In 2011, the GNC published a detailed set of Global Nutrition Guidelines to help veterinary healthcare teams around the world to ensure that dogs and cats receive nutrition, which is tailored to their individual needs. These Guidelines are now available in ten languages, have been endorsed by 31 member associations and have been published in 17 journals.
In 2012, the GNC launched a Global Nutrition Toolkit, containing a suite of resources to assist practitioners and nutritionists to educate pet owners that each pet should receive an individual nutritional assessment and recommendation.
As of 2016, the Global Nutrition Toolkit contains 19 tools which are available in English, Spanish and Chinese.
Vision
To help the veterinary healthcare team and the public understand the importance of nutrition in companion animal health by providing an expert source of accurate nutritional information and recommendations.
Mission
With many companion animals globally receiving poor quality or unbalanced nutrition, the GNC aims to:
- Enhance awareness among the veterinary healthcare team and the public of nutrition’s vital role in optimal pet health.
- Advocate for nutrition as a key component in all veterinary and veterinary nurse/technician curricula.
- Promote the importance of performing a nutritional assessment on every animal at every visit and to make specific nutritional recommendations for each patient an integral component of patient care.
- Advance the central role of the veterinary healthcare team as the expert source of information for optimal pet nutrition.
Objectives
- To enhance awareness among the veterinary healthcare team and the public for nutrition’s vital role in optimum pet health.
- To advocate for nutrition as a key component in all veterinary and veterinary nurse/technician curricula.
- To promote the importance of performing a nutritional assessment on every animal at every visit, and to make specific nutritional recommendations for each patient as an integral component of patient care.
- To advance the central role of the veterinary healthcare team as the expert source of information for optimal pet nutrition.
The WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee offers expert, evidence-based nutritional information for companion animals to support the veterinary healthcare team. The committee does not endorse, approve, recommend or support specific products or companies.
Committee Resources
Visit the Global Nutrition Guidelines page to view all of their Guidelines, Toolkits, Resources and Statements.
Videos
Canine NG Tube Placement (atdove.org)
Esophagostomy Tube Placement (atdove.org)
Activity Reports
Chair(s)
Dr Cecilia Villaverde Haro
Cecilia Villaverde Haro DVM, MSc, PhD, Dipl ACVN, Dipl ECVCN.
Small Animal Clinical Nutrition consultant for the Veterinary Information Network (VIN).
Associate Professor at the Departament de Ciencia Animal i dels Aliments, UAB.
Chief of Service of the Servei de Dietetica i Nutricio (Nutrition Support Service) at the Fundacio Hospital Clinic Veterinari, UAB.
Part time researcher at the Departament de Ciencia Animal i dels Aliments, UAB.
Members
Dr Lisa Weeth
Lisa Weeth received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of California, Davis, in 2002. She worked as a part-time emergency clinician in the San Francisco Bay Area and then a full-time associate veterinarian at a general practice in the Bay Area from 2002-2004. In 2004 Dr. Weeth went back to the University of California, Davis, for a Residency in Clinical Nutrition where she completed her training and became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Nutrition in 2007.
In 2007 Dr. Weeth and her family moved from California to New Jersey where she joined Red Bank Veterinary Hospital and established the first dedicated Clinical Nutrition Department in a private practice setting. There she worked on a full-time basis with clinicians and pet owners within the Red Bank Network of hospitals as well as the greater New Jersey/New York/Pennsylvania area. She remained at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital growing the department from a single doctor to a three doctor service, but in January of 2014 a family relocation took her and her 2- and 4-legged family to the United Kingdom.
After this international move Dr. Weeth established Weeth Nutrition Services, a referral consultation service working with veterinarians in the United States and United Kingdoms. Dr. Weeth also serves as the principal Clinical Nutritionist for Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists Telemedicine Service based in Houston, TX; provides independent consultations to members of the pet food industry; and manages her own veterinary nutrition blog to help increase awareness of the importance of dog and cat nutrition for veterinarians and pet owners alike.
Website: View bio on website
Rachel Lumbis
Rachel Lumbis MSc (VetEd) BSc (Hons) PG Cert (MedEd) RVN Cert SAN FHEA.
Lecturer in Veterinary Nursing, Royal Veterinary College, UK.
Website: View bio on website
Dr Scott Campbell
Scott Campbell is an Australian veterinarian that graduated from vet school in Queensland, worked in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, gained additional qualifications and has lectured in many countries. He is a boarded specialist in small animal nutrition and currently works in small animal practice. He’s passionate about nutrition both as a form of preventive care and as a treatment of disease. He’s appreciates nature in its many forms, and the wonderful connection of family, friends and community.
Dr Galia Sheinberg
Dr Sheinberg is a practicing Boarded Veterinary dermatologist. She is co-owner of Dermatología Especializada Centro Veterinario Mexico in Mexico City. This dermatology-only practice is part of Centro Veterinario Mexico, a multi-specialty hospital. She graduated from Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia 1993-1997, with honors Medalla Gabino Barreda, Internship and residency program at the same university in the Small Animal Hospital.
She has worked in Centro Veterinario Mexico specialty veterinary hospital since 1999 and as head of dermatology since 2010. She underwent training at the Animal Dermatology Clinic in San Diego, the Animal Dermatology Clinic in Tustin, CA., and the European School for Advanced Veterinary Studies (ESAVS Dermatology). Dr. Sheinberg is part of the Latin American College Of Veterinary Dermatology board and a Purina Institute Advisory Global Panel member. Dr. Sheinberg is part of Grupo Mexicano de Dermatologia Veterinaria and is dedicated to research, education, and publication in Veterinary Dermatology. She regularly participates in educational events as a speaker at various congresses and dermatology events in Mexico and globally.Dr Jim Berry
Executive Board Liaison