VeterinaryNutritionists
Booking A Consult

Veterinary Nutritionist Consultations: Online And In Person

A consultation with a board-certified veterinary nutritionist gives you a diet built around your pet's actual medical history. Here is how to find one, what to send, what it costs and what you will get back.

When A Consultation Is Worth It

  • Your pet has kidney, liver, heart, gastrointestinal or skin disease and food is part of treatment
  • You want to cook at home and need a recipe that is actually complete and balanced
  • Your pet has several conditions with conflicting diet needs
  • Weight loss has stalled despite cutting food
  • Your pet is losing weight or refusing food during illness or treatment

Where To Find A Veterinary Nutritionist

1. Ask Your Veterinarian

Your vet can refer you, send records and stay involved in follow-up. This is the most straightforward route.

2. Search The Specialist Directory

The directory at vetspecialists.com lists board-certified veterinary nutritionists and notes those who offer remote consultations.

3. Veterinary Teaching Hospitals

Several universities run clinical nutrition services, including Cornell, Texas A&M, NC State and Tufts. Access differs: Tufts, for example, says it no longer offers remote consultations for non-Tufts patients except pets whose primary problem is heart disease.

4. Home-Cooking Help Online

If your main goal is a balanced home-cooked diet for a healthy pet, Balance IT, founded by a board-certified veterinary nutritionist, offers a free recipe generator and supplements designed to balance its recipes. See our homemade dog food guide.

What To Prepare

  1. Complete medical records and recent lab work
  2. Your pet's current weight, body condition and weight history
  3. Everything your pet eats: brand and amount of food, treats, chews, table food and supplements
  4. Medications, including anything given in food
  5. Your goals and constraints, such as budget, cooking time or foods your pet refuses

What It Costs

Fees vary with the provider, species and how complex the case is. As a published example, Tufts lists $368 for its remote heart disease nutrition consultation. Pets with several conditions or fully custom home-cooked diets generally take more time than a commercial food recommendation for a healthy pet. Ask what is included, especially follow-up adjustments.

What You Get Back

  • A written plan: specific commercial foods with feeding amounts, or a balanced recipe with supplements
  • Calorie targets and a weight check schedule
  • Instructions for transitioning foods
  • Guidance for your veterinarian on monitoring and rechecks

Not sure a consult is needed? Many healthy pets do well on a well-chosen commercial food. Our dog food guide shows how to pick one the way veterinary nutritionists do.

Common Questions

Consultation FAQs

Can I get an online veterinary nutritionist consultation?

Yes. Many board-certified veterinary nutritionists consult remotely by reviewing records and talking with you and your veterinarian. The vetspecialists.com directory notes which specialists offer remote consults.

Do I need a referral from my vet?

Requirements vary. Some services accept owner requests directly, while others require your veterinarian to submit a request and records. Either way, involving your vet makes the consultation more useful.

How much does a veterinary nutritionist consultation cost?

Fees vary by provider and case complexity. As one published example, Tufts lists $368 for its remote heart disease nutrition consultation. Ask what follow-up is included before you book.

How long does a consultation take?

Expect time for record review before the appointment, the consultation itself, and a written plan afterward. Turnaround varies by service, so ask when booking.

What do I get from a consultation?

Usually a written diet plan: either specific commercial foods with feeding amounts, or a balanced home-cooked recipe with supplements, plus guidance on monitoring and follow-up.