Plant-Based Pets: The Clean Pet Food Revolution

Guest Bio: Ernie Ward, DVM

Dr. Ernie Ward, "America’s Pet Advocate” is an internationally recognized veterinarian. He is known his innovations in general small animal practice, nutrition and pet obesity, and advocating for the special needs of senior dogs and cats. Dr. Ward is the Chief Veterinary Officer and co-founder of Wild Earth a plant-based sustainable pet food company, and the Executive Director of Education for Vertical Vet. He is the founder of Seaside Animal Care, a National Practice of Excellence Award-winning small animal veterinary clinic and DogGone Healthy, a practice dedicated to nutritional, behavioral and integrative care.

Dr. Ward has authored three books, including “The Clean Pet Food Revolution: How Better Pet Food Will Change the World (2019),” “Better You, Better Dog, Better Life: 30 Days to Happiness with Your Best Friend (2019),” “Chow Hounds: Why Our Dogs Are Getting Fatter (2010).” Dr. Ward has authored and been featured in more than 100 practice management and peer-reviewed medical journal articles in 11 countries, co-authored the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) Weight Management Guidelines, co-authored the peer-reviewed Veterinary Clinics of North America Small Animal Obesity textbook, and an upcoming chapter on pet obesity in the upcoming clinical textbook “Pet-Specific Care for Veterinary Teams.” Dr. Ward has been a frequent guest on numerous television programs and served as the resident veterinarian for the “Rachel Ray Show” for over seven years.

Dr. Ward established the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP) in 2005 and is a founding member of several professional organizations. He has been awarded the “Speaker of the Year Award” for both the North American Veterinary Conference (now VMX) and Western Veterinary Conference (WVC) and has spoken at every major North American veterinary conference as well as in Europe, South America, Russia and Asia, and has been a guest lecturer at most U.S. veterinary schools. He is a 1992 graduate of the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. You can find Dr. Ward on his popular YouTube Channel, Off Label Veterinary News, and he is creator and producer of one of the most downloaded veterinary podcasts, Veterinary Viewfinder, tackling the toughest contemporary topics in veterinary medicine.