Work with Me:
If you are interested in working with me, go ahead start by filling out the Pet Nutritional Questionnaire and sending me an email at: thecaninehealthnut@gmail.com
Step 1: Select Your Service
Please view the different consultation options (below) and select the one you feel is right for you, and your situation. If you would like more information about my services or offerings you can scroll down and get more information or email me at thecaninehealthnut@gmail.com
- Healthy Pet Nutrition Consultation (over the phone) – $55
- Add-on Healthy Pet Recipe Formulation – $50
- Therapeutic Pet Nutrition Consultation (over the phone) – $75*
- Add-on Therapeutic Pet Recipe Formulation – $70*
- Healthy Pet Recipe Formulation ONLY (no consultation/email support) – $65
- Healthy Pet Commercial Diet Recommendation EMAIL ONLY – $40
*Veterinary Referral REQUIRED for consultations for Pets with Acute or Chronic Illnesses. Including: gastrointestinal disease, skin conditions, kidney disease, liver disease, cancer, pancreatitis, gallbladder/bile duct abnormalities, cushing’s disease, addison’s disease, urinary crystals/stones, seizures, advanced arthritis, cognitive dysfunction, etc. If you are looking for nutritional management/support of a disease/condition with specific nutritional advise, your pet needs a therapeutic consultation and a veterinary referral.
Step 2: Fill Out Forms/Paperwork:
- Fill out the Pet Nutritional Questionnaire
- Have your Veterinarian Fill Out the Veterinary Referral Form and send a copy of medical records to my email: thecaninehealthnut@gmail.com
Step 3: Schedule & Confirm
- Email me after you have filled out the Nutritional Questionnaire
- After I receive both the Questionnaire & Veterinary Referral – I will email you to schedule Day/Time for the appointment
Step 4: Pay
Payment sent via Paypal – you have 48 hours after receiving an invoice to pay and reserve your spot. If something comes up and you need to reschedule your appointment – please contact me as soon as possible to reschedule.
Looking forward to meeting your pet and chatting with you further!
Nikki Giovanelli, RVT
AS Animal Science (Mesa College) , BS Biology (SDSU) , Dip. Companion Animal Nutrition (SIU)
Currently Studying MSc Animal Nutrition (University of Glasgow)
Pet Nutrition Consultations & Recipe Formulation:
Learn more about the different pet nutrition services I offer below to see which one fits your pet’s needs. I now offer pet nutrition consultation & pet food formulation services for dogs and cats.
Consultations are offered Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 12:30pm PST.
Healthy Pet Consultation – $55
(Phone 30-45 min)
Read more about this service.
Suitable for healthy dogs and cats ONLY
- Comprehensive questionnaire
- 30-min phone consultation
- Additional 4 weeks of email support.
- Receive your personalized plan within 7 working days
This consultation is appropriate for:
✓ Pet Parents Looking to Understand their Pet’s Nutritional Needs
✓ General Pet Nutrition Questions
✓ Discussion of How to Choose a Pet Food
✓ Compare different Pet Food Options
✓ Healthy Treat, Chews & Additions
✓ Discuss Supplements
✓ Setting up a Meal Plan
+ $50 per Individual Recipe Formulation
All healthy pet recipes are:
- Complete and balanced to AAFCO Nutrient Profiles
- Balanced to your dog’s nutrient requirement per NRC
Each recipe is customized to your dog’s specific nutritional needs according to their age, activity level, and diet history.
We will discuss options: human supplements, vitamin/mineral premix, or base mix and find out which one might work best for you and your pup’s needs.
You will receive:
✓ Daily Recipe
✓ Batch Calculator
✓ Direct Links to Supplements
✓ Cooking recommendations/guides
✓ Full Nutrient Profile in comparison to AAFCO & NRC
Therapeutic Pet Consultation – $75
(Phone 45-60 min)
Read more about this service
PHONE Consultation for Pets with Acute or Chronic Illnesses that you are currently managing. Including: gastrointestinal disease, skin conditions, kidney disease, liver disease, cancer, pancreatitis, cushing’s disease, urinary crystals/stones, and more.
VETERINARY REFERRAL REQUIRED
- Comprehensive online questionnaire
- 45-min phone consultation
- Additional 4 weeks of email support.
- Receive your personalized plan within 7 working days emailed to you and your veterinary team.
This consultation is appropriate for:
✓ Pet Parents Looking to Understand their Pet’s Nutritional Needs
✓ General Pet Nutrition Questions
✓ Discussion of How to Choose a Pet Food
✓ Compare different Pet Food Options
✓ Healthy Treat, Chews & Additions
✓ Discuss Supplements
✓ Setting up a Meal Plan
+ $70 per Individual Recipe Formulation
Each recipe is customized to your dog’s specific nutritional needs according to their age, activity level, diet history and medical needs.
- Complete and balanced to AAFCO Nutrient Profiles*
- Balanced to your dog’s nutrient requirement per NRC*
We will discuss options: human supplements, vitamin/mineral premix, or base mix and find out which one might work best for you and your pup’s needs.
You will receive:
✓ Daily Recipe
✓ Batch Calculator
✓ Direct Links to Supplements
✓ Cooking recommendations/guides
✓ Full Nutrient Profile in comparison to AAFCO & NRC
*for dogs with kidney disease, copper storage disease, and certain urinary stones – nutritional management requires nutrient restriction outside of typical AAFCO nutrient profiles.
If you have a dog with multiple concurrent medical conditions – I highly recommend working with a board-certified veterinary nutritionist as they can balance both medical and nutritional management of disease. I legally cannot diagnose/prescribe medications that may be helpful in these situations.
Healthy Pet Recipe Formulation ONLY (Email) – $65
Includes only recipe analysis with supplements to make the diet complete and balanced. DOES NOT include consultation.
Only available for healthy pets.
Read more about this service
For this service you will fill out the nutritional questionnaire and veterinary referral form as per step 1.
You will also submit a detailed breakdown of the recipe you are currently feeding your dog or cat and how much of this recipe you are feeding each day.
Recipes need to include actual amounts and detailed descriptions of products used.
An example recipe that you might submit is:
- 1 lb RAW 93% Lean Ground Turkey
- 2 ounces RAW Chicken Livers
- 1/2 cup DRY Rolled Oats
- 10 ounces FROZEN mixed peas & carrots
- 4 whole eggs, without shell.
This recipe is mixed together and baked. After cooked I add the shell from the 4 eggs.
This recipe is fed for 7 days to my dog.
You will receive a recipe analysis within 2 weeks of confirmation. It will list any deficiencies within the current recipe and supplements to fix the recipe. Comments may be made on the recipe if there are major problems (aka not meeting protein/amino acid needs) where different protein sources might be advised.
If after analysis you’d like to discuss further options – please schedule a consultation for your pet. (+$55)
Healthy Pet Commercial Diet Recommendation EMAIL ONLY (Email) – $40
Includes an audit of your pet’s current diet & supplement routine. DOES NOT include a full consultation.
Only available for healthy pets on premade diets.
Read more about this service
For this service you will fill out the nutritional questionnaire and veterinary referral form as per step 1.
With this information I will:
✓ Calculate/Estimate Calories Fed, and Caloric Needs
✓ Evaluate if diet is appropriate for your pet’s nutritional needs based on age, weight, activity level, etc.
✓ Give feedback on any supplements currently giving
✓ Give feedback on treats, chews or other additions
✓ Evaluate if the diet is providing your pet with all the nutrients they need at the amount fed
If the diet is not appropriate I tell you why the diet might not be ideal for your dog/cat, and give 2 alternatives & things to look for in a new diet.
Expect the “audit” within two weeks of confirmation of payment.
If you’d like to further discuss options after receiving the audit, you can purchase a follow-up mini consultation.
My Perspective:
When I take on a client and look to either choose a food or formulate a recipe for them I go through two main steps. First is I break down what their pet’s nutritional needs are based on the age/life-stage, activity level, and diet/medical history. Then I overlay that with more practical aspects of diet choice such as lifestyle, behavioral management, and budget. From there we discuss diet options that fit those needs be that a homemade diet, kibble, canned, premade fresh food, or a combination.
I’m a busy mom of twin boys, two senior dogs, who is currently going to graduate school while I run my own business – trust me when I say – my intention is to create a meal plan that works for your pet, your goals, and your life – not someone else’s.
My Expertise:
I have worked as an RVT for almost a decade, and have been formulating recipes (and cooking for my own dogs) for almost the same amount of time. Currently, I use a combination of Animal Diet Formulator, BalanceIT, and an Excel Spreadsheet to formulate pet food recipes. This allows to check formulation on a Dry Matter and Caloric Basis. And then check formulations according to the NRC for your dog’s ideal weight.
Over my decade of experience formulating diets for dogs and cats, I have gained knowledge in formulating recipes for pets with gastrointestinal conditions like IBD, Gastritis, and Pancreatitis, performing food elimination trials for allergies, and creating Weight Loss plans. I have also formulated diets for Joint Disease, Heart Disease (Mitral Valve Disease), Seizures, Diabetes, Cushing’s Disease, Hypothyroidism, and Cancer with direct veterinarian input as far as goals/composition.
For more information about my education – check out my “about me” page.
However, I am less comfortable creating recipes for dogs and cats that require formulations that are outside AAFCO Nutrient Profiles – such as Urinary Stones/Crystals, Kidney Disease, and Copper Storage Disease, or for dogs with multiple concurrent conditions where we have to make “best” and not “ideal” decisions for the nutritional management of the diseases. For dogs with these conditions, I firmly believe that working with a board-certified veterinary nutritionist is ideal as there is significant follow-up testing required along with diagnostic interpretation. I am more than happy to provide referrals for cases that are outside my scope.