Being a pet nutrition specialist involves knowing your product.
A pet nutrition specialist is a person who usually works for a specific pet food company. However, a pet nutrition specialist can also be an individual in a veterinary hospital who is an expert in prescription pet foods frequently offered for sale in veterinary clinics. More dog and cat owners are becoming educated on the benefits of high-quality pet foods. The job of a pet nutrition specialist is to help pet owners make informed decisions and can be found working in pet supply stores, trade shows, pet expos, veterinary hospitals and online. Some pet nutrition specialists become distributors, working for themselves selling one brand or a variety of pet food.
Occupational Information
Dogs need good nutrition to keep them healthy.
While some pet foods aid with specific problems such as food allergies, kidney disorders or urinary tract problems, others promote animal health by including ingredients that help to keep their joints strong and well-lubricated, their skin and coat growing thick and shiny or their digestive system in good order. The pet nutrition specialist must know these products and guide clients through the decision-making process.
Work Places
According to a job description listed on CareerBuilder.com, a pet nutrition specialist must have a working knowledge of the different pet foods on the market and their purpose. A specialist may work in a pet supply store either as an employee of the store, or as an employee of a specific pet food company working "on-site" helping customers understand the assortment of pet foods available.
A veterinary technician working in a vet clinic may also be a pet nutrition specialist assisting clients of the clinic find the right foods for their pet.
Skills
Pet nutrition specialists earn about $13 per hour depending on experience. This is true regardless of where the specialist may work. The job requires a high school diploma and some sales experience. The employee must be able to speak clearly to educate customers and clients on the benefits of a particular pet food, as well as promote the advantages of the product. Pet food companies claim their products can do everything from assist with brain development to reducing hairballs. It is the specialist's job to become trained in all of those claims and share that information with interested pet owners.
Ability and Personality
Pet nutrition specialists must be available to work weekends since that is a busy time for retailers. They must also be able to lift up to 40-pound bags of food. They should have a good command of the English language, though multilingual applicants are almost always in demand.
"Since pet nutrition is such an important part of keeping pets healthy," says Adriana Strand, Hospital Administrator and hiring manager for Village Animal Clinic in North Palm Beach, "I look for candidates who really do care about dogs and cats and have an interest in high-quality nutrition. Someone with an outgoing personality will do best with this job."
Interest in Pets
Pet nutrition specialists should consider themselves to be pet lovers because they will be spending a lot of time discussing pets and their needs with clients. Having a genuine interest in the needs of dogs, cats, kittens, puppies, ferrets, fish, rabbits, reptiles and small pocket pets such as hamsters, gerbils, rats, mice and guinea pigs, will make the specialist more sincere with the customers and lead to greater sales.
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