The Short Definition
A board-certified veterinary nutritionist is a licensed veterinarian who completed advanced training in clinical nutrition and passed a specialty board examination. In the U.S., the specialty is overseen by the American College of Veterinary Nutrition (ACVN), and in 2021 the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine added nutrition as its sixth specialty. You will see the credential written as DACVN or DACVIM (Nutrition) after their name.
How Veterinary Nutritionists Train
- Undergraduate degree, usually with heavy science coursework
- Veterinary school (DVM or VMD), typically four years
- Clinical experience, often a rotating internship or time in practice
- A multi-year clinical nutrition residency under board-certified supervisors
- Publication and case requirements, then a specialty board examination
The path is long, which is why there are so few of them. The AVMA counted 89 active ACVN diplomates in the U.S. as of December 31, 2022 (AVMA).
What A Veterinary Nutritionist Does
- Designs therapeutic diets for kidney, liver, heart, gastrointestinal and skin disease
- Formulates complete and balanced home-cooked recipes
- Builds weight loss plans for overweight dogs and cats
- Manages pets with multiple conditions whose diet needs conflict
- Supports feeding during cancer treatment, recovery and critical illness
- Advises pet food companies on formulation and testing
Veterinary Nutritionist Vs. Other Pet Nutrition Titles
| Title | Typical Training | Works With Your Pet's Medical History? |
|---|---|---|
| Board-certified veterinary nutritionist (DACVN / DACVIM Nutrition) | DVM, nutrition residency, board exam | Yes |
| Animal nutritionist | Degree in animal or nutritional science, often a PhD | Rarely; usually formulates for groups of animals or products |
| Veterinarian with an interest in nutrition | DVM, plus continuing education | Yes, for routine nutrition questions |
| Pet nutrition coach or advisor | Varies widely; no standard required | No |
"Pet nutritionist" is not a protected title, so check credentials before paying for diet advice.
Where Veterinary Nutritionists Work
- Veterinary teaching hospitals, such as Cornell, Tufts and NC State
- Private specialty and referral hospitals
- Remote consulting services that work with owners and their veterinarians
- Pet food companies; Hill's, for example, says it has board-certified specialists in nutrition at its Topeka pet nutrition center (Hill's)
How To Find One
Start with your regular veterinarian, who can refer you and share records. You can also search the specialist directory at vetspecialists.com. Many veterinary nutritionists work remotely, so location is rarely a barrier. Our consultation guide walks through the options.