NEW YORK — Fresh dog food company The Farmer’s Dog announced its sponsorship of a veterinary nutrition residency at the University of Tennessee (UT) College of Veterinary Medicine, which is home to a veterinary obesity clinic. According to the company, the sponsorship represents a milestone for the fresh pet food industry. 

The residency aligns with The Farmer’s Dog’s dedication to evidence-based pet health research, while also helping support the next generation of veterinary nutritionists, according to the company. 

“Veterinarians have always been critical partners in helping us improve the lives of dogs, and sponsoring this residency program is one of the many ways we're putting real, tangible support to continue that partnership,” said Jonathan Regev, co-founder and chief executive officer of The Farmer’s Dog. “We’re excited to work with a top-tier institution — like UT — to help equip veterinary residents with the tools, knowledge and support they need to flourish and lead lasting progress in pet health. 

“The Farmer’s Dog’s mission is to improve pets’ lives through minimally processed, science-backed food, and we’re proud to support the veterinary community that makes this progress possible,” he added.

The two-year program was developed by faculty at UT’s College of Veterinary Medicine. It meets standards for board eligibility set by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM). 

The Farmer’s Dog’s sponsorship is designed to fund the training of a selected resident in clinical nutrition to help prepare them for board certification. The resident will receive clinical, teaching and didactic training, with a focus on research and scholarly activity under the mentorship of UT faculty members, as well as board-certified veterinary nutritionists Angela Rollins, DVM, Ph.D., and Maryanne Murphy, DVM, Ph.D.

“Programs like this are critically important to develop the next generation of veterinary nutritionists and leaders in animal health,” Rollins said. “The Farmer’s Dog’s support allows us to expand on crucial nutrition-based training opportunities while also elevating clinical practice and research standards in pet nutrition.”

Murphy added, “There’s been a lot more interest lately in the science behind fresh, human-grade dog food. This program lets a resident dig deeper into that research.”

Sponsoring this residency furthers The Farmer’s Dog’s goal to advance pet wellness science. In March, the company announced a $10 million investment in veterinary research, residencies, grants and clinical studies on canine hydration, metabolomics, relative supersaturation and other dog wellness topics.

Read more news from pet food manufacturers.