Dr. Ian Billinghurst is an Australian veterinarian, surgeon, author, and internationally recognized authority on canine and feline nutrition. He earned his veterinary degree from Murdoch University and practiced for decades as a clinical veterinarian and surgeon, treating companion animals hands-on while simultaneously questioning the nutritional models being pushed by large pet food corporations.
Dr. Billinghurst is best known as one of the original pioneers of biologically appropriate raw feeding (BARF) and is the author of multiple influential books that challenged conventional pet nutrition long before “fresh” and “raw” became mainstream. His work bridges clinical practice, nutritional science, and industry analysis, offering a rare perspective that combines real-world surgical experience with deep academic and historical understanding of how the pet food industry evolved.
In this episode, we go far beyond surface-level nutrition advice and dig into how pet food standards were created, why ultra-processed diets became normalized, and what dog owners should actually understand when advocating for their dog’s long-term health.