The Integrative Animal Health Collective

Elaine Tang shares that a friend who studied pet nutrition extensively shared her experience of switching her dog to a real food diet and the positive changes she noticed. That sparked Elaine's interest, and following her advice, Elaine saw the difference in her own dog, Cooper, and decided to learn more. Elaine chose CIVT’s Certification in Small Animal Natural Nutrition course because of its in-depth curriculum and the flexibility of studying online at her own pace. Elaine notes this course gave her a chance to pursue what she had always wanted - to be part of the pet industry. She now understands the importance of proper nutrients, diet, supplementation, and holistic approaches to health. She finds that seeing her dogs thrive with better health and fewer vet visits is incredibly rewarding. More importantly, this certification also allows her to share her knowledge with other pet parents in Malaysia. Elaine is grateful to professionally guide owners toward better solutions for their beloved animals!

Andreas Lanzilotti is an integrative animal therapist working with dogs and cats in a veterinary practice near Bern, Switzerland. It took him a long time to find this profession—he likes to joke that he first completed some very extensive “preclinical studies.” After working in several different professions and managing health challenges of his own, he began an internship in a veterinary practice at the age of 53. This marked the beginning of a completely new career.
More than 25 years ago, he adopted his first own dog—a decision that became a major turning point. Since then, he has shared his life with five dogs, caring for them through chronic illness, aggression and other behavioural challenges, old age and loss. In many ways, dogs have been lifesavers for him, as well as some of his most important teachers.
Andreas has trained in canine osteopathy, fascial therapy, acupuncture for pain relief, and animal nutrition. His continuing education combines classical TCVM approaches with acupuncture systems originally developed for human medicine, including the Balance Method, Master Tung acupuncture, and Neoclassical Acupuncture, which he is exploring for use in animals. He has also completed numerous webinars and short courses through CIVT and other continuing education providers to strengthen his foundations while broadening his therapeutic range through herbal medicine, medicinal mushrooms and other integrative methods. He is particularly interested in practical, structured methods that provide clear feedback and can be adapted to each animal.
For him, integrative medicine is not simply a collection of techniques, but a broader philosophy of care: a way of looking at the whole animal, its history, its environment and its relationship with the owner. For Andreas, therapeutic depth comes not from accumulating knowledge alone, but from combining it with real-life experience, curiosity, empathy and careful observation.

Hilary Wilkie is the founder of Thrive Dog Kitchen, and offers canine nutrition services.
She believes in making it easier for dog parents to feed fresh, whole foods, whether that’s through frozen whole food blends or practical, evidence-based nutrition support.

Her journey started thanks to her 13-year-old dog, Jessie. She was Hilary's greatest teacher. After years of off-and-on tummy issues and a surprise diagnosis of obesity, she turned to fresh food (with the support of her vet) to help her heal from the inside out.

What began as a way to help one dog thrive turned into a mission to help as many as possible.

Thrive Dog Kitchen was born from that mission and creates small-batch frozen blends made with locally sourced, human-grade ingredients in the Wairarapa. Thrive Dog Kitchen is also building a movement that helps New Zealand dog parents feel confident feeding their dogs fresh, one spoonful at a time.

Since starting, Hilary has earned certifications from institutions in the US and Canada, and through the College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies in Australia.
Hilary believes nutrition is a foundational pillar of dog health, but not a silver bullet. Her approach is balanced, evidence-informed, and practical for everyday life.

Carolyn von Ah: My interest in natural nutrition grew from my work as a TCVM practitioner and osteopath. While my previous certificates touched on lifestyle and diet, I felt I was only scratching the surface. I wanted to dig deeper to ensure my canine patients could be as healthy and happy as possible.
Because I couldn't find a structured, professional-grade course locally, I turned to CIVT. I wanted the ability to create recipes for my clients that weren't just based on TCVM principles but were also nutritionally balanced according to FEDIAF standards. The Certification in Small Animal Natural Nutrition course was exactly what I was looking for - it is, quite simply, the best and most well-organized program I have encountered. This qualification means I can now provide a truly holistic and evidence-based service to my clients.

Katherine says "As a nutritional therapist with over a decade of experience, expanding into pet nutrition felt like a natural next step, though it was a deeply personal journey that set me on this path. It began with my two senior dogs - Wendy and Nicol. Wanting the best for them as they aged, I started looking into proper nutrition tailored to their needs. When one of them was diagnosed with kidney disease, that search became even more urgent. Around the same time, my professional work was growing to encompass animal nutrition, and I knew I needed both the skills and a formal qualification to do it well.
The name CIVT came up during my research and interestingly, I discovered that my dog's own vet had attended a CIVT course too. That gave me all the confidence to enrol in CIVT's Certification in Small Animal Natural Nutrition.I can honestly say that taking this course is one of the best investments I have ever made — personally and professionally. It is beautifully structured, and the support from the tutors and staff throughout was outstanding. Assignments were marked promptly and returned with thoughtful, constructive feedback. The depth of knowledge I gained in small animal natural nutrition has been invaluable. Most importantly, this course has given me the confidence to step into this field with real purpose and competence. I am so grateful I found CIVT."