Meet the veterinary experts behind Maev
10 questions with the world-class nutritionists who formulate Maev Raw Food.
Fun fact: Before we ever introduced Maev Raw Food to the world, we spent nearly three years in research and development with the best veterinary experts in the game. Together, we labored over every last square inch of your dog’s daily nutrition — from ingredients to formula, packaging to food safety, manufacturing to door-front delivery.
It’s because of these brilliant veterinary and animal nutritionists that we can confidently claim that Maev Raw Food is the cleanest dog nutrition on the market. So who are the masterminds behind your dog’s favorite meal? Meet Dr. R and Dr. S, two of Maev’s leading veterinary and animal nutritionists.
Maev: We’re so excited to introduce you to MaevWorld, but would hate to compromise your ethics or bias your work as practicing professionals. So without doing that, tell us what you can about yourself!
Dr. R: I’m Dr. R, a Board-Certified Veterinary Nutritionist.
Dr. S: And I’m Dr. S, a Board-Certified Animal Nutritionist.
Maev: What’s the difference between your two titles?
Dr. R: Veterinary nutritionists like me focus on the health and disease state of every animal we see. I still see some patients, but I’m currently more focused on pet food nutrition as a whole.
Dr. S: For animal nutritionists, what we do depends on what sector we specialize in. While I was pursuing my PhD in animal nutrition, I specialized in nutritional physiology to understand what animals eat and how that affects them metabolically.
“Our primary focus will always be on the animal’s health. We base our decisions on scientific evidence — on what’s proven to be best for our pets. When we do that, we ensure the animal is healthy and safe.”
Maev: What does your day-to-day typically look like?
Dr. R: As consultants, we advise a variety of pet food companies on the best ways to feed a pet. We also each have our own ongoing research initiatives. So on any given day, we’re formulating and reviewing new diets, researching ingredients, or working on our current prospective research studies. You never know what challenge you’re going to meet next!
Maev: That has to make for some exciting days. What’s the best part of your job?
Dr. R: When we solve puzzles!
Dr. S: Yes, when we solve puzzles.
Dr. R: It’s also working everyday to improve the standard and quality of pet food — so the act of eating is more consistently wonderful for all of our dogs and cats and owners. That’s the best part.
Maev: And what’s the hardest part?
Dr. S: Our job is to prove what’s best for your pet through science or clinical understanding. So figuring out how to communicate the science and tell people how they can do better for their pet is always a challenge.
Dr. R: Agreed. Our primary focus will always be on the animal’s health. The most difficult thing is helping people realize that we base our decisions on scientific evidence — on what’s proven to be best for our pets. When we do that, we ensure the animal is healthy and safe. Creating that dialogue is so important, so we can ultimately make the best product for your dog.
Maev: As you know, we spent almost three years in R&D to formulate the perfect Raw Food formula. Walk us through your part in that process!
Dr. R: For Maev, we took your set of ideals, the ingredients you wanted to use, and the nutritional standards we uphold to work through the safest way to feed raw. All human food safety standards are applied to everything Maev makes. This is a consistent and diligent approach for overall consumer satisfaction.
Maev: From your own research, what’s the top benefit of a raw food diet?
Dr. R: There was a study that compared the digestibility of kibble, home-cooked, and raw diets. The home-cooked and raw diets were more digestible than the kibbled diet they compared to in the study.
Maev: When you’re not cooking up new formulas, what do you do for fun?
Dr. R: I have two kids, which is both a lot of work and a lot of fun. My kids are involved in music and sports, and we also have a dairy farm, and all that keeps us very busy. Personally though, mountain biking and running are my favorite things. I also enjoy playing the piano, gardening, and cooking. Wait, I love cooking! But mostly because I like eating.
Dr. S: My husband is a farmer and we have a bison farm together! I also do hunters with my 7-year-old horse, and we’re working on jumping together.
“The pediatrician looked at me and said, ‘Babies need two things in life: love and nutrition.’ That truly applies to a lot of things — including new pets.”
Maev: We have to ask, do you have any pets yourself?
Dr. R: I have a boxer named Fiona, an old pug named Opal, and a cat named Rosalind. I also have a green-cheeked conure named Tika and five chickens!
Dr. S: I have three dogs! Two black labs, Maggie and Henley, and a Treeing Walker Coonhound named Tucker. I also have my horse Isador, or Izzie for short. My trainer calls her “Busy Izzie” because she does not stand still!
Maev: Last question. Beyond what’s Google-able, what’s the one thing you think all new pet owners should know?
Dr. S: This may sound weird, but I just had a baby. You’re constantly overwhelmed, you don’t know what day it is, you don’t know anything — I imagine this is how people with puppies feel too. At our first appointment, the pediatrician looked at me and said, “Babies need two things in life: love and nutrition.” That truly applies to a lot of things — including new pets. The love comes from you, nutrition you can discuss with your veterinarian.
Dr. R: I love that answer. Preventative medicine and nutrition are the two things you want to focus on with new pets. Avoid overfeeding them and understand that each pet will have their own nutritional needs.
See results in 30 days when you make the switch.
Improved digestion and naturally balances weight
Reduced allergy symptoms
Less begging & overeating
Less hyperactivity & anxiety
Improved dental health, cleaner teeth & fresher breath
Strengthened immune system
Fewer trips to the vet
