Embracing Social Media as a Tool for Pet Health Education

As a natural canine health wellness expert, I’ve encountered my fair share of skepticism regarding information sourced from social media. It's common to hear dismissive remarks like, "Oh, you got that from a Facebook group?" or, "You can’t trust advice from random people online.

While these comments may stem from valid concerns, it’s crucial to recognize the evolving role of social media in education. In today’s digital age, social media is an integral part of how we learn and share knowledge.

Having moderated and going onto become an admin for two of the largest and most successful natural canine health groups, I understand why some might view my stance as biased. However, my experience—and that of my colleagues—demonstrates our commitment to providing accurate and up-to-date information. We hold ourselves accountable, routinely updating our content to reflect new findings and correcting any outdated information.

The access to information that social media offers is unparalleled. Gone are the days when textbooks, presentations, and lectures were the sole educational resources. Now, anyone can log onto the internet and find a wealth of information through educational videos, tutorials, online courses, and more—often at no cost. This democratizes learning, helping to bridge social and economic gaps.

Putting Social Media to Good Use

Social media platforms also foster a dynamic learning environment. Pet parents can interact with like-minded individuals, exchange opinions, get prompt answers to questions, and explore diverse learning approaches and materials. This interactive aspect encourages active participation, allowing pet parents to delve deeper into subjects or address their dogs' specific issues.

For example, social media groups have proven invaluable in identifying trends related to pet foods and supplements. When issues arise with particular products, these groups can quickly highlight common symptoms among pets, leading to faster identification of potential problems. Recently, a mystery illness was reported by pet owners worldwide. In one group, 1,745 pets (1,328 dogs and 417 cats) in the USA, Ireland, UK, Italy, Israel, Serbia, Hungary, France, New Zealand, and Canada became sick, with 409 fatalities. The common denominator was that they were all eating Purina. This ongoing investigation involves collaboration with renowned veterinarians and self-funded laboratory testing of the foods, with requests for the FDA to start their own investigation. Speaking from a personal perspective, over the last six years of working in group, identifying trends has been crucial in addressing concerns with various brands.

It’s easy to generalise and dismiss all online spaces as unreliable. However, many dedicated individuals have gone onto study and obtain formal qualifications as well as self studying and as a result, offer insightful and thought-provoking perspectives. It’s essential to "question everything and verify for yourself." Throughout my career, I’ve maintained this philosophy, welcoming questions and where possible, providing sources for the information and scientific data I share.

As an educator on a free and open platform, I acknowledge that none of us are infallible. It’s easy to develop tunnel vision when deeply invested in a topic. Open and honest dialogue with pet parents is fundamental to building a trustworthy resource as well as fostering safety practices to protect pet owners from receiving incorrect or potentially harmful advice from well-meaning members, especially for those with sick pets. Some groups, like ours, will turn off comments or remove potentially harmful advice or unhelpful comments for safety. Additionally, working alongside qualified veterinarians, nutritionists, and behaviorists helps keep pet parents safe from misinformation and damaging recommendations.

Conclusion

I am proud to contribute to this industry by offering what I believe is free, honest, and impartial educational content. To the best of my ability, I ensure the information is accurate at the time of posting. I will continue to collaborate with and highlight other like-minded individuals and resources, helping pet parents from all walks of life access reliable and free education to enhance their dogs’ health.

“Social Media is one of the most potent tools of change in the hands of citizens. May we use it responsibly to shape the world we live in.” – Sadhguru Vasudev