Pet nutrition company Royal Canin has partnered with the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) to support the Global Nutrition Committee (GNC).
The GNC provides an expert source of accurate nutritional information and recommendations for veterinary healthcare teams and the public to understand the importance of nutrition in companion animal health.
The GNC promotes the importance of performing a nutritional assessment on every animal at every vet visit, offering a regularly updated ‘toolkit’ of resources for veterinary teams, including educational content for owners. It also advocates the inclusion of nutrition as a component in all veterinary and veterinary nurse/technician curricula.
Commenting on its ‘Silver Partnership’ relationship with the WSAVA, Dr Thomas Brenten, global scientific affairs manager for Royal Canin, said: “Misinformation about pet nutrition is widespread, creating a confusing landscape not only for pet owners but also for veterinarians looking for a credible source of information. The GNC is a lighthouse, providing unbiased tools and resources reflecting the current state of knowledge. This is invaluable.”
Dr Shane Ryan, WSAVA president, said: “The GNC is one of our longest established clinical committees. Through the advocacy of its members and the resources it creates, the GNC raises awareness of the central role of nutrition in companion animal health globally and advances the role of the veterinary healthcare team as the expert source of information for optimal pet nutrition.
“We are very pleased that Royal Canin, as one of the world’s global nutrition brands, is supporting the work of GNC and look forward working together.”
The WSAVA represents more than 200,000 vets worldwide through its 113 member associations and works to enhance standards of clinical care for companion animals.
It is co-chaired by Marge Chandler DVM and Gregg Takashima DVM, owner and clinician at The Parkway Veterinary Hospital in Oregon, USA. Committee members lecture and publish widely on all aspects of nutrition for companion animals.
Its core activities include the development of WSAVA Global Guidelines in key areas of veterinary practice, including pain management, nutrition and vaccination, together with lobbying on important issues affecting companion animal care worldwide.