Program Represents a Milestone for the Fresh Pet Food Industry
NEW YORK – The Farmer’s Dog, the leading fresh pet food company dedicated to helping dogs live longer, healthier lives, today announced the sponsorship of a veterinary nutrition residency at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine — home to the nation’s leading veterinary obesity clinic. The sponsorship represents a milestone for the fresh pet food industry and underscores The Farmer’s Dog’s continued commitment to rigorous, evidence-based pet health research, while nurturing the next generation of leaders in veterinary nutrition.
“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 CEO 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.”
The two-year program, developed by faculty at the University of Tennessee’s College of Veterinary Medicine, meets the standards for board eligibility set by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM). The sponsorship is designed to fully fund the training of a select resident in clinical nutrition, preparing them for board certification through the ACVIM (Nutrition). The resident will receive extensive clinical, teaching, and didactic training with a strong emphasis on research and scholarly activity—all under the mentorship of esteemed UT faculty members and Board-Certified Veterinary Nutritionists®, Angela Rollins, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (Nutrition), and Maryanne Murphy, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (Nutrition).
“Programs like this are critically important to develop the next generation of veterinary nutritionists and leaders in animal health,” said Dr. Rollins. “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.”
“There’s been a lot more interest lately in the science behind fresh, human-grade dog food,” said Dr. Murphy. “This program lets a resident dig deeper into that research.”
This announcement builds on The Farmer’s Dog’s commitment to advancing science in the pet wellness sector — including an additional $10 million investment in veterinary research and groundbreaking studies on topics such as canine hydration, metabolomics, relative supersaturation, and more. With more than one billion meals served to date, The Farmer’s Dog is proud to further its mission to improve pet health and well-being nationwide.
The Farmer’s Dog’s goal is that this program will contribute to the growing body of published research in animal health, open doors for new clinical nutrition training opportunities, and ultimately shape the future of pet health through academic partnerships and scientific collaboration.
Applications for the veterinary nutrition residency at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine are currently open, and eligible candidates are welcome to visit the college online at vetmed.tennessee.edu/academics/internships-and-residencies.
About The Farmer’s Dog: For more than a decade, The Farmer’s Dog has been setting a higher bar for pet care by providing freshly cooked, minimally processed, and personalized meal plans designed to help dogs live longer, healthier lives. Our on-staff team of Board-Certified Veterinary Nutritionists®, PhD nutritionists, and veterinarians work to develop recipes packed with the nutrients dogs need, while avoiding the downsides of excess processing. Every meal is 100% complete and balanced, made to human-grade safety standards, and delivered directly to customers’ doors. The Farmer’s Dog brings peace of mind to dog owners by helping them do their best for their dogs. Available at www.thefarmersdog.com.
About the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine: For more than 50 years, the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine has focused on advancing animal, human, and environmental health. This mission is accomplished through educating students in the art and science of veterinary medicine and related biomedical sciences, discovering and disseminating new knowledge to veterinarians and others, and providing exceptional veterinary care to animals. UTCVM is part of the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, which also includes the Herbert College of Agriculture, UT AgResearch, and UT Extension. Through its land-grant mission of teaching, research, and outreach, the Institute touches lives and provides Real. Life. Solutions. to Tennesseans and beyond. utia.tennessee.edu.