Royal Canin brought science-backed, tailored pet nutrition to Bai Hotel on September 1, 2025, and reaffirmed its commitment to partner with veterinarians to build a better world for pets at #VetSymposium2025.

Themed “From Gut to Great: Transforming Veterinary Practice,” the company’s first Vet Symposium drew vets from across the Philippines for the latest microbiome science, digital-practice strategies, and an urgent call to care for the caregivers.

It framed the day around three clear goals: update vets on the latest gut-health research, help practices succeed in a digital age, and address veterinarian wellness.

This year's speakers included Dr. Selapoom Pairor of Kasetsart University, Dr. Edgardo Unson of Animal House Veterinary Hospital, Dr. Marie Ellaine Nielo of Chong Hua Hospital, clinical psychologist Katrina Vandenbroeck, and serial entrepreneur RJ Ledesma.

SCIENCE THAT MAKES TAILS WAG

Dr. Hannah Sayson, Royal Canin’s Scientific Communications Manager, said evidence has overturned long-standing ideas in clinical care, including the once-common advice to withhold food from pets with severe gastrointestinal (GI) distress.

New studies changed that approach, and changed outcomes.

“This is why research is so impactful,” she said, stressing a commitment to data. “We want to be evidence-based. We don't want to just make claims about a specific diet or a specific condition without having information or true data to back it up.”

Sayson added that Royal Canin also partners on Philippine studies so recommendations fit local dogs and cats, rather than relying only on global data.

She said their work also tries to bridge the knowledge gap between clinics and owners by making nutrition “more accessible for pet owners,” and by building trust through science-backed messages so owners accept sound nutritional advice when it is offered in clinics.

CARING FOR THE CARER

The symposium did not shy away from hard truths. Dr. Edgardo Unson, owner of Animal House Veterinary Hospital, warned that burnout threatens the next generation. He linked stress to service pressures and to client expectations for instant answers, problems that can overwhelm young clinicians quickly.

He urged a return to core purpose, “always remember why you became a vet,” and described the toughness required to last in practice.

“To love animals means loving with a heart of steel, a heart of perseverance,” he said.

Looking ahead, Unson said the sector needs leaders who would give back and build community, a step toward healthier practices and stronger professional networks.

PRACTICE PAWS-ITIVITY

Royal Canin used the event to build on prior practice-focused work: their Vet Business Forum series and regional small-business gatherings.

“So we decided to combine nutrition education, business education to help uplift the small businesses into one big event,” Sayson said.

Speakers linked clinical advances to the human side of practice.

Vandenbroeck offered tools to spot and manage burnout; Ledesma mapped ways digital tools can strengthen clinic–owner ties; Nielo and Paidor delivered actionable, bedside-ready guidance; and Unson shared his 40-year vet odyssey.

BEYOND THE BOWL

Pann Kongsiriwattanakul, Royal Canin Southeast Asia Corporate Affairs Director, framed the company’s role as ecosystem builder.

“Cats and dogs make a better world for us,” she said, and added that Royal Canin’s mission goes “beyond our products” to equip veterinarians, specialists and owners with knowledge and tools.

Across the globe, Royal Canin has 16 factories, and Pann said all factories have the same formulas.

“We decide whether it can keep the product quality until the pet owner opens it... so with this standard, we can maintain and make sure that we serve the food to the pet with the right quality,” she said.

According to Pann, Philippines has a fast-growing market with abundant opportunity, more cat owners, more influencers, and areas still waiting for better access to nutrition and veterinary care.

To support future clinicians, she pointed to programs for students, including a Veterinarian Master Program recently launched in the Philippines, and welcomed any vet who wants to “be part of the RC family.”

TAIL-END TAKEAWAYS

Taken together, the symposium reinforced a single roadmap: combine up-to-date gut-health evidence with clearer owner communication, smarter clinic business practices, and stronger mental health support for staff.

Royal Canin’s local research, education programs, and business outreach; and its invitation for vets to connect, aim to push clinics toward that ideal.

As Pann put it, Royal Canin is “a true partner to all veterinarians.” From gut science to grit and growth, the message was simple and clear: nourish the pet, equip the clinic, and care for the carer, that’s how you turn “gut” into “great.”