Written by Quinn Obleman
At the beginning of April, I had the opportunity to travel to St. Louis, Missouri to attend a tour and conference at the Purina Nestle Headquarters. Leading up to the trip I felt nervous. I was travelling alone to a strange city in a different country, but mostly because going through airport security and customs causes extreme anxiety – could ‘ya just smile?! Purina invited 45 other Veterinary professionals to the event and once meeting a few people I felt instantly calm!
After arriving on Wednesday we were invited to a reception dinner where we received our itinerary and were introduced to the rest of the group. On Thursday we took a short bus ride from the hotel to Purina headquarters where we got an intimate tour of the facilities different departments and even got to meet some of the canine coworkers!
Sitting through 2 days full of lectures was an easy feat when they are put on by Purina Nestle’s Board Certified Toxicologist and one of the Microbiologists. I have been working in the veterinary industry for nearly 8 years and had no idea the amount of expensive research, testing and trials that are put on prior to the release of a new diet. Pet nutrition is a passion for me, and I now feel comfortable explaining to pet owners and my coworkers why an ingredient is passed over/added and what benefits it may bring.
Photo reference: http://jancosbusiness.blogspot.ca/2012_09_01_archive.html
