The Farmer’s Dog Is Teaming Up With the University of Georgia

Since The Farmer’s Dog was founded 12 years ago, veterinarians have been central to everything we do. It was a veterinarian’s advice that helped launch our company, and we remain dedicated to offering veterinary professionals safe and balanced nutrition options they can confidently recommend to their clients. Everything we make is formulated by Board-Certified Veterinary Nutritionists®, and always has been.

As part of that commitment, we’re partnering with the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, where we are fully funding a three-year residency in small animal veterinary nutrition. This marks our second university residency sponsorship.

“Veterinary clinical nutrition residencies remain critically scarce, which makes philanthropic support like this essential to growing the next generation of Board-Certified Veterinary Nutritionists®,” said Jackie Parr, DVM, MSc, Board-Certified Veterinary Nutritionist® and ACVIM Nutrition Residency Program Director at the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine.

Dr. Parr, as well as Joseph Bartges, DVM, PhD, Board-Certified Veterinary Nutritionist® and Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Small Animal Internal Medicine and Nutrition), lead this program as faculty mentors. The residency blends advanced clinical education with research experience, preparing a resident to earn board certification through the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM). This is a rare, prestigious accreditation—there are fewer than 100 active Board-Certified Veterinary Nutritionists® in the United States.

The sponsorship will help UGA’s Small Animal Clinical Nutrition Residency Program reach a significant milestone—three residents in training at the same time, for the first time. “Partnering with industry leaders like The Farmer’s Dog makes that possible, and we’re grateful for their commitment to the future of veterinary nutrition,” said Dr. Parr.

Working with this leading public university that’s pioneering research on advanced glycation end products, The Farmer’s Dog aims to advance understanding of nutrition’s role in long-term canine health. This collaboration will support the training of future Board-Certified Veterinary Nutritionists® who will drive progress in research, clinical practice, and the veterinary profession for years to come.

“The Farmer’s Dog’s sponsorship of a three-year Small Animal Clinical Nutrition Residency Program represents a meaningful investment in the future of veterinary medicine and the development of highly trained specialists who will advance evidence-based nutritional care for companion animals,” said Lisa K. Nolan, DVM and PhD, Georgia Athletics Association Distinguished Professor and Dean of the University of Georgia’s College of Veterinary Medicine. “We are grateful for their partnership and shared commitment to improving animal health through nutrition.”

Header image (L–R): Jason Gottleib, Senior Vice President of Retail at The Farmer’s Dog; Dr. Brandon Stapleton, Vice President of Animal Healthcare and Head Veterinarian at The Farmer’s Dog; “Veterinary” Hairy Dawg, UGA CVM Mascot; Brett Podolsky, Co-Founder of The Farmer’s Dog; Dr. Jackie Parr, Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionist® and UGA Nutrition Residency Program Director. Credit: UGA College of Veterinary Medicine.