On June 5th, Panagiotis (Panos) Balousis successfully defended his MSc titled, “Profiling Dog Guardians Feeding Raw Meat-Based Diets”
Read on for more information about Panos and his thesis!
Overview of Thesis:
The thesis investigated factors predictive of raw feeding practices among dog guardians by comparing raw feeders to guardians who feed cooked diets. The analyses showcased guardians’ differences in their demographics, dog characteristics and diets, views on pet foods, as well as their dog food choices and knowledge of dog nutrition. Variations were also evident in the guardians’ primary sources of information for canine nutrition, the trust they had in these sources, their confidence in veterinarians, perceptions of pet health, and pet feeding hygiene practices. In contrast, few differences were observed regarding the sources of information for human nutrition and the trust placed in manufacturers of commercial kibble and wet pet food. The guardians’ personal nutrition and perspectives about human-animal relationships were not predictive of their dogs’ diet group membership. These findings highlight that dog guardians who feed raw diets differ in several aspects from those who feed cooked pet foods. The findings presented in this thesis provide valuable insights that may help veterinarians improve communication with raw-feeding dog guardians, and support pet food manufacturers in refining product formulations and marketing strategies to better align with the preferences of this demographic.
What’s next for me?
Over the summer, I plan to celebrate my academic achievements with friends and family. At the same time, I will be actively searching nutrition-related positions within the pet food industry, as well as other opportunities connected to my field of study.
What was your most memorable research moment:
Thanks to Petcurean and Mitacs, I had the incredible opportunity to spend the summer of 2024 with Petcurean’s nutrition team. This experience gave me valuable insight into the inner workings of the pet food industry and allowed me to see how academic knowledge translates into real-world applications. Visiting Petcurean’s head office in Vancouver, BC was undoubtedly one of the most memorable experiences of my master’s journey.
What was a research challenge you had to overcome:
The greatest challenge I encountered during my research was adapting to the dynamic nature of the process. Successfully navigating a research project requires flexibility and the ability to approach problems from multiple perspectives. This journey helped me develop these essential skills, which I believe will be valuable in my future career.
This research was supported by Petcurean Pet Nutrition and Mitacs. We thank you for your contributions!