This week on the UpLift Women’s Wellness podcast, we’re celebrating National Dog Day (August 26th) by honoring the furry companions who shape our lives—and the veterinary professionals who care for them with depth, skill, and heart.
Auria and I are both proud pet parents—Dakota and Dublin are woven into our daily joy, our healing, and our routines. So for this episode, we wanted to go deeper than cute stories and kibble talk. We invited Kim, a Veterinary Technician Specialist in Nutrition (VTS-Nutrition), to share what dog wellness really looks like behind the scenes.
🧠 What Is a VTS (Nutrition)—and Why Does It Matter?
Kim is one of just 36 VTS (Nutrition) professionals in North America, and one of only 35 women in this highly specialized field. Her credentials aren’t just impressive—they’re earned through years of experience, case studies, and a rigorous exam process that requires 5,000+ hours in the field.
Her journey took years. She worked full-time while building her specialty, and her story reflects the kind of quiet, relentless dedication that often goes unseen in veterinary medicine.
🩺 The Reality of Veterinary Care
We talked about the collaborative nature of veterinary medicine—how doctors and technicians work side by side across specialties like nutrition, neurology, cardiology, and internal medicine. It’s a field that’s predominantly female, deeply team-oriented, and emotionally demanding.
Kim spoke candidly about the toll this work takes:
- The heartbreak of euthanasia
- The weight of caring for critically ill animals
- The financial strain of vet school debt and low salaries
- The mental health crisis within the profession, including suicide risk
It was a sobering reminder that the people who care for our pets often need care themselves.
🐶 What Pet Parents Can Do
Kim offered practical, compassionate advice for supporting veterinary staff:
- Patience & Respect: Trust that they’re doing their best, even when answers take time.
- Financial Understanding: Vet bills reflect real care and real costs. Unlike human healthcare, pet parents see the full bill upfront.
- Emergency Planning: Consider a dedicated pet savings account, especially if insurance isn’t an option.
🍽️ Dog Nutrition: What You Need to Know
One of the most powerful reframes Kim offered was this:
> Dogs and cats have nutrient requirements—not ingredient requirements.
That means pet food must deliver specific nutrients per calorie—not just sound “natural” or “clean.” She addressed the risks of raw diets, especially the zoonotic dangers of bacterial contamination from uncooked meats. While raw diets are often marketed as “ancestral,” they pose serious health risks to pets and humans alike.
Kim also busted common myths:
- Byproducts (like organ meats) are often highly nutritious
- Vegan/vegetarian diets are not appropriate for carnivores
- Home-cooked meals must be properly balanced with supplements—ideally under the guidance of a veterinary nutritionist
She pointed listeners to trusted resources like [WSAVA](https://wsava.org) and [balanceit.com](https://balanceit.com) for evidence-based guidance.
🧡 Why This Episode Matters
This wasn’t just a conversation about dogs.
It was a conversation about care.
About the invisible labor of veterinary professionals.
About the emotional intelligence required to hold both science and heartbreak.
About how we, as pet parents and community members, can show up better.
Kim reminded us that wellness—whether human or animal—is never just about the surface. It’s about informed choices, collaborative care, and honoring the people behind the scenes.
Listen to the full episode on UpLift Women’s Wellness
🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you tune in.
