Expanding Our Knowledge at the DogRisk Seminar in Helsinki

Learning from the World’s Top Pet Nutrition Experts

This September, Tina (from our San Anselmo store) and I packed our bags and flew all the way to Helsinki, Finland for the 7th DogRisk Seminar at the University of Helsinki — one of the world’s top research centers for pet nutrition.

The event was hosted by Dr. Anna Hielm-Björkman, leader of the DogRisk research group, who has spent years studying how diet impacts disease prevention, gut health, and longevity in dogs. Anna and her team welcomed us with open arms — and even invited everyone to her home for a dinner and an all-day workshop. It was such a memorable experience to learn directly from her and connect with others who share the same passion for real-food nutrition.

Over three days, we were surrounded by veterinarians, researchers, and food scientists from all over the world — all gathered to share the latest science and discoveries in canine health.
Some of the highlights included:

• Dr. Barbara Royal (Chicago, USA), who presented fascinating cases on fecal transplants and the power of restoring gut balance naturally.

• Dr. Matthew Muir (Australia), who compared kibble vs. whole-food diets and showed how real, unprocessed foods improve metabolic health.

• Dr. Conor Brady (Ireland) who took a deep dive into plant fiber vs. animal fiber — confirming much of what we’ve been teaching for years!

• Dr. Susan Wynn (USA) a board-certified veterinary nutritionist, who guided us through practical feeding beyond kibble with a focus on balance through whole foods.

Every talk was packed with new research, lively discussion, and fresh insight from the leading minds in pet nutrition. It was a reminder that what we’re doing at Marin Raw — crafting truly whole-animal foods, balanced by nature — isn’t just common sense, it’s backed by real science and the best experts in the field.

We came home inspired, energized, and even more committed to bringing the most up-to-date, evidence-based nutrition to your pets right here in the Bay Area.
We can’t wait to go back next year!