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  • This episode of the Pet Industry Podcast features Dr. Megan Sprinkle discussing the significance and science behind postbiotics in pet nutrition with guests from Cargill, Dr. Mark Franklin and Laurence Mills.

    Dr. Franklin, with over 25 years of experience in animal nutrition, and Mills, the business development manager for Cargill in Europe, delve into the opportunities and benefits of using postbiotics in pet food. They address the lack of strong research on pet food ingredients and emphasize the importance of scientific validation in promoting pet health. The discussion includes insights into Cargill's background in fermentation, the definition and benefits of postbiotics compared to prebiotics and probiotics, and the challenges and opportunities in developing and marketing postbiotic pet products.

    The conversation also touches on the consumer and brand advantages of postbiotics, including consistent health benefits across a brand's product lines and the ability to trademark licenses for marketing purposes. The episode concludes with thoughts on innovation in the pet industry and sustainability in pet nutrition.

  • In this episode of the Pet Industry Podcast, your host, Dr. Megan Sprinkle, and the BSM Partners' research team explore the debate over grain-free dog food and potential links to dilated cardiomyopathy or DCM in dogs. They delve into the research done by BSM Partners and co-author, board-certified veterinary cardiologist, Dr. Stacey Leach regarding where in the body to measure two important heart nutrients: taurine and carnitine. Different places in the body where these nutrients can be measured include blood plasma, whole blood, and skeletal and heart muscle.

    The researchers find that there is no correlation between concentrations of taurine or carnitine in blood compared to what's happening in the heart. Therefore, measuring blood levels of carnitine and taurine is not an adequate indication of heart health.

    In this episode, you will also discover what is common in this heart condition in people as you hear from a human cardiologist.

    The BSM Research team includes:

    Stephanie Clark, PhD, CVT, PAS, CFS, Dpl. ACAS, VTS (Nutrition)Sydney McCauley, PhD, PAS, Dpl. ACASBrad Quest, DVMRenee Streeter, DVM, DACVIM (Nutrition)

    Resources:

    Learn more about BSM Partners on our website. Learn more about the BSM Partners research. Episode on research on digestibility of grain-inclusive and grain-free diets. Episode to learn more about Dr. Leach's role in the research. Learn more about our guest cardiologist, Dr. Niteesh Chitturu.

    Show Notes:

    00:00 Introduction to the Pet Industry Podcast

    00:12 The Controversy Surrounding Grain-Free Dog Food

    00:35 The Importance of Scientific Studies in Pet Nutrition

    01:00 Exploring the Link Between Diet and Heart Disease in Dogs

    01:36 The Role of Blood and Plasma in Veterinary Diagnostics

    01:49 Introducing the BSM Research Team and Their Study

    01:53 The Limitations of Blood Tests in Diagnosing Heart Conditions

    02:51 The Role of Diet in Human Cardiology

    04:13 The Impact of Obesity on Heart Health

    04:48 The Genetic Link to Dilated Cardiomyopathy

    06:11 The Role of Nutrition in Heart Health

    08:37 The Challenges of Measuring Nutrient Levels in the Body

    09:05 The BSM Research Team's Approach to Studying Diet and Heart Disease

    09:10 The Importance of Taurine and Carnitine in Canine Nutrition

    11:17 The Challenges of Conducting Research in Veterinary Medicine

    24:50 The Importance of Proper Sample Size in Research

    27:34 Understanding Correlation in Research Studies

    28:01 Understanding Correlation Plots

    28:01 Pearson's Correlation Coefficient Explained

    28:01 Correlation vs Causation: A Fun Example

    28:37 Comparing Whole Blood and...

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  • Pet Industry Podcast: The Rise of Chickens as Pets | Featuring Sean Warner of Grubbly Farms

    Step aside puppies; we have poultry as pets! In this episode of the Pet Industry Podcast, hosts Dr. Megan Sprinkle and Dr. Mary Cope welcome Sean Warner, co-founder, and CEO of Grubbly Farms, a company focusing on creating premium products for poultry. Sean shares insights on the increasing popularity of chickens as pets, discusses the challenges and opportunities within the poultry pet industry, and explains how Grubbly Farms sources its insect protein and formulates its chicken feed.

    They also cover the topic of balancing sustainability concerns with providing nutrition and health benefits for pet birds. If you're interested in the pet industry, sustainable farming or backyard poultry, then this episode is a must-watch.

    For more information on pet chickens and how it's impacting the pet industry read our website article.

    Show Notes:

    00:00 Introduction to the Pet Industry Podcast

    00:15 The Rise of Poultry in the Pet Industry

    00:39 Interview with Sean Warner, CEO of Grubbly Farms

    01:21 Sean's Journey into the Poultry Industry

    03:09 The Role of Insects in Poultry Nutrition

    04:34 The Sustainability Aspect of Insect Protein

    08:53 Understanding the Challenges of Backyard Poultry

    09:02 The Legalities and Practicalities of Keeping Chickens

    13:14 The Importance of Proper Nutrition for Poultry

    14:09 The Future of Poultry Nutrition

    40:27 The Impact of Poultry Ownership on Other Pet Choices

    47:47 Closing Remarks and Podcast Outro

    About BSM Partners: 

    BSM Partners is a multidisciplinary team of PhDs, board-certified veterinarians and nutritionists offering 400+ years of cumulative technical experience, supporting the development of thousands of products per year. From R&D to replenishment, we have you covered. 

    BSM Partners offers a wide range of services including research, product innovation, FSQAR, nutrition services, veterinary services, transformation, operations support, and engineering. 

    Learn more at https://bsmpartners.net/ 

    BSM Partners on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/bsm-partners/

    More on pet chickens

  • In a world full of information, it can be hard to navigate what is true and helpful in taking care of our pets. We at BSM Partners want to help demystify some of this with The Pet Industry Podcast and bring you people we think are also on that mission.

    Today, co-hosts, Dr. Mary Cope, PhD & Dr. Megan Sprinkle, DVM talk with a pet industry game-changer who is passionate about pets and is making the pet industry better for pet families. In this conversation that was recorded at the 2023 SUPERZOO, you will learn about many aspects of the pet industry including some of the biggest challenges.

    About the Guest:

    Jamie Damato Migdal is the CEO and founder of FetchFind, which is a platform and service that is revolutionizing pet care education. Jamie has been innovating within the pet industry for over 25 years. A sought-after consultant and public speaker, Jamie has built four national pet service companies and has wide-ranging industry expertise in education, technology, business development, sales, marketing, and management. Her fourth and current company, FetchFind, provides staff training and engagement, as well as digital marketing and other business solutions, to pet care services and pet-friendly companies around the globe. Jamie has been a pet radio host and in 2018/2019 was on an expert board for Pet Smart to help uplevel their grooming and training services.

    Show Notes:

    (01:47)  How a passion for animals created several successful and inspiring business opportunities

    (13:15)  Exploring the human-animal bond

    (15:59)  How the human-animal bond became the basis of a business

    (20:25)  Striking the balance between passion for animals and business decisions

    (23:15)  Why the pet industry retains top talent

    (24:24)  The magic that happens when you bring passionate people together

    (27:02)  How business relationships start to fracture

    (30:08)  The biggest challenges for the pet industry

    (32:11)  The intersection of technology, education, and the pet industry

    (34:28)  What the ideal pet industry looks like

    (35:59)  How to create the ideal pet industry

    (39:00)  How pet parents can benefit from a unified educational system

    (41:59)  Jaime reveals her pet family

    (45:00)  Who is Jaime’s role model and why?

    About BSM Partners: 

    BSM Partners is a multidisciplinary team of PhDs, board-certified veterinarians and nutritionists offering 400+ years of cumulative technical experience, supporting the development of thousands of products per year. From R&D to replenishment, we have you covered. 

    BSM Partners offers a wide range of services including research, product innovation, FSQAR, nutrition services, veterinary services, transformation, operations support, and engineering. 

    Learn more at https://bsmpartners.net/ 

    BSM Partners on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/bsm-partners/

  • In this episode, Dr. Megan Sprinkle and Dr. Mary Cope from BSM sit down with Adam Geiger and Allison Millican from Zinpro to discuss what colostrum is, how colostrum can benefit our pets, and how pet parents should use colostrum in their pet's daily diets!

    To learn more about colostrum, check out this article: https://bsmpartners.net/resources/bovine-colostrum-utilization-in-pets

    About Zinpro:

    With over 50 years of experience, Zinpro provides a full range of products, services, and expertise to ensure every animal gets everything they need to maximize well-being and productivity. They do this by developing a comprehensive group of tools, programs, and solutions that help improve animal health and maximize productivity.

    Show Notes:

    (01:39)  Who are today’s guests?

    (04:35)  What is Colostrum?  Why give it to our pets?

    (07:51)  How does Colostrum from a cow benefit a dog?

    (10:15)  Is Colostrum only for young pets?

    (14:45)  Does Colostrum keep our pet's guts happy and healthy?

    (19:05)  How is Colostrum different than supermarket milk?

    (21:36)  How do pet owners know the quality of Colostrum?

    (24:09)  How is Colostrum labeled on products?

    (26:40)  What are the misconceptions about Colostrum?

    (33:59)  Key takeaways about Colostrum for pet owners.

    (37:05)  Could Colostrum be incorporated into a balanced pet diet?

    (39:32)  Is Colostrum available as a supplement?

    (43:31)  Summary on today’s topic.

    About BSM Partners: 

    BSM Partners is a multidisciplinary team of PhDs, board-certified veterinarians and nutritionists offering 400+ years of cumulative technical experience, supporting the development of thousands of products per year. From R&D to replenishment, we have you covered. 

    BSM Partners offers a wide range of services including research, product innovation, FSQAR, nutrition services, veterinary services, transformation, operations support, and engineering. 

    Learn more at https://bsmpartners.net/ 

    BSM Partners on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/bsm-partners/

  • Over the past few years, there have been many conversations stirred around diet-associated DCM (dilated cardiomyopathy) in dogs. Some wondered if grain-free diets have been the cause. In the longest and most detailed research study, BSM Partners researchers have some interesting findings that are discussed for the first time publicly.

    In this episode, Dr. Megan Sprinkle and Dr. Mary Cope speak with research team members, including Dr. Renee Streeter, Dr. Brad Quest, Dr. Stephanie Clark, and Dr. Sydney Mccauley. The panel discusses the results of their research study with board-certified veterinary cardiologist, Dr. Stacey Leach.

    Join us and dive further into your dog's bowl to uncover new information to help you make informed decisions for your pet!

    BSM Partners 

    BSM Partners is a multidisciplinary team of PhDs, board-certified veterinarians, and nutritionists offering 400+ years of cumulative technical experience, supporting the development of thousands of products per year. From R&D to replenishment, we have you covered. 

    BSM Partners offers a wide range of services including research, product innovation, FSQAR, nutrition services, veterinary services, transformation, operations support, and engineering. 

    Learn more at https://bsmpartners.net/ 

    Read the full research paper at https://doi.org/10.3389/fanim.2023.1271202

    Show Notes:

    (02:40)  Testing Different Diets and the Impact on the Heart

    (06:20)  What Exactly Did the Team Test For?

    (07:46)  The Logic Behind Testing Different Diets

    (09:31)  Why the Research Team Created Their Own Diet to Test

    (12:37)  Who Formulated the Diets to Test

    (15:08)  The Impact Nutrients Have on the Intestinal Track

    (18:01)  Do Specific Dog Breeds Have Higher Rates of DCM?

    (23:51)  Were Some Dogs Excluded from the Study?

    (25:50)  How Long Did the Study Last?

    (27:31)  What Exactly is an Echocardiogram?

    (30:17)  The Advantages of Veterinary Cardiologists

    (35:24)  How the Team Ensures Impartiality in the Study

    (37:45)  What the Research Team Did to Test the Dogs

    (39:45)  The Impact of Covid on Testing

    (43:32)  How the Team Ensured that Dogs Maintained Proper Weight

    (46:47)  What are the Results of the Study?

    Mentioned in this episode:

    Kibble Con Commercial MJ

  • In this episode, Dr. Megan Sprinkle and Dr. Mary Cope speak with research team members, including Dr. Renee Streeter, Dr. Brad Quest, Dr. Stephanie Clark, and Dr. Sydney Mccauley. The panel discusses the results of their research study with geneticist Dr. Andria Beal, founder of EpiPaws.

    Have you ever wondered if diet ingredients have an impact on your dog's health? Have you heard the word 'digestibility' and wondered why it matters? Want to learn more about how diet impacts your dog's microbiome? In this episode, the team talks about the research discoveries and how the results may impact our dogs. Join us and dive further into your dog's bowl to uncover new information to help you make informed decisions for your pet!

    BSM Partners 

    BSM Partners is a multidisciplinary team of PhDs, board-certified veterinarians, and nutritionists offering 400+ years of cumulative technical experience, supporting the development of thousands of products per year. From R&D to replenishment, we have you covered. 

    BSM Partners offers a wide range of services including research, product innovation, FSQAR, nutrition services, veterinary services, transformation, operations support, and engineering. 

    Learn more at https://bsmpartners.net/ 

    Show Notes:

    (01:55)  What is this study about?  Why should you care?

    (03:13)  The reasons behind doing the study.

    (07:34)  Why digestibility is important in nutrition.

    (12:07)  What is epigenomics and why is it important for your pet?

    (13:45)  How did the research team conduct their study?

    (18:52)  Macronutrients: What are they?

    (19:11)  Why it’s important to have tight control over an experiment.

    (21:40)  Helping manufacturers improve the consistency of their pet food.

    (24:12)  The importance of testing purebred and mixed-breed dogs.

    (26:55)  What data was collected?

    (28:38)  What the effects of different foods were on heart health.

    (32:31)  Key findings from the study.

    (38:01)  The surprising result of the study.

    (40:23)   The major finding: What’s good for us is good for our pets?

    (42:22)  What this study means for pet owners.

    (47:17)  The main takeaway.

    To read the paper in the Journal of Animal Science: https://academic.oup.com/jas/article/doi/10.1093/jas/skad268/7239847

    Read more about this research on our BSM Partners website: https://bsmpartners.net/resources/the-impact-of-protein-source-and-grain-inclusion-on-digestibility-fecal-metabolites-and-fecal-microbiome-in-adult-canines/

  • In this episode, Dr. Megan Sprinkle and Dr. Mary Cope speak with Vic Mason, the President of the World Pet Association (WPA). They talk about what the WPA is and its goals, how the WPA helps you and your pet, and how you can make the most of your time at SUPERZOO.

    Links:

    World Pet Association Website

    SUPERZOO Website

    Show Notes:

    (03:04)  How a part-time job in his uncle’s pet store influenced Vic to dedicate his life to pets

    (04:08)  Vic’s journey in the pet industry

    (06:25)  What is the World Pet Association (WPA)

    (07:45)  The goal of WPA

    (09:16)  How the WPA powered through Covid

    (11:54)  The three big reasons people attend SUPERZOO

    (14:36)  How the WPA improves the pet industry through education

    (16:22)  SUPERZOO is more than just dogs and cats

    (18:37)  Critter Alley: bringing all pets to SUPERZOO

    (21:57)  Why the WPA strives to get pet associations working together

    (23:00)  How WPA works with international pet organizations

    (24:25)  How the industry can more involved with legal issues.

    (25:59)  How Vic became a "Doctor Doolittle"

    (27:25)  What Vic sees as the future for pet product retail

    (29:07)  How WPA strives to have the best information about pet care

    (31:06)  What is the foundation to pet care

    (33:03)  The most important goal for the president of WPA

    (34:49)  What Vic thinks about BSM Partners

    (38:21)  How Vic continues to learn

    (39:13)  What WPA does at SUPERZOO that creates fun

    About Today's Guest Vic Mason:

    Vic Mason became president of the World Pet Association in 2020, bringing 40 years of experience in the pet space including CEO and co-founder of the pet food company, Replenish Pet and past director of business development for Veterinary Service Inc., a West Coast animal health product distributor. Mason has served as a WPA board member since 2010 and was chairman before taking the role of president.

    About BSM Partners:

    BSM Partners is a multidisciplinary team of PhDs, board-certified veterinarians, and nutritionists offering 400+ years of cumulative technical experience, supporting the development of thousands of products per year. From R&D to replenishment, we have you covered.

    BSM Partners offers a wide range of services including research, product innovation, FSQAR, nutrition services, veterinary services, transformation, operations support, and engineering.

    Learn more at https://bsmpartners.net/

    Transcript:

    Dr. Megan Sprinkle, BSM: Welcome to the Pet Industry podcast, connecting you with the people behind the passion, the leading experts in the pet industry. I'm your host, Dr. Megan Sprinkle.

    Dr. Mary Cope: And I'm your other host, Dr. Mary Cope.

    Dr. Megan Sprinkle, BSM: Did you know that there is a pet industry, trade organization that endeavors to ensure a better future for people and pets, and spends a great deal of time and money working to...

  • In this mini episode, three of BSM Partners' nutritionists, Dr. Megan Sprinkle, Dr. Mary Cope and Dr. Stephanie Clark, explore the frustrating situation of anal gland problems in dogs. Through personal pet experiences, they will discuss why dogs have anal gland problems and how fiber may have a part in solving the problem.

    BSM Partners 

    BSM Partners is a multidisciplinary team of PhDs, board-certified veterinarians, and nutritionists offering 400+ years of cumulative technical experience, supporting the development of thousands of products per year. From R&D to replenishment, we have you covered. 

    BSM Partners offers a wide range of services including research, product innovation, FSQAR, nutrition services, veterinary services, transformation, operations support, and engineering. 

    Learn more at https://bsmpartners.net/ 

    Similar episodes:

    Fiber: Understanding Your Pet's Gut Health. Listen hereAre Prebiotics Good for Pets? Listen here

    Article resources:

    Getting to know the gut: Prebiotics, more than just fiber. Read here.Effective probiotics for our furry friends. Read here
  • In this episode, Dr. Megan Sprinkle, Dr. Mary Cope and Dr. Stephanie Clark explore the topic of gut health for your pets. They discuss understanding the difference between fiber and carbohydrates, the difference between dogs, cats, and gut health, and understanding prebiotics and postbiotics.

    BSM Partners 

    BSM Partners is a multidisciplinary team of PhDs, board-certified veterinarians, and nutritionists offering 400+ years of cumulative technical experience, supporting the development of thousands of products per year. From R&D to replenishment, we have you covered. 

    BSM Partners offers a wide range of services including research, product innovation, FSQAR, nutrition services, veterinary services, transformation, operations support, and engineering. 

    Learn more at https://bsmpartners.net/ 

    Links:

    Are Prebiotics Good for Pets? Listen here: https://bsmpartners.net/the-pet-industry-podcast/are-probiotics-good-for-your-pets

    Show Notes:

    (02:40)  Difference between carbohydrates and fiber

    (03:40)  Fibers are carbohydrates?

    (05:51)  Insoluble versus soluble fiber explained

    (06:53)  Different dogs have different needs

    (07:54)  Adding canned pumpkin to dog food- is this good?

    (10:43)  Cats, constipation, and diarrhea

    (13:18)  Understanding the different fibers

    (15:44)  Should pet owners use pre and probiotics?

    (17:01)  Word of caution around adding too much fiber

    (20:07)  Cats, fiber, and hairballs

    (21:58)  What helps with fecal odor?

    (23:25)  Benefits of cat grass

    (26:45)  Good sources of prebiotic fiber

    (28:33)  Benefits of smart fiber supplementation

  • In this episode, Dr. Megan Sprinkle, Dr. Mary Cope and Dr. Renee Streeter talk with Dr. Stacey Leach, a Board-Certified Specialist in Cardiology, Associate Teaching Professor of Cardiology, and Chief of Cardiology at the University of Missouri. In this episode, they discuss how Dr. Leach flourished in veterinary medicine, the groundbreaking research Dr. Leach has done on dogs, and how Covid impacted his research.

    BSM Partners 

    BSM Partners is a multidisciplinary team of PhDs, board-certified veterinarians, and nutritionists offering 400+ years of cumulative technical experience, supporting the development of thousands of products per year. From R&D to replenishment, we have you covered. 

    BSM Partners offers a wide range of services including research, product innovation, FSQAR, nutrition services, veterinary services, transformation, operations support, and engineering. 

    Learn more at https://bsmpartners.net/ 

    Show Notes:

    (01:15)  Why Dr. Leach Studied DCM

    (02:51)  How Covid Complicated the Research Study

    (05:26)  Balancing Research and Health Risks During Covid

    (08:39)  Challenges in Doing Biopsies on Dogs

    (10:39)  What Happened to the Dogs After the Study

    (11:40)  How a Veterinarian's Quick Thinking Saved a Family Dog and Inspired a Young Boy to Pursue Vet Medicine

    (13:19)  How Dr. Leach Became Specialized

  • In this episode, Dr. Megan Sprinkle and Dr. Mary Cope talk with Dr. Steve Lerner, a Senior Scientific Advisor at Chr. Hansen.  Topics they discuss include what probiotics are, best practices for giving your pet probiotics, and the future of probiotic research.

    BSM Partners 

    BSM Partners is a multidisciplinary team of PhDs, board-certified veterinarians, and nutritionists offering 400+ years of cumulative technical experience, supporting the development of thousands of products per year. From R&D to replenishment, we have you covered. 

    BSM Partners offers a wide range of services including research, product innovation, FSQAR, nutrition services, veterinary services, transformation, operations support, and engineering. 

    Learn more at https://bsmpartners.net/ 

    Show Notes

    (01:02) How Dr. Steve fell in love with probiotics

    (02:31)  What exactly are probiotics?

    (05:04)  How probiotics help our digestive system

    (08:29)  Differences in probiotics made Easy

    (11:25)  How they choose the best probiotics for a particular purpose

    (13:45)  Dried versus wet versus refrigerated: What works best?

    (17:37)  How to find the right probiotic for your pet

    (19:50)  What probiotics can do for your pets

    (24:13)  Probiotics: Is there a difference between people and pets?

    (27:58)  Can you consume too many probiotics?

    (38:04)  The best way to give your pets probiotics

    (42:01)  What the future holds for probiotic research

    (47:19)  How technology changes so quickly

  • In this episode, Dr. Megan Sprinkle, Dr. Mary Cope, Dr. Brad Quest and Dr. Stephanie Clark from BSM sit down with Dr. Kate Shoveller, a leading pet researcher.  Topics they discuss include companion animal nutrition, Dr. Shovellers’ work in research, and her thoughts about DCM.

    Links:

    Dr Kate Shoveller Bio: https://animalbiosciences.uoguelph.ca/abscpeople/ashovell

    BSM Article on Dr. Kate Shoveller: https://bsmpartners.net/resources/women-in-industry-dr-kate-shoveller-professor-university-of-guelph-animal-biosciences/

    Dr. Kate Shoveller

    Dr. Anna Kate Shoveller, professor at the University of Guelph’s Department of Animal Biosciences, has a deep understanding of companion animal nutrition that is rooted in science, passed down and built upon by her team of nearly 20 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. Shoveller’s commitment to pet food is illustrated by her dedication and respect for animals, research, and the formidable team of students, colleagues, and industry professionals with which she has surrounded herself.

    BSM Partners 

    BSM Partners is a multidisciplinary team of PhDs, board-certified veterinarians, and nutritionists offering 400+ years of cumulative technical experience, supporting the development of thousands of products per year. From R&D to replenishment, we have you covered. 

    BSM Partners offers a wide range of services including research, product innovation, FSQAR, nutrition services, veterinary services, transformation, operations support, and engineering. 

    Learn more at https://bsmpartners.net/ 

    Show Notes:

    (01:55)  How a chance encounter with a pig specialist lead Dr. Shoveller into the research

    (05:13)  Getting into pet nutrition:  An invitation too good to pass up

    (09:15)  Bias:  How to keep data pure to tell the real story

    (14:07)  Conflicting statements: How pet owners can find reliable sources of information

    (17:37)  Mixing science with emotion: A veterinarians perspective

    (20:33)  How Dr. Shoveller entered the world of pulse research and DCM

    (24:25)  International perspective: How Europeans view DCM versus North America

    (28:20)  What other factors impact the health of pets

    (31:47)  Advice to pet owners about pulses in diets

    (36:16)  How Dr. Shoveller is impacting future generations of researchers

    (37:32)  What is the biggest misconception about the pet food industry?

  • In this episode, Dr. Megan Sprinkle and Dr. Mary Cope talk with Angie Hohensee, founder and CEO of Pet Pasta, a unique, tasty, and nutritious pet topper.  They discuss the idea that inspired Pet Pasta, the ups and downs of pet entrepreneurship, and advice for female entrepreneurs wanting to enter the pet space.

    Also in the conversation is nutritionist and BSM Partners formulator, Dr. Stephanie Clark, PhD, CVT, PAS, CFS, Dpl. ACAS. Co-Founder of BSM Partners, Nate Thomas is also mentioned in the episode.

    Links:

    Pet Pasta Website: https://petpasta.com/

    About the Founder

    Angie Hohensee created the first nutrient-rich pasta made just for dogs. When used as a base, the Pet Pasta’s Boboghetti is a great addition to help balance a homemade diet. It can also be used as a topper or a nutritious treat. 

    BSM Partners 

    BSM Partners is a multidisciplinary team of PhDs, board-certified veterinarians, and nutritionists offering 400+ years of cumulative technical experience, supporting the development of thousands of products per year. From R&D to replenishment, we have you covered. 

    BSM Partners offers a wide range of services including research, product innovation, FSQAR, nutrition services, veterinary services, transformation, operations support, and engineering. 

    Learn more at https://bsmpartners.net/ 

    Show Notes:

    (01:19) How a random thought turned into a great idea for a business

    (02:28) What do you feed dogs that are allergic to everything

    (04:42)  How Google helped Angie kickstart her business

    (05:26)  The Cold Call that Changed the Game

    (06:12)  From Humble Beginnings, a Business is Born

    (07:43)  What Makes Pet Pasta Different

    (09:14) The Struggles of a Small Business in a Huge Pond

    (10:08)  Growing Pains: Finding the Right Kitchen

    (11:23)  Pet Pasta Finds a Great Ally

    (12:29)  How Pet Pasta Works With Your Dog’s Diet

    (13:09)  Advice for Entrepreneurs Wanting to Enter the Pet Space

    (18:07) What does the Market Think of Pet Pasta?

    (19:44)  Common Questions to the Net Pet Pasta

    (21:23)  Practical Advice for Dog Parents

    (23:09)  What do Angie’s Dogs think about Pet Pasta?

  • In this episode, Dr. Megan Sprinkle and Dr. Mary Cope along with Nate Thomas and Seth Kaufman talk with Todd Dittman (Executive Director at IndiePet) and Al Puntillo (President of IndiePet and Co-CEO for Mud Bay).  In this episode, they discuss behind-the-scenes challenges for independent pet store retailers, how IndiePet uses collaboration to give strength to their members, and why working with the Pet Sustainability Coalition is good for business.

    About IndiePet

    IndiePet's purpose is to empower independent and neighborhood pet retailers to work together as peers for the well-being of North American pets and pet owners as they maintain a strong, sustainable, and growing place at the heart of the pet industry. The company began as a small group of retailers meeting in conference rooms at SuperZoo from 2016 to 2019. In 2020, the company was formally established as the Independent & Neighborhood Pet Retail Association (IndiePet).

    Recent/Relevant Articles: 

    Indie Pet 

    1. Indie Pet – Who Are We 

    2. New Year Brings More from IndiePet to You – Learn about IndiePet’s growth in 2022, and company plans for 2023 

    3. LinkedIn – Todd Dittman 

    BSM Partners 

    BSM Partners is a multidisciplinary team of PhDs, board-certified veterinarians and nutritionists offering 400+ years of cumulative technical experience, supporting the development of thousands of products per year. From R&D to replenishment, we have you covered. 

    BSM Partners offers a wide range of services including research, product innovation, FSQAR, nutrition services, veterinary services, transformation, operations support, and engineering. 

    Learn more at https://bsmpartners.net/ 

    1. BSM Partners – What We Do 

    2. Pet Age Honors 2022 Best Places to Work in the Pet Industry 

    Show Notes:

    (02:49) How a chance meeting created an organization for good

    (04:58) Why big box is threatening independent pet retailers

    (06:32) Two powerful reasons independent pet retailers are better than big-box

    (07:34) How Service Plays a Critical Role to Independent Pet Retailers

    (08:59) Turning Business Competitors Into Category Collaborators

    (11:11) Success with Customers: How Indie Pet trains employees to provide top-notch service

    (12:33) How gamification plays into a high level of employee training

    (13:32) The twofold approach Mud Bay takes to help pet parents and their pets that online retailers can’t

    (15:04) IndiePet unlocks the mystery of delivering consistent recommendations

    (16:53) How the Independent Pet Retailer becomes a curator to provide excellent customer service

    (19:49) What IndiePet offers to its membership

    (21:02) Two exciting programs (and 1 Event) that are coming to IndiePet members

    (24:45) The Biggest Challenge in...

  • In this episode, Dr. Megan Sprinkle, producer Whitney Russell, and Dr. Renee Streeter interview Renaldo Webb.  Renaldo is the founder of the popular PetPlate.  In this episode, they discuss how Renaldo discovered his passion for creating human-grade pet food, how he uses his MIT experience to help build a better company and experience for his customers, and his thoughts about African-American business owners in the Pet Industry.

    About Renaldo Webb:

    Renaldo Webb is the founder of PetPlate, with a mission to make better food for dogs so that they can live longer, healthier, and happier lives with their families. He founded the company in 2016 with a unique model of providing healthy pet food direct to consumers. It is frozen food formulated in collaboration with a Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionist®, Dr. Renee Streeter. He graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a bachelor’s degree in physics. Before starting his pet food brand, he worked as a consultant for Catterton and McKinsey.

    LinkedIn | Website

    Recent/Relevant Articles:

    Meet The Only Black Dog Food Founder in The US—Here's Why Renaldo Webb Is On A Mission To Drive Pet Health For All | 2023Renaldo Webb & Gertrude Allen of ‘Pet Plate’: 5 Important Business Lessons I Learned While Being on Shark Tank | 2020Pet Plate Founder Renaldo Webb Shares a Behind-the-Scenes Look at His Shark Tank Experience | 2020

    About BSM Partners: 

    BSM Partners is a multidisciplinary team of PhDs, board-certified veterinarians, and nutritionists offering 400+ years of cumulative technical experience, supporting the development of thousands of products per year. From R&D to replenishment, we have you covered. 

    BSM Partners offers a wide range of services including research, product innovation, FSQAR, nutrition services, veterinary services, transformation, operations support, consumer strategy, and engineering. Learn more at https://bsmpartners.net/

    Show Notes:

    (01:12)  How the Family Pet Lead to a Thriving Business

    (02:35)  How Renaldo’s MIT Experience Has Helped Grow PetPlate

    (04:39)  Teamwork Makes the Dreamwork

    (06:45)  From Shark Tank Failure to Massive Success

    (09:35)  Why Working with Customers During Testing is Critical

    (12:44)  Everyone’s Responsibility to Make the Industry Better

    (13:20)  Renaldo’s take on African American Business’ in the Pet Industry

    (14:50)  How PetPlate Shattered Human-Grade Dog-Food Myths

    (15:40)  Where PetPlate is Today

    (16:08)  Renaldo’s Advice for Young People Coming into the Pet Industry 

  • We are continuing our series on “Women in Industry”.  In this episode, Dr. Megan Sprinkle, producer Whitney Russell, and Dr. Stephanie Clark interview Linda Case.  Linda Case is the founder of the popular Science Dog Blog.  In this episode, they discuss how Linda discovered her passion for science writing, her thoughts on women and female leadership in the pet industry, and why she loves busting myths around pet nutrition.

    Links:

    Science Dog Blog: https://thesciencedog.com/

    About Linda Case:

    Linda Case is a well-known science writer, author, canine nutritionist, and dog trainer. She earned her B.S. in Animal Science at Cornell University and her M.S. in Canine Feline Nutrition at the University of Illinois. Linda is the author of numerous publications and nine books, including Feeding Smart with The Science Dog, Dog Smart, and Dog Food Logic. She is also the author of the popular Science Dog Blog. Linda and her husband Mike live in central Illinois and share their lives with three amazing dogs: Cooper, Alice and Stanley, and Pete the cat.  

    Show Notes:

    (01:43)  How Linda discovered her love of animals

    (03:21)  How a chance meeting helped her discover her love of writing

    (05:07) The idea that gave birth to Science Dog Blog

    (07:12)  Linda's secret to communicating science to the masses

    (08:22) Myth Busting: Linda's secret passion

    (10:17)  How Linda blends dog training and nutrition studies

    (11:59)  The mental strategy Linda uses to finish a book

    (13:20)  What has changed in the Pet Industry over the past few years

    (17:30)  Linda’s thoughts on larvae as a protein source

    (19:48)  What people don’t realize about pet nutrition

    (21:44)  Linda’s advice for women in pet nutrition

    (24:03)  What changes have happened with female leadership

    (26:36)  What Linda is most proud of in her career

    (28:33)  Linda on work-life balance

    (29:48)  What excites Linda the most about dogs

    (30:55)  Linda introduces her dogs

    About BSM Partners: 

    BSM Partners is a multidisciplinary team of PhDs, board-certified veterinarians and nutritionists offering 400+ years of cumulative technical experience, supporting the development of thousands of products per year. From R&D to replenishment, we have you covered. 

    BSM Partners offers a wide range of services including research, product innovation, FSQAR, nutrition services, veterinary services, transformation, operations support, and engineering. 

    Learn more at https://bsmpartners.net/ 

    BSM Partners on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/bsm-partners/

  • In this episode, Dr. Megan Sprinkle holds a Women in Industry discussion with Heather Govea (Chief Commercial Officer, Alphia), Catherine McCarthy (Vice President of Innovation, Stella & Chewy's), and Heidi Wilson (Business Development Manager, BSM Partners).  This panel discussion talks about the role of women in the pet industry.  In this interview, they will cover the following topics:

    What inspired these amazing women to dedicate themselves to petsWhat roles women play in the Pet IndustryWhat advice these inspiring women want to share with others

    Show Notes:

    (00:12)  Why BSM Is Doing A Women In Industry Panel

    (02:56)  Meet Panelist Heather Govea, Alphia

    (04:15)  Meet Panelist Catherine McCarthy, Stella & Chewys

    (05:25) Meet Panelist Heidi Wilson, BSM

    (08:04)  How Helping Lost Pets Inspired Heather Govea into the Pet Industry

    (09:39)  How a Golden Retriever Convinced Heather to Leave Veterinary Medicine to Become a Pet Diet Specialist

    (11:43)  How Catherine Discovered Pet Through Her Passion for Natural and Organic Foods

    (13:21)  Making An Impact: How Diet Inspired Catherine To Make Pet Her Career Field

    (16:52) Candid Observation: How Heather Govea Views the Role of Women in the Pet Industry

    (21:35)  Strong Women Role Models: How Catherine’s Career was Shaped

    (25:04)  How a Strong Farm Work Ethic Influenced Heidi Wilson Working in Pet

    (27:47) Heather’s Succinct Advice for Success In Pet or Any Industry

    (30:12) Catherine’s Formula for Living Passionately Without Drowning Others Out

    (33:42)  Heather’s Vision of the Future of Working in the Pet Industry

    (35:45)  What Catherine Predicts Will Influence the Future of the Pet Industry

  • In this episode, Dr. Megan Sprinkle, Steve Cauthen, and Whitney Russell talk with Jim and Janet Scott, founders of Rawz All Natural Pet Foods.  In this episode, they talk about how a family tragedy turned into a family business, the powerful lessons that life reinforced with the Scotts, and how strong values gave a sense of purpose to their paraplegic son.

    Links:

    Raw Natural Pet Food Website

    Show Notes:

    (00:45) - How a family turned tragedy into a business with purpose

    (04:36) - A paraplegic son finds purpose in helping other pet owners

    (05:37) - How Jim’s entrepreneurial parents raised him with the entrepreneurial spirit

    (07:16) - Lessons Jim pulled from other successful businesses into Rawz

    (10:29) - Using Rawz to give back to charity

    (11:36) - How the Rawz Fund is impacting the lives of so many

    (14:48) - How Jim and Janet balanced entrepreneurship and raising a family

    (18:15) - An unexpected life lesson at a sled hockey tournament

    (20:19) - What other animals does Rawz support besides dogs

    (22:51) - Are you transactional?  Or transformational?

    (24:41) - Jim’s mother shares wise advice

    (27:34) - What powerful advice does Janet and Jim have for the pet industry?

    (30:33) - Jim shares his very first job in his parent’s pet food business

    (31:55) - How the family pets helped with their sons’ recoveries

    (34:17) - How BSM has impacted Jim and Janet

  • In this episode, board-certified nutritionist and veterinarian Dr. Katy Miller chats with Dr. Megan Sprinkle and Steve Cauthern.  In this episode, they talk about the connection between veterinarians and pet nutrition.  Dr. Miller shares her insights on pet nutrition, how owners can pick out the best food for their pets, and what Mud Bay Certified means.

    Update:  Dr. Katy Miller has joined the BSM Team.

    Show Notes:

    (03:13) Why Nutritional Education is Important

    (04:48) Why a Pet Retailer Needed a Veterinarian

    (06:29) How Staff Get Trained on Pet Nutrition

    (07:18)  The Impact Employee Training has on Customers

    (08:30)  What Most Veterinarians miss with Pet Nutrition

    (10:46)  How Anyone Can Pick Out Good Nutrition For Their Pet

    (11:37)  What is Mud Bay?

    (13:18) What are Some Trends Dr. Katy is Excited About

    (14:31)  What MUD Bay Certified?

    (17:50)  Why Veterinarians Don’t Specialize in Nutrition

    (19:31)  What Dr. Katy Recommends for People Entering the Pet Industry

    (21:30)  Dr Katy’s Extensive Pet Collection