The Purina Institute Global Summit 2026, held May 27-28, gathered veterinary professionals from more than 100 countries to focus on turning the latest science into practical preventive care for pets. The summit, now available for on-demand viewing at globalsummit2026.purinainstitute.com, aimed to improve pet health and strengthen veterinarian-client partnerships.
Changing the Care Paradigm
Themed "Proactive, Not Reactive: Changing the Care Paradigm," the summit explored how veterinary medicine can act earlier to protect pet health before conditions become established. This shift is crucial because earlier, more intentional care helps veterinary teams identify risks sooner, makes prevention more practical for pet owners, and supports healthier lives for pets.
Key Themes and Discussions
Globally renowned speakers emphasized that preventive care works best when it is easy to deliver, easy for clients to follow, and embedded into routine care. Key themes included using existing visits—such as vaccination appointments and wellness checks—as opportunities to discuss future health prevention, treating pet owner communication as a clinical skill, and individualizing prevention based on pet owners' values and barriers.
Other topics included the role of healthy weight and nutrition as foundational health maintenance tools, connected pet technologies like activity monitors and smart feeders, and emerging biomarkers for earlier detection. The groundbreaking Purina Life Span Study highlighted the importance of maintaining a lean body condition in dogs to improve lifespan and health.
Expert Insights
"The Purina Institute Global Summit continues to serve as the forum for translating science into practical strategies for veterinary professionals," said Dr. Marianne Lomberg, global head of the Purina Institute. "The goal of this year's summit was to empower veterinary professionals to design care plans that make prevention understandable, relevant and achievable."
On-Demand Access
The on-demand content is available now at globalsummit2026.purinainstitute.com. The Purina Institute is dedicated to transforming nutrition science into actionable information for veterinary professionals to help pets live longer, better lives.
