The best part of my job is getting to meet so many amazing pet owners, and the pets they care for.

Because we specialize in dealing with difficult issues, through diet and supplementation, we tend to have more than our share of special pets whose owners rely on us. Sometimes, we get a very short time together but it is our goal to make that time the best it can be.

Fortunately, in many cases, we can discover solutions together that result in very good, long-term outcomes. Watching pets come into the store or seeing them in pictures or videos enjoying new verve through our efforts together is very satisfying — indeed, it’s the best part of the job.

I wish we could solve the issues every new friend has, but some issues just cannot be resolved, regardless the effort.

My latest concern is that there is still a disconnect between nutrition and veterinary care. For some reason, people tend to budget their pets’ nutrition a lot differently than their pets’ medical care. I understand — when the vet says “Your pet needs this procedure, and it costs this amount”, there’s not a lot you can do.

The thing is, you should have a similar outlook when thinking about your pets’ nutrition and supplements. These are part of your pet’s veterinary care — a large component of keeping them healthy and out of the vet office.

In many cases, addressing issues though diet and supplements can be a lot less expensive than treating issues caused by not addressing your animal’s nutritional needs. Many issues can have a large nutritional component, or even be completely cured through improving diet.

Inflammation, mobility, and obesity are all issues that can be addressed through simple diet changes. Allergies, skin and coat issues, digestive issues, and dental concerns are all things that — by spending a little more at your nutrition store — you can save on at the veterinary office.

I’m not saying every issue can be addressed by a change in diet or adding a supplement, but my clients tell me that, overall, feeding a better diet and appropriate supplements saves them money. Best of all, it keeps their pets healthier and happier for a longer time.

Nutrition is the foundation of health, for us or our pets. We have free will, and that, unfortunately is the downfall for many of us with our own diets. For our pets, we can make sure they only get what is best for them, and help them live better lives.

If we start thinking about nutrition as a veterinary expense and stop looking for the best deal on a giant bag of food from a warehouse store, I think a lot of lives could be changed.

There isn’t a better example of “An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure” than nutrition for our pets.