The Kompas vision & way of working
Strengthening health before problems arise. Four connected compass pillars, one individual animal at the centre, and a calm, clear way of working together.
My vision
Good animal care is vital for the health and wellbeing of our beloved pets. Nutrition is one of the big pillars in that complete picture: preventively, and when sensitivities call for extra support.
Feeding is bespoke
Yet nutrition is often a stumbling block for owners. “Where do I start? What is good?” Many can’t see the wood for the trees when it comes to food.
Voedingskompas Hond en Kat helps you learn to walk the right path, together with your animal. I advise you and help you make choices that suit your dog’s or cat’s needs. My advice draws on knowledge from, among other things, the professional training Integrative feed therapist for dog and cat at the KERN Academy, and is fully made to measure for your beloved four-legged friend.
Food-neutral & independent
I choose what suits your animal best, and I am not tied to any manufacturer.
The Kompas model
Nutrition, lifestyle, nature and wellbeing are never separate pieces. Together they form a circle of balance, and every plan takes all four into account. Choose a direction to read how each one shapes the way I work.
North · Nutrition
North is traditionally a fixed point: the orientation of everything.
In my vision, nutrition fits that idea beautifully. Food matters enormously, preventively as well as actively, when it comes to keeping a body healthy. And where needed, it is an important factor you can influence, to give the best possible support when complaints arise.
It is the orientation of everything, in a way. A good starting point from which to work further: from nutrition analyses to supplement and topping advice and personal nutrition advice, made to measure.
Within this pillar
East · Lifestyle
The east, where the sun rises: a symbol of a new beginning, every day.
Lifestyle returns every day in every life, our animals’ included. It is an important part of the health picture too: the base where nutrition, movement, stimulation and recovery come together. It is about how they experience their day.
That is why, in a plan, I look not only at what goes into the bowl but at the lifestyle around it. Small daily choices often bring real gains: more predictability, rest and relaxation. As an owner, that gives you direct influence on wellbeing and health.
Questions I look at
South · Nature
The south stands for warmth and grounding.
Nature shows us that health and nutrition go hand in hand. Our animals stand much closer to nature than we humans do today, and they show very clearly how short the line is between health, nature and nutrition. They live in the moment, often sense flawlessly what their body needs, and move along with their surroundings. We can still learn so much from them.
Above all, we should not forget that nature is the beginning and the end of all life. Together with scientific knowledge, the two complement each other beautifully, instead of merely existing side by side.
Arya loves to eat grass in spring, and very specifically only in spring. Not because she feels unwell: she simply enjoys it, and at that time of year the grass is packed with nutrients. On our heath I have also seen her and other dogs eat from the soil, at one particular spot.
Reading tip Doctors by Nature: How Ants, Apes, and Other Animals Heal Themselves
West · Wellbeing
The west, where the sun sets at the end of the day: a symbol of reflection and rest.
Emotional wellbeing forms the last essential piece of the compass. How an animal feels determines how it eats, moves, behaves and recovers.
Here too I share extra tips and practical tools, so that alongside nutrition you can support your animal emotionally and offer enrichment. Physical and mental balance, from enrichment to grooming.
Within this pillar
And don’t forget yourself. As an owner, you are an important part of your animal’s wellbeing. Much of what you do for your animal also feeds your own self-care: when you feel good in your own skin, your animal often mirrors it. Together you grow, in calm, connection and balance.
Holistic, yet scientific
A holistic approach does not mean leaving science behind. I look at everything in connection, and I still work from a scientific basis.
Holistic
By taking every factor into account (the integrative, or holistic, view) a more complete picture emerges. That lets us work more purposefully toward sustainable, long-term health for your animal, in a preventive way.
Science-based
Nature is a beautiful guide, and scientific knowledge complements it rather than standing beside it. Every piece of advice rests on what I learned in my training and keep learning through courses and webinars.
The road to wellbeing
An overview of the steps we take together, toward more wellbeing for your beloved four-legged friend.
After signing up
I send you an intake form. This questionnaire gives me a first picture of your dog or cat, and it is where you can share your question for help.
Once the form is in
We plan a video call to go through everything together. You can ask any other questions, and I explain further what you can expect.
Within 5 working days
After our conversation I get to work on your advice or service, and send it to you within 5 working days at the latest.
After an agreed period
After a period we agree on beforehand (and can adjust along the way), we plan a follow-up call to see how your four-legged friend is doing and whether any questions remain. For questions in between, I am always there.
What you can expect
Every animal is unique and has different needs, so you receive no copy-and-paste advice, but advice and guidance tuned to your dog or cat as an individual. Working with animals means carrying responsibility for a life that depends on you. That is why I treat everything I do for your animal with great care, respect and attention.
I always see the compass pillars nutrition, lifestyle, nature and wellbeing as connected. Taking every factor into account gives a more complete picture, so we can work more purposefully, and preventively, toward lasting health.
We stay connected, so you are never on your own. With regular check-ins and room for questions in between, I am your safety net and you won’t be left sitting with doubts.
With every advice you also receive e-books full of practical tips and valuable background information. I developed these reference guides myself, and they are yours to keep using.
My knowledge comes from the Integrative feed therapist for dog and cat training at the KERN Academy, complemented by 20 years of my own experience and study as an animal owner, partly paraveterinary training, and additional courses and webinars.
Clear, understandable explanation without difficult jargon, in my own way. I take you through the why behind every piece of advice, so you know exactly what you are doing and what it brings your animal.
Let’s get acquainted
Plan a free, no-obligation introductory call, so we can calmly look together at what suits you and your animal. I hope to speak to you soon!
Love, Melissa
