As a veterinarian with a background in clinical nutrition, I’ve seen firsthand how powerful the right diet can be in managing everything from kidney disease to obesity, pancreatitis to food allergies. I’ve also seen how easily good intentions can go sideways when pet parents rely on marketing claims, TikTok tips, or a friend’s advice instead of science.

Let’s clear the air on some common misconceptions, and more importantly, let’s talk about how to feed our dogs and cats better, starting today.

1. “If It’s Sold in a Store, It Must Be Safe and Balanced.”

This is probably the most widespread myth. Many pet owners assume that if a food is on the shelf, or even labeled “premium” or “natural”, it meets all the nutritional needs of their pet.

But here’s the truth: not all pet food is created equal, and not all are truly complete and balanced.

Look for the AAFCO statement on the bag or can. This tells you whether the food meets the minimum nutritional requirements for your pet’s life stage (puppy/kitten, adult, or senior). Without this, there’s no guarantee the food provides what your pet actually needs to survive, let alone thrive.

2. “Grain-Free Is Better.”

Unless your pet has a confirmed grain allergy (and those are very rare), grain-free diets may do more harm than good.

In recent years, we’ve seen a concerning link between grain-free diets and canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a potentially fatal heart condition. While research is still ongoing, many cardiologists and nutritionists are urging caution.

Whole grains like brown rice and oatmeal can be excellent sources of fiber, vitamins, and energy. Don’t demonize grains without cause. The problem is not the presence of grains, but often the excessive use of legumes or potatoes to replace them, which may affect taurine levels and heart health.

3. “Raw or Homemade Is the Healthiest Way to Feed.”

I get it. The appeal of raw or homemade diets is strong, especially if you’re someone who eats clean yourself. But these diets often lack crucial nutrients, unless they’re carefully formulated by a board-certified veterinary nutritionist.

In practice, I’ve seen homemade diets with:

• Too much or too little calcium and phosphorus (critical for bone health)
  
• Vitamin D toxicity from over-supplementation
  
• Protein sources that are inappropriate for a pet with kidney or liver disease
  

Raw diets also carry a risk of bacterial contamination (for both pets and humans) and may not be safe for immunocompromised animals.

Want to cook for your pet? Great, just work with a vet who specializes in nutrition to get it right.

4. “My Pet Is Overweight, But It’s Just a Few Pounds.”

I promise I’m not being dramatic when I say this: a few extra pounds can shorten your pet’s life. A 2018 study showed that dogs who maintained a healthy body condition lived up to 2.5 years longer than their overweight littermates.

Obesity increases the risk of:

• Arthritis
  
• Diabetes
  
• Heart disease
  
• Certain cancers
  

If I gently mention weight concerns during a visit, it’s not to shame, it’s to help your pet feel better, move easier, and live longer. Together, we can find a diet plan that supports healthy weight loss without depriving your pet of enjoyment.

5. “If My Pet’s Not Vomiting or Scratching, the Food Must Be Fine.”

Subtle signs of poor nutrition often fly under the radar:

• A dull coat
  
• Chronic soft stool or flatulence
  
• Low energy
  
• Frequent ear infections or skin issues
  
• Bad breath despite dental cleanings
  

These may be nutrition-related. The absence of vomiting doesn’t mean the diet is ideal, it just means it’s not causing acute problems. Let’s aim higher than “not vomiting.”

6. “I Don’t Need a Vet to Talk About Food.”

I know nutrition advice is everywhere: blogs, YouTube, pet store clerks. But veterinary nutrition is a science, not a guessing game. I’ve had years of training in this area and still learn more every month. It’s not about selling a particular brand, it’s about using food as part of medical care.

Whether your pet is perfectly healthy or has complex health issues, their food should match their breed, age, lifestyle, and medical history. No influencer or bag label can account for that the way your vet can.

A Simple Way to Start

If you’re feeling overwhelmed or unsure what to feed, start here:

• Check the label for an AAFCO statement.
  
• Choose a food that matches your pet’s life stage and health needs.
  
• Ask your vet (yes, really!) for their recommendation based on your pet’s exam and lab work.
  

And if your pet has a chronic illness or unique dietary needs, ask about a referral to a veterinary nutritionist. They can even formulate custom diets tailored to your pet.

Nutrition Is Medical Care

The food you give your dog or cat isn’t just fuel, it’s treatment. It’s prevention. It’s daily medicine disguised as dinner. And when you get it right, it can support everything from immune function to joint health, energy, and longevity.

So don’t leave it up to marketing. Let’s talk about what’s really in that bowl.

The post Nutrition First: What Pet Owners Get Wrong About Feeding Their Dogs and Cats appeared first on Karen Smolen.

As a veterinarian, you never stop learning. New research, new protocols, new expectations, from pet parents, colleagues, and your own standards. Add in the unexpected (which shows up daily in veterinary medicine), and you realize pretty quickly: if you’re not open to feedback, you’re not growing.

It took me a few years in practice to shift my mindset from “I hope I got it right” to “How can I do this better next time?” But that shift, fueled by feedback, has made me a more confident, collaborative, and effective vet. It’s also changed how I show up in another part of my life: as a drummer in a local band.

The two roles might seem worlds apart, but both have taught me the same thing: feedback is a gift, and growth is a choice.

Weekly Reflection: The Habit That Changed My Practice

I used to finish a long day in the clinic and immediately jump into recovery mode, dinner, maybe a short walk, collapse into bed. But that pace left little room for reflection, and I found myself repeating the same frustrations, missing the same opportunities to improve.

Now, I make time once a week, usually Sunday afternoon, to sit down with a journal or laptop and reflect:

• What cases challenged me this week?
  
• Did I communicate clearly with pet parents?
  
• What did a technician teach me without realizing it?
  
• Where did I feel unsure—and how can I learn more?
  

This isn’t about beating myself up. It’s about staying intentional. Weekly reflection helps me celebrate small wins and pinpoint areas to grow. It reminds me that even after years in practice, I’m still a work in progress, and that’s something to be proud of.

From the Exam Room to the Rehearsal Room

Drumming has been part of my life even longer than veterinary medicine. I’ve played since I was a teenager, and these days I rehearse with a band most weeks. Like vet med, music is all about timing, teamwork, and responsiveness. You don’t play in isolation, you’re constantly adjusting to what others are doing.

The parallel I didn’t expect? How much constructive feedback in music helped me become more open to it at work. When a bandmate says, “Try the bridge with a lighter touch,” I don’t take it personally—I take it as part of making the whole song better. That mindset now shows up in the clinic, too. When a colleague suggests a different treatment plan or a client challenges my communication, I try to listen, not defend. Because we’re all working toward the same goal: helping the animal in front of us.

Constructive Criticism Builds Confidence

It sounds counterintuitive, but it’s true: the more constructive criticism I get, the more confident I become. Why? Because it means I’m surrounded by people who want me to succeed. Feedback, especially the kind that nudges you out of your comfort zone, is a sign of respect. It says, “I believe you can do even better.”

This holds true with my vet techs, my peers, and even my clients. I’ve learned to ask:

• “Was that explanation clear?”
  
• “Do you feel we addressed your concerns?”
  
• “What would you like us to do differently next time?”
  

Sometimes the answers sting. But they always help me sharpen my approach—and serve my patients better.

A Culture of Feedback Starts With You

Veterinary medicine can feel isolating if you’re not intentional about connection. That’s why I try to normalize feedback with my team. I make it a habit to ask for it, thank people when they offer it, and share what I’m working on improving. I also offer positive feedback as much as I can, especially to newer vets and techs. We all need to hear, “You did that well” just as much as “Here’s how to improve.”

When feedback flows both ways, everyone feels safer to learn, grow, and be human. And let’s be honest—no one goes into vet med to be perfect. We go into it to make a difference. That takes humility and community.

Lifelong Learning, On the Job and Off the Stage

Whether I’m at a continuing ed seminar or learning a new drum pattern, I try to approach it all with the same mindset: be teachable. There’s always something to refine, something to rethink, something to try again. That mindset keeps my practice evolving, and makes the hard days feel meaningful.

And just like in drumming, you can’t improve if you never miss a beat. The stumbles are part of the learning. What matters is whether you show up the next day ready to adjust.

Final Take: Keep Listening, Keep Growing

Being a vet isn’t about always getting it right, it’s about getting better over time. Feedback helps me do that. It’s the throughline between my work, my music, and how I want to live my life.

So whether I’m navigating a tricky diagnosis or syncing with a bass player during a live show, I try to stay open, stay grounded, and keep learning.

If you’re not in the habit of asking for feedback, start small. Reflect weekly. Invite input. Make space for growth. It won’t always be comfortable, but it will always be worth it.

The post How Feedback Fuels My Growth — In the Clinic and Behind the Drum Kit appeared first on Karen Smolen.