinical narrative to early intervention, highlighting a famous long-term canine study on body weight and the critical value of building baseline health databases long before outward signs of decline appear. Then, she looks closely at our feline friends, revealing how subtle behavioural shifts mask pain or cognitive decline, sharing startling insights from a massive global pet owner survey, and offering actionable strategies to guide clients as a major wave of "pandemic pets" enters middle age and how to keep them in their prime.

Resources & Links

• WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines 
• Royal Canin Academy Digital Library - Portal for downloading the Healthy Ageing Conversations Guide for veterinary practitioners. 
• JAVMA Landmark Paper: "Aging is Modifiable" – The highly discussed geroscience study co-authored by Dr. Tanya Schoeman establishing the clinical paradigm shift toward "health span" modification.
• The Dog Aging Project – The massive citizen science research initiative tracking canine aging biology as a comparative model for human gerontology.
• Feline Osteoarthritis Nutritional Study – The clinical trial mentioned by Tanya proving the efficacy of an Omega-3, curcumin, and hydrolysed collagen-enriched diet compared to standard medical management for cats with joint disease.
• AAFCO – The official regulatory resource setting animal feed and pet food nutritional standards for growth, reproduction, and adult life stages.

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 Chair of the WSAVA Nutrition Committee. LinkedIn | ResearchGate 
• Dr Tanya Schoeman, BVSc(Hons) MMedVet(Med) DECVIM-CA: Specialist Veterinary Physician and Royal Canin Pet and Product Science Specialist LinkedIn | Orchid

This podcast was edited and produced by Contento Media Ltd.

How can you help clients understand what is actually inside a pet food bag and safely manage home-cooked diets? 

Interviewer Shalom Phiri brings together Peter Higgins and Inês Carvalho to solve everyday feeding dilemmas. First, Peter Higgins explains how to decode commercial pet food labels, discussing macronutrient quality, species-specific amino and fatty acid requirements, and how to look past product moisture to calculate true dry matter protein. Then, Inês Carvalho focuses on home cooking, discussing how to spot recipe changes over time through open questioning, and explaining a simple 90/10 rule that lets busy owners cook safely for bonding.

Resources & Links

• WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee
• WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines
• WSAVA Product Evaluation Questions Guide – Practical screening recommendations mentioned for helping veterinary teams and owners analyse commercial food transparency.
• Balance It Software – Tools for managing home-cooked formulations.
• ACVIM Nutrition Directory – Board-certified specialist directory mentioned for obtaining professional nutrition consultations. 

Contributors

• Shalom Phiri, BVM: Episode Interviewer; Owner and Clinician at Luderitz Veterinary Clinic, and WSAVA Education Committee member. (LinkedIn | Instagram)
• Peter Higgins, BVSc, MBA, Dip Ed (tert), MRCVS, FAICD, FLS: Veterinary Surgeon, former clinician at the School of Veterinary Science at The University of Sydney and Chair of the WSAVA Nutrition Committee. (LinkedIn | ResearchGate)
• Inês Carvalho, DVM, MSc: General Practitioner Veterinarian based in Portugal with advanced training in small animal clinical nutrition and WSAVA Nutrition Committee member. (LinkedIn | Instagram)

This podcast was edited and produced by Contento Media Ltd.

How can veterinary teams talk to clients about online pet food trends and treats without making them feel judged?

Interviewer Mohana Marathe leads a detailed discussion with Cat Henstridge and Rachel Lumbis to help clinics take back control of the food conversation. First, Cat Henstridge explores how social media algorithms play on owner guilt, explaining how fear-based online advertisements can dangerously delay sick animals from getting proper veterinary care. Then, Rachel Lumbis focuses on treats and snacks, detailing how to comfortably ask for permission to discuss food, limit extra calories to a strict 10% limit, and use specific goals to handle learned begging.

Resources & Links

• WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee
• WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines
• UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) – Report an Ad – The official portal mentioned for flagging and reporting misleading or non-compliant commercial pet food marketing campaigns in the UK

Contributors

• Mohana Marathe, BVSc & AH: Episode Interviewer, Recent graduate, member of the WSAVA Education Committee, and former Cornell University Veterinary Investigator Leadership Program participant. (LinkedIn)
• Cat Henstridge, BVSc, MRCVS: First-opinion small animal Veterinary Surgeon, prominent clinical commentator on social media and WSAVA Nutrition Committee Member. (Twitter/X | Instagram | Facebook)
• Rachel Lumbis MSc, BSc (Hons), PGCert (MedEd), CertSAN, RVN, FHEA: Postgraduate Research Student at the University of Glasgow, and WSAVA Nutrition Committee Member. (ORCID)

This podcast was edited and produced by Contento Media Ltd.

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
• WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines
• Association for Pet Obesity Prevention – Educational data, toolkits, and clinical research dedicated to pet weight management. 
• Waltham Puppy and Kitten 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 | LinkedIn | Instagram)
• Rachel Lumbis MSc, BSc (Hons), PGCert (MedEd), CertSAN, RVN, FHEA: Postgraduate Research Student at the University of Glasgow, and WSAVA Nutrition Committee Member. (ORCID)
• Georgia Woods-Lee BSc(Hons), RVN, CertCFVHNut, VTS (Nutrition): Clinical Lead for the Obesity Care Clinic at the University of Liverpool. (LinkedIn | Instagram)

This podcast was edited and produced by Contento Media Ltd.

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
• WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines
• AAHA Allergic Skin Diseases Guidelines – Modern, evidence-based consensus roadmap for diagnosing and managing canine atopy and allergy exclusions.
• Probiotics Systematic Review & Meta-Analysis – 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 | Instagram | Facebook)
• Galia Sheinberg, MVZ, ESP. DLACVD: Veterinary Dermatology Specialist; Director and Owner of Dermatología Especializada CVM and WSAVA Nutrition Committee Member. (Website)
• Meagan Painter, DVM, DACVD: Board-Certified Veterinary Dermatologist and creator of The Allergic Dog™ (Website)

This podcast was edited and produced by Contento Media Ltd.

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
• WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines
• IRIS Kidney Guidelines – 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 | ResearchGate)
• 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)

This podcast was edited and produced by Contento Media Ltd.

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
• WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines
• Balance It Formulation Service – Software mentioned for designing safe homemade recipes. 
• University of Illinois Digestibility Study – Research mentioned regarding raw food nutrient digestibility variances. 
• University of Liverpool Research – Study tracking antibiotic-resistant E. coli in the faeces of raw-fed pets. 
• UK Raw Pet Food Contamination Survey – 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)
• 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.

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
• WSAVA Global Dental Guidelines  
• WSAVA Educational Resources  
• Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) 

Contributors

• Kevin Ng, BSc BVMS MANZCVS DAVDC DEVDC – LinkedIn
• Cedric LC Tutt, Diplomate EVDC – LinkedIn | ResearchGate
• Jonathan Tam, BVSc(Massey), MANZCVS (Small Animal Dentistry & Oral Surgery) - Instagram | Instagram

Click here for the full transcript

This podcast was edited and produced by Contento Media Ltd.

In this episode of the WSAVA Podcast, interviewer Izzie Tsai speaks with two experienced clinicians about why accurate diagnosis is the foundation of effective dental care, and how much disease can be missed when diagnostics are underused.

First, Ana Nemec discusses the role of dental radiography in everyday practice. She explains why visual examination alone can underestimate pathology, and reflects on the importance of image quality, technique, and appropriate case selection when incorporating radiographs into clinical decision-making.

In the second conversation, Jan Bellows focuses on early detection and routine oral examination. He explores why dental disease is frequently overlooked, the value of consistently examining the oral cavity, and how simple diagnostic tools can improve communication and patient outcomes.

Together, these conversations reinforce a clear message: careful examination and appropriate imaging are central to responsible, evidence-based dental care.

Resources & Links

• WSAVA Global Dental Committee
• WSAVA Global Dental Guidelines  
• WSAVA Educational Resources  
• Evaluation of extraction sites for evidence of retained tooth roots and periapical pathology
  
  

Contributors

• Ana Nemec, DVM, PhD, Dipl. AVDC, Dipl. EVDC, Assist. prof. – Website | Instagram | LinkedIn
• Jan Bellows, DVM, DIPL, AVDC, ABVP (Canine & Feline Practice) 
• Izzie Yi-Chin Tsai, DVM, MVM – Facebook | Blog | Instagram

This podcast was edited and produced by Contento Media Ltd.

In this episode of the WSAVA Podcast, the focus turns to the vital role of veterinary nurses and technicians in strengthening dental care in everyday practice. Two conversations explore how the wider veterinary team can improve outcomes through better instrumentation, workflow, client communication, and home care support. 

First, Maggie Burley speaks with Mary Berg about building a practical dental toolkit and using instruments safely and effectively. Mary highlights core tools for periodontal assessment and cleaning, including probing, subgingival instrumentation, and the importance of visibility. She also discusses sterilisation, sharpening, and instrument care, emphasising that consistent standards and good ergonomics support both patient safety and long-term team performance. 

In the second conversation, Marcela Perez-de-Tudela is joined by Stephanie Johnson to discuss how technicians can help clients succeed with dental home care. Stephanie shares step-by-step strategies for introducing toothbrushing, keeping experiences positive, and recognising early warning signs that warrant veterinary assessment. She also discusses how to guide owners toward validated dental products and why regular oral exams, imaging, and tailored plans remain important even when home care is excellent. 

Together, these conversations highlight how strong dental programmes are built by the whole team, combining practical skills in-clinic with effective support for owners at home. 

Resources & Links

• WSAVA Global Dental Committee
• WSAVA Global Dental Guidelines  
• WSAVA Educational Resources  
• Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) 

Contributors

• Mary L Berg, BS, LATG, RVT, VTS (Dent) – LinkedIn | Instagram | Website 
• Maggie Burley, RVN, Dip VN (Dental), VTS (Dentistry), TAE - LinkedIn | Instagram
• Stephanie Johnson, CVT, VTS (Anesthesia & Analgesia), (Dentistry) – TikTok
• Marcela Perez-de-Tudela MV, MSc - LinkedIn | Instagram 

Click here for the full transcript

This podcast was edited and produced by Contento Media Ltd.