My journey as a Canine Nutritionist and why I was so misguided.

Joining the Canine Nutrition World

Let me take you back three years…

When I first stepped into the world of dog nutrition, it was through a basic nutrition certification. As many of you know, this industry is largely unregulated, and the course I took focused heavily on raw feeding—not cooked feeding, and certainly not nutrition as a whole (as I’ve since come to understand). I set up my social media accounts, and almost instantly, the algorithm placed me in a bubble filled with raw feeding advocates, anti-kibble vets, and professionals with PhDs proclaiming that commercial pet food companies (unless raw) were intentionally keeping pets sick for profit.

All these voices started to make me think that I killed my dog, my 8 year old German Shepherd died of cancer because she was fed tinned dog food. I lived in some horrible reality believing that I could have stopped it happening. I used this as my basis for the advice I was giving, no my excuse, to push my own grief onto other dog owners. For this I am ashamed.

I was surrounded by extreme messaging: raw feeding was described as "natural," "clean," and "ancestral," while kibble was branded as "toxic," "carcinogenic," and "inflammatory." The voices I was hearing—whether from mentors, professionals, or social media influencers—were loud, persuasive, and confident. My mistake? I didn’t question them. I absorbed their opinions as facts, and worse, I repeated them.

Polarised Views and Raw Feeders

The world of canine nutrition is filled with strong, often polarised opinions, shaped by passionate beliefs, anecdotal evidence, and conflicting studies. Raw feeding advocates argue that BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) diets mimic a dog's natural eating habits, leading to better health and fewer chronic conditions. Others push grain-free diets, specific supplements, or even rigid vaccination schedules, each supported by their own studies and success stories.

Social media intensifies these divisions, creating echo chambers where balanced discussions are rare. When you’re surrounded by people who always agree with you, it becomes incredibly difficult to step back and challenge your own beliefs. Nobody likes being wrong, and validation from others can feel reassuring—even if it’s misguided.

The Turning Point

In those early days, I confidently promoted raw and cooked diets, dismissing kibble as "filler-laden" and "inflammatory." I repeated these claims without fully understanding them because they sounded persuasive.

But then, things started to shift—slowly, over time.

My own raw-fed dogs weren’t thriving. I was dealing with inconsistent stools, constipation one day, followed by colitis for days after. My girl was vomiting multiple times a month, and no matter what I did—switching proteins, eliminating ingredients, adding countless supplements—it didn’t get better. DIY raw feeding was costing me £600-£700 a month, and I felt like I was grasping at straws.

At the same time, I was noticing a pattern with clients' raw fed dogs. Impacted colons, perforated intestines, damaged teeth, joint problems from improper puppy diets, chronic IBS—the list went on. I can’t pinpoint the exact moment I started to step away from the mentors I once admired, but I know it was gradual.

I began following professionals like Jess, a vet nurse nutrition expert, and Cat Henstridge (Cat the Vet on Instagram). These were voices I’d been told to avoid—dismissed as "biased." But their insights made sense and were backed up with solid studies and facts, and the more I listened, the more I questioned what I thought I knew.

It’s OK to Be Wrong

Here’s something I’ve learned: it’s OK to be wrong. It’s OK to let someone teach you something new, even if it challenges what you currently believe. It’s OK to ask questions, to admit you’ve made mistakes, and to grow from them. It’s OK to say you don’t know or understand everything.

I’ve made uneducated posts on social media in the past—out of ignorance, lack of knowledge, or both. But I’m here now, trying to do better and hoping to reach others who are open to learning and challenging their own beliefs. Growth doesn’t come from stubbornness—it comes from curiosity.

Final Thoughts

• Opinions and facts are not the same. You’re entitled to your opinion, but presenting it as fact can be harmful.

• Science is nuanced. There’s rarely a single "right" answer, and that’s hard for many of us to accept.

• If someone leads with fear to sell you something, walk away.

• Balanced discussions exist—be wary of extremes.

• No company should use your love for your dog against you.

And lastly, if you’ve lost a dog to cancer, like I have, please know this: kibble didn’t kill them. Raw feeding wouldn’t have magically prevented it. Cancer is cruel and complex, and blaming yourself or your choices won’t change that.

Food is important, but it’s not medicine. Let’s keep learning, keep questioning, and most importantly—keep doing our best for our dogs.

Thank you for reading and if you want to brave the world of Canine Nutrition my inbox is always open sally@thecaninedietitian.co.uk