We were recently invited to do our first ever NorthPoint Pets presentation at a local veterinary office! We discussed the challenges that pet owners face when it comes to deciphering marketing claims and choosing the right products for their pets.
Meet Cheshire native Julia! Learn all about our newest team member’s background, her pets, and her dog’s favorite NPP toy.
I recently attended the 2023 Veterinary Meeting & Expo (VMX) in Orlando, Fl. and came back with a treasure trove of science and information we can use to help improve the health and wellness of our pets.
I started as a Veterinary Receptionist in 2018 with hopes of becoming a Certified Vet Technician, although I ended up working at an animal shelter in various positions. I ended up as a Foster Coordinator where I was helping care for homeless and sick pets waiting to be available for adoption. Many of these sick pets had skin infections, diarrhea, or joint issues, and although our vets helped them with prescriptions, I wanted to do more in the way of nutrition. We saw pets thrive on things like omega oils, pumpkin, and glucosamine and thus began my curiosity in pet nutrition!
My boys are all rescues from having worked at a vet/shelter for a few years. My pekingese Kingsley was “adopted” in 2019 when a client couldn’t afford his medical care (dry eye,16 teeth removed, and anemic) so I took him home that day on a whim. Ferguson my dollfaced Persian is my first cat adopted at the beginning of 2020 and at the end of 2020 I rescued Bean from a Louisiana hoarding case with over 160 dogs. They are all sweet mamas boys![vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”9019″]– Bean[vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”9020″]– Kingsley[vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”9021″]– Ferguson
Glucosamine is a must have item in my house because I’ve always had senior dogs. With having rescued them I got to see them transform and be more active after being on glucosamine, it is so rewarding!
My little dog only has 5 teeth left so his favorite is probably goats milk, but my big dog loves anything to chew on. We give him raw bones, bully sticks, and fish skins for enrichment on the weekends.
Goats milk is a product I always recommend because there are so many benefits, and pets love it! I love that we have different flavors like blueberry for antioxidants or pumpkin for even better gut health.
I get a lot of questions about what is the longest-lasting chew for dogs, which I can relate to having a Pitbull who destroys chews in seconds. I always recommend antlers, water buffalo horns, or Himalayan chews.
I’m so grateful to have been able to present at not one, but TWO international veterinary conferences recently in Helsinki, Finland for the University of Helsinki and in Barcelona, Spain for the Raw Feeding Veterinary Society.
The first conference was at the University of Helsinki for the annual DogRisk seminar. There, panelists shared their research related to the conference theme of “How to keep an aging dog healthy.”
My presentation was on “Differently processed dog foods and their research.” In it, I discussed raw and processed pet foods, what the pet food industry is doing right, and what it can improve.
It was truly an honor to have worked with such notable professionals![vc_single_image image=”8715″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_outline” border_color=”black”][vc_single_image image=”8931″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_outline” border_color=”black”]What an unforgettable week of travel, science, and seeing old friends.
On my way back to the University of Georgia, I took time to reflect on the significance of this overseas trip.
Five years ago, I would have never imagined attending an international pet nutrition conference — let alone being invited to serve as a panelist and present my research in front of a global audience.
That journey has been remarkable.
It’s taken a whole lot of hard work…
Not taking no for an answer…
Not being afraid to take risks…
And most important, the never-ending support of the people who believed in me and my mission to revolutionize the pet food industry. About Nicole Cammack
No other pet store owner in CT touts as many certificates and achievements as Nicole Cammack & Team, who travels around the globe to learn from some of the world’s top vets in search of unbiased truth. She’s gained a reputation for fearlessly standing up for what is right for pets; boldly questioning the validity of marketing claims and demanding transparency in regard to food safety & efficacy. In a constant search for answers, Nicci’s background in human nutrition provides insight to break through pet industry marketing gimmicks to get to the truth.
[vc_single_image image=”8725″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_outline” border_color=”black”]Myself (Barcelona, Spain)[vc_single_image image=”8723″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_outline” border_color=”black”]Myself with Dr. Nick Thompson[vc_single_image image=”8726″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_outline” border_color=”black”]
We appreciate our customers! That’s why every qualifying purchase gets you one step closer to free food, treats, and fun rewards.
Anything fresh – I am an advocate for adding fresh food in every pet’s bowl (even in small amounts). In my experience, small additions of fresh fruit, veggies and lean meats can make a profound difference.
Like many in this industry, it was my own sick pet that was the catalyst for diving into animal nutrition. Many don’t realize that I came from the human side, and soon realized that the animal nutrition field does not have the depth of research and options that human nutrition does.
Short answer: None. Long answer is that every pet is different, and therefore they have unique needs that are based on genetics, lifestyle, breed, age and diet.
The team that works here. Building a successful team that works together is no small feat, and without each of you NPP wouldn’t exist.
From a professional level, l held several different positions that helped to shape my education and experiences: paramedic, pharmaceutical research and medical education. Prior to NPP I traveled often throughout the country and even internationally for various medical/nutrition related meetings and events.
There are a very small handful of PhD canine nutritionists in the entire world and there is a large need for more and a very large education and research gap for canine (and feline) nutrition. Many people don’t realize that many brands of pet food are never formulated or reviewed by a qualified PhD nutritionist. Therefore I believe the largest impact could be made by teaching other graduate students and veterinarians at the University level to elevate the pet food industry to do proper research and make meaningful research contributions to both human and animal health.
This is a tough question. We at NPP know that most pets improve with even incremental changes to their diets. Considering this, I think that success in that space is helping pet parents to see the bigger picture and why nutrition is fundamental to health and wellness.
I am continually learning from this team. It’s probably not common knowledge that I had zero small business experience or full ‘people management experience. Everyone here is incredibly talented at problem-solving, adapting to change and speaking up when they have ideas – and we foster this environment! This approach has allowed each of us to learn and grow together and therefore each and everyone that is a member of this team has contributed to the success of NPP.
The purpose of a Ph.D. is to learn how to do research. Another part is often to teach younger students of the same field you’re completing your doctorate in. I’m looking forward to doing both of these things and contributing advancements to the field of canine nutrition.
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The award-winning NorthPoint Pets team is a multidisciplinary group of experienced and knowledgeable animal nutrition experts.
Our team receives extensive training to optimize your pets’ health through nutritional counseling, custom-designed meal plans, and working with local veterinarians and national experts.
We strive to provide you with the latest, most accurate, research-based information. Every team member undergoes ongoing training sessions to stay current on the newest pet nutrition science.
That training begins with our comprehensive in-house pet nutrition curriculum. This includes an orientation to all departments and products broken down by individual pet needs. We also provide continuing education on the latest research and best practices in pet nutrition.
The training isn’t based on a pet food company’s bias or an uncredentialed online course. Industry experts in veterinary science and animal nutrition teach our programs. They dive deep into the science behind the products, focusing on the knowns as well as the unknowns.
But we don’t stop there.
Since we want to deliver a consistent and seamless experience to our customers, we also participate in ongoing training. As scientists make new discoveries, the knowledge base changes.
Our goal isn’t to be “right.” It’s to provide the best information available.
We pride ourselves on having the honesty to say “things have changed” or “more information has become available.”
Each week, team members are assigned new reading material to further their education, from mastering training tools on specific topics to gaining a deeper understanding of general pet health and wellness.
Since we don’t operate in a vacuum, everything we learn is shared in the spirit of collaboration. We discuss and objectively review this information with other team members and continually find ways to use that knowledge to better serve your pets.
To keep our skills even sharper, we meet once a month to collectively discuss training and specific pet nutrition challenges. We also use this time to critically examine new products on the market. Our brand reps present their products, allow us to sample items, and even allow us to raise concerns. We often challenge their assumptions so we can gain a deeper understanding of their products.
In addition to our world-class experience and extensive ongoing education, we pride ourselves on helping you do what’s best for you and your pet.
At NorthPoint Pets, there is no cookie-cutter advice because we know each pet is different and has unique needs. We also understand that each human has varying degrees of experience and knowledge regarding pet nutrition. This means that two pet parents may receive two different sets of advice despite having similar concerns. We consider many aspects of the pet’s lifestyle, including health status, veterinary collaboration, age, exercise, diet, breed, and even owner lifestyle and preferences. In other words – we will meet you where you are!
That’s why we believe there are no silly questions.
After all, our extensive knowledge is pointless if we can’t use it to effectively help you and your pet live a healthier lifestyle. Every team member strives to have a deeper understanding of your pet’s specific needs. We consider our patrons to be our extended family members.
We know our regulars by name, their favorite treats, and even where each pup loves to be rubbed the most.
We are passionate about animal nutrition and science.
We are enthusiastic believers in total product transparency.
We strive to make every customer experience positive and educational.
We want you to make informed decisions about which products and foods best align with your pet’s unique needs.
Please contact us for more information about nutrition basics, tools, and resources. Feel free to visit the store and talk to any one of our team members to learn how to feed your pet the best possible foods.
August 19, 2022
CHESHIRE, Conn. — Nicole Cammack, animal nutrition researcher, doctoral candidate, and owner of NorthPoint Pets & Company, has been named an adjunct member of the University of Helsinki’s DogRisk team in Finland.
DogRisk is a research group in the equine and small animal medicine department at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Helsinki. The group conducts independent research on the associations between dogs’ nutrition and their diseases, concentrating on disease prevention.
“I am delighted to have this opportunity and honored to serve with such a globally recognized powerhouse team in the field of pet food research,” said Cammack. “This is a pivotal time for animal nutrition and the management of high-quality food that emphasizes our pets’ health, wellbeing, and longevity. I look forward to collaborating with principal investigator Dr. Anna Hielm-Björkman and her renowned team of scientists.”
Nicole Cammack is the founder & owner of multiple-award-winning NorthPoint Pets & Company. She has completed undergraduate work in biological sciences and business. She earned an M.S. in nutrition and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in comparative biomedical sciences (canine nutrition/metabolomics) at the University of Georgia.
As a consultant, Cammack has worked on multiple R&D projects for the pharmaceutical industry and has been heavily involved in police canine nutrition to improve care and feeding.
Her research interests include working dog nutrition, raw feeding, pathogens, metabolomics, and nutrition’s relationship to disease in humans and canines. Her current research explores the canine urinary metabolome and the connection to diet.
To learn more about DogRisk: https://www.helsinki.fi/en/researchgroups/health-via-nutrition-epidemiology-and-disease-detection-dogs
ABOUT NORTHPOINT PETS & COMPANY (NPP)
NPP provides premium pet food with unbiased, honest, and science-backed information regarding the care, feeding, and behavioral drivers of dogs and cats. Located in Cheshire, Conn., the national award-winning NPP team has earned a well-deserved reputation as industry leaders in independent pet retail and advocates of improving pet nutrition, health, and food safety. Learn more at https://northpointpets.com/.
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