Hi, I’m Karen.
Animals define my life, and helping animals is my passion, vocation, and calling.
I began working at my local humane society when I was 13. I became a state-licensed wildlife rehabilitator at 14 and became federally licensed when I was 16, allowing me to treat injured, orphaned, and sick migratory species. I was approved to rehabilitate endangered species in 2004. I’m passionate about protecting vulnerable and unprotected animals (and wild animals have no guardians that will protect them, so they need all the help they can get).
The most painful words for a veterinarian to hear are, “If I only knew then what I know now.”
Wildlife Biology was a natural pursuit. I spent four years at the renowned College of Natural Resources, University of Wisconsin-Steven’s Point. The next step was to secure a medical degree, advanced training in zoo medicine, and certifications in various integrative modalities, including acupuncture, homeopathy, and small animal physiotherapy (rehabilitation). I graduated from the Iowa State College of Veterinary Medicine, knowing I would open the first proactive, functional medicine animal hospital in the U.S. There was also a need for an integrative exotic animal clinic and a rehabilitation and pain management center for companion animals, so I was a very busy clinician.
LEARN: WHAT IS A FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE DOCTOR?
Functional medicine considers food and lifestyle medicine to be the primary modes of healing, rather than pharmaceutical interventions, as the first or only option for managing non-contagious, chronic disease. Functional medicine veterinarians strive to identify and remove lifestyle and environmental obstacles before disease occurs. We create customized, dynamic wellness protocols for animals, with the goal of promoting a higher state of ongoing well-being, an above-average quality of life, and an above-average life span. This differs from the conventional medical approach of reactively treating ailments and diseases after symptoms alert us the body is diseased or degenerating.
In 1999, Mama Becker created her famous thin and crispy, all-meat treats for me to use in my animal hospital, because there were no human-grade, 100% meat treats on the market. She didn’t know it then, but she single-handedly created a brand-new commercial treat category in the U.S. market, inspiring one of the most popular trends in the industry to date: single-ingredient treats. You can read more about her story and our family’s third-generation bakery here.
I grew up in a family that supported learning. I’m the youngest daughter of two teachers who encouraged my passion to learn as much as I could about creating wellness and avoiding illness. From a young age, I loved passing on information I learned about how to keep animals happy and healthy. And, really, nothing has changed.
I tell as many animal lovers as possible that it’s our responsibility to create health and well-being for our beloveds, and by doing so, we can minimize any feelings of regret later on.
Preventing the body from breaking is substantially easier than fixing it once it’s broken. I’ve adhered to a proactive approach to achieving and maintaining health and wellness throughout my career; I call this common sense medicine.
Much can be done to slow degenerative changes over time rather than watch the body whither and age unattended. My clients and millions of animal lovers worldwide have embraced my intentional, functional medicine approach to healing and well-being.
In 2021, our first book, The Forever Dog, hit #1 on the New York Times best-sellers list, a first for any animal health book. Translated into 21 languages, this is a testament to people’s desire to achieve exceptional health for the dogs they love, no matter where they live.
Our 2024 full-color “how-to” manual, The Forever Dog Life, 120+ Recipes for Better Bowls and Healthier Homes, was also a New York Times best-seller, demonstrating peoples’ life-long commitment to their family’s well-being, whether two or four-legged.
Over the last decade, my partner, Rodney Habib, and I have been grateful for the overwhelming support of our mission to intentionally create vitality by educating pet lovers on social media. The result: more than a billion views worldwide and 6 million + empowered, knowledgeable followers, pet health advocates, and Longevity Junkies (members of our 2.0 community). With over 2.5 million Facebook followers, I’m the most followed veterinarian on social media, a testament to people’s desire to provide proactive care for their beloveds.
We’ve been honored to share our passion for pet health with animal lovers worldwide via lectures, speaking engagements, and interviews, including wellness conversations at Facebook Headquarters and Good Morning America. My purpose is to make the world better for animals, and that’s exactly what I intend to do for the rest of my life, one conversation at a time.
In 2017, we started an online and web-based private wellness community to offer in-person support and ongoing education for people embracing their role as their animals’ health advocates, based on the latest science. Our Inside Scoop community is a thriving, kind (troll-free), interactive community of pet parents, veterinarians, scientists, and industry experts. If you’re looking for a deeper dive into the latest longevity science and practical advice about supplement doses, nutrition, protocols, and product reviews, this is your official invitation to join our awesome community of supportive, forward-thinking, animal-loving humans.
Dr. Karen Becker's Condensed CV
About Me
I’m a proactive wellness veterinarian committed to helping animals thrive through integrative, evidence-informed care. My work focuses on preventing disease and supporting longevity through nutrition, lifestyle, and education.
Professional Roles
- Founder & President, Nutrition by Design, Inc.
- Co-founder & Board Member, Companion Animal Nutrition and Wellness Institute (CANWI)
- Faculty Member, College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies (CIVT)
Certifications & Licenses
- Certified in Animal Acupuncture
- Certified in Veterinary Homeopathy
- Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist
- Fear Free™ Certified Veterinarian
- Certified in Dogosterone™ Canine Hormone Replacement
- Licensed to practice medicine in IL, AZ, and Nova Scotia, Canada
- USFWS Federally licensed wildlife rehabilitator (since 1989)
Media & Publications
- Co-author, #1 NYT Bestsellers: The Forever Dog (2021) & The Forever Dog Life (2024)
- Contributor, Prevention Magazine
- TEDx Speaker on Species-Appropriate Nutrition (2018)
- Author, Real Food for Healthy Dogs and Cats (150k+ copies sold)
- Producer, The Dog Cancer Survival Series documentary
Awards & Recognition
- Stange Award (2023) – Iowa State’s highest alumni honor in Veterinary Medicine
- Named the most followed vet in the world (Facebook HQ, 2019)
- Featured in Unconventional Healers, Pet Fooled, and 101 Reasons to Get Out of Bed
- Chicago Magazine’s Top 10 Veterinarians
Over a decade ago, I started a non-profit organization with board-certified veterinary nutritionist Dr. Donna Raditic because we both had an innate desire to provide objective education and basic nutrition research to the pet-vested community, fund unbiased, independent nutrition research, support Vet Tech Continuing Education programs and teach veterinary students the latest nutrition research without any corporate influence.
The Companion Animal Nutrition and Wellness Institute (CANWI) was created to be a reliable source of companion animal information and to uncover more answers about basic nutrition currently lacking in veterinary medicine. From the start, CANWI has been hard at work. Thanks to our supporters, we have initiated several ambitious research projects on the effects of pets consuming heat-processed foods. Our Scientific Committee comprises nationally recognized scientists who oversee and monitor our research initiatives from start to finish. Learn more about the important work we’re doing, and consider donating to one of our important research projects here.
The Stange Award for Meritorious Service in Veterinary Medicine is the highest award presented to distinguished veterinary alumni at Iowa State’s University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. It was a great honor to receive this award in 2023.
