If your dog had an upset tummy, you’d likely turn to your vet. If they had itchy skin or ear infections, again, most of us would head straight to the clinic. But here’s a question that might surprise you: how much do vets in the UK actually learn about nutrition?

The answer might leave you uncomfortable. In many UK veterinary degrees, nutrition is covered for less than a day—sometimes just one hour. And the limited training they do receive? It’s often sponsored by the same corporations who manufacture ultra-processed pet foods, including Nestlé (Purina) and Mars (Pedigree, Royal Canin, Whiskas)—yes, the same people behind chocolate bars and sugary cereals.

So, how did this happen? And why does it matter?

Vets and Nutrition: A Glaring Educational Gap

Veterinary students in the UK undergo five or more years of intense study to become fully qualified. They learn about anatomy, physiology, disease, pharmacology and surgery. But when it comes to nutrition—the very thing that keeps animals healthy in the first place—the curriculum is alarmingly thin.

Many UK vet schools rely on corporate-sponsored lectures, where the curriculum may be heavily biased toward the products those companies sell. Royal Canin and Hill’s Pet Nutrition (owned by Colgate-Palmolive) often provide textbooks, teaching materials and even ‘expert’ guest speakers.

Imagine if NHS doctors received most of their nutrition advice from McDonald’s or Kellogg’s—it would be unthinkable. Yet for pets, this has become the norm.

Who’s Doing the Teaching?

Mars and Nestlé are not veterinary organisations. They are multinational food conglomerates with profit at the core of their operations. Mars owns brands like Royal Canin, James Wellbeloved and Pedigree. Nestlé owns Purina, Bakers and Winalot. Their training materials encourage lifelong feeding of their branded products, many of which are ultra-processed, carbohydrate-heavy and low in fresh meat.

While some of their ranges are ‘prescription’ diets, these are still made in the same factories, using the same extrusion processes that can damage delicate nutrients and enzymes. And yet, these companies are the gatekeepers of nutritional advice in veterinary schools.

The Human Parallel: Fresh Food is the Future

Here’s the irony. Most doctors now recommend that humans eat fewer processed foods and more fresh, whole ingredients. Campaigns like the NHS “Eatwell Guide” and global studies like The Lancet’s report on diet and health make it clear: ultra-processed foods are linked to obesity, diabetes, heart disease and shorter lifespans.

So why do we accept a different standard for our pets?

Dogs, like humans, thrive on fresh, minimally processed foods. A growing number of pet parents are recognising this and switching to raw or lightly cooked diets made with real meat, vegetables and healthy fats. These diets often mirror a more natural, ancestral way of eating for dogs and are linked anecdotally—and increasingly scientifically—to improvements in coat health, digestion, weight control, and even behaviour.

A Better Way Forward

At Poppy’s Picnic, we’ve always believed in fresh, real food for dogs, made with ingredients you’d recognise from your own kitchen. Our meals are FEDIAF-compliant, gently prepared, and naturally balanced without synthetic additives. We were the first in the UK to balance our raw food using fresh vegetables and herbs, not vitamin powders.

We see the results daily—from fussy dogs licking the bowl clean to owners reporting fewer vet visits and happier, more energetic pets.

Final Thoughts

This isn’t about blaming vets. They do an incredible job, often under intense pressure, and many are now questioning the food advice they were taught. But the system needs to change. Just as we wouldn’t accept Coca-Cola teaching schoolchildren about nutrition, we shouldn’t accept Nestlé or Mars doing it for our vets.

If you’re curious about improving your dog’s health through food, don’t be afraid to ask questions and explore beyond the kibble aisle. Just like us, dogs deserve fresh, wholesome meals to live long, vibrant lives.

Explore our range of fresh raw and gently cooked meals here: Poppy’s Picnic Shop

Your dog is worth more than a chocolate-sponsored diet.