Functional Canine

Functional Canine Led by Jackie Gowland, Animal Scientist and Certified Canine Nutritionist, Functional Canine integrates modern nutritional science with holistic principles.

Our NRC Diet Formulation services are provided to both pet owners and commercial business. There is a huge gap in current canine wellness services, products and community knowledge. Few products cater for dogs with allergies, particularly with allergies to factory farmed meats like beef and chicken. So few pet food companies understand the importance of removing chemicals, hormones, preservatives and additives from their products to prevent allergies, gastrointestinal issues and nutritional disease, and to ensure the health and longevity of consumer's pets. Few pet owners are aware of how a truely healthy pet should look, should smell and should act because in today's society as there are so many unhealthy animals that 'unhealthy' has become the norm. This is why the Functional Canine was formed here in Adelaide. We want to change the norm. We want to change the way pet food is made. We want to change the way you think. We want your dog to the best dog it can be. WE CHALLENGE YOU TO BECOME A PART OF THE CANINE WELLNESS REVOLUTION

Something alarming and rarely recognised as important, affecting some of the most expensive and cafe quantity teas. ...
16/03/2026

Something alarming and rarely recognised as important, affecting some of the most expensive and cafe quantity teas.

How times have changed. And are changing again. Our parents and our parents’ parents ate organ meat regularly. And now t...
16/03/2026

How times have changed. And are changing again. Our parents and our parents’ parents ate organ meat regularly. And now these nutrient-dense super foods are being brought back into both human and animal diets as nature’s multivitamins.

15/03/2026

Watching a dog grow older is inevitable.

From a biological standpoint, aging brings predictable changes — shifts in metabolism, joint wear, muscle loss, cognitive changes. These are normal processes that deserve thoughtful support.

Think:
- How can I reduce inflammation in the body?
- ⁠How can I nutritionally support my dog’s joints and organs naturally?
- ⁠How can I reduce unnecessary carbohydrates and sugars and instead naturally fuel the brain?
- ⁠How can I support the maintenance of muscle without adding unnecessary strain and pressure to the joints?

From an emotional standpoint, the silvering fur feels different.

It’s a reminder of how many ordinary days you were given together.

Supporting senior dogs isn’t about chasing youth.
It’s about protecting comfort, mobility, and quality of life for as long as possible.

Follow for evidence-based canine health and nutrition.

Labs are data, not a verdict. They reflect one day in the body and must be interpreted in context. They are a snapshot o...
12/03/2026

Labs are data, not a verdict. They reflect one day in the body and must be interpreted in context. They are a snapshot of that specific moment in time.

Look at patterns, trends over time, and how systems work together — liver, kidneys, thyroid, immune function, stress. A value “within range” doesn’t always mean optimal, and a flagged value doesn’t always mean crisis. This is why it’s important to regularly run bloods to see what your dog’s natural, healthy baseline is.

Blood work becomes powerful when you track it alongside real life.

Follow for evidence-based canine health guidance.

In the same way that you can’t out-supplement a poor diet, you also can’t clean up the diet but continue feeding tap wat...
11/03/2026

In the same way that you can’t out-supplement a poor diet, you also can’t clean up the diet but continue feeding tap water and expect to see a dramatic increase in health. Tap water contains microplastics, contaminants, and chemicals that I wouldn’t want going into your body or your dogs.

Fresh locally sourced spring water, filtered rain water, and, as a bare minimum, correctly filtered tap water are going to revolutionise the health of your pet.

10/03/2026

Our dogs are always watching, always sensing, they pick up on our energy, body language, and intentions before we even open our mouths. 🐾

🎥 Video credit:

Organ meats are a key part of balanced fresh feeding.Muscle meat alone doesn’t provide the full range of vitamins and mi...
09/03/2026

Organ meats are a key part of balanced fresh feeding.

Muscle meat alone doesn’t provide the full range of vitamins and minerals dogs need. That’s why secreting organs like the liver, kidney, or spleen are included to help supply those essential nutrients.

It’s also worth noting that heart and gizzard function nutritionally as muscle meat, even though they’re technically organs.

Most fresh feeding approaches include organs at about 10% of the diet, typically split between liver and another secreting organ, though this can vary depending on how the diet is structured.

Intentional balance matters.

Ah, processed food… once you start reading labels, you begin to realise how many undesirable and unnecessary ingredients...
04/03/2026

Ah, processed food… once you start reading labels, you begin to realise how many undesirable and unnecessary ingredients are in our food and our pets food. Your dog’s bowl deserves just as much scrutiny as you have for your own diet, if not more.

What’s the first 3 ingredients on your pet’s bag of food? Drop it below 👇

Not all fish belong in your dog’s bowl.Fish can support health, but the type of fish matters. Large fish with longer lif...
03/03/2026

Not all fish belong in your dog’s bowl.

Fish can support health, but the type of fish matters. Large fish with longer lifespans have a higher accumulation of heavy metals and contaminants compared to smaller fish.

Concentrations of omega 3 fatty acids, selenium and vitamins D also vary between species, so be aware of what your pet dietary needs are when selecting a fish to feed your dog.

Want to learn how to build your dog’s bowl? Follow more canine nutrition education.

The irony isn’t lost on me.She’s glowing, I’m still figuring it out. 😂
11/02/2026

The irony isn’t lost on me.
She’s glowing, I’m still figuring it out. 😂

Free Canine Myofunctional Therapy (professional dog massage) for dogs in Brisbane and surround for the month of February...
02/02/2026

Free Canine Myofunctional Therapy (professional dog massage) for dogs in Brisbane and surround for the month of February 🐾

Since moving from Adelaide, I would like to expand my bodywork side of the business, getting to know clientele here in Brisbane and their understand their specific needs.

This first initial session is conducted completely free of charge, including travel, and goes for approximately 60-90mins (120mins on occasion!). I can come to you which your dog will usually prefer, or we can organise a mutual meeting space.

What will be conducted during this session:
🐕 Gait assessment
🐾 Hands on muscle assessment
💆‍♀️ 60mins of massage
Optional: Accell therapy mat session and trigger point essential oil application. Nutritional, neutraceutical and herbal recommendations are also available upon request.

A little about me:
After completing my BSc (Animal Science) degree at the University of Adelaide back in 2013, I began dabbling in natural therapies to help my first dog with her life long food intolerances and permanent injury after a surgery. This lead to formal training in Natural Nutrition and Canine Myofunctional Therapy in 2016 in which enabled Functional Canine to be born. I have massaged many dogs of varying ages, breeds and conditions and much of my clientele in Adelaide return every month Functional Canine. The past 6yrs I have been more heavily focused in nutrition, however am now stepping back into the bodywork space in Brisbane.

As I am using this as a means of having Functional Canine to be more recognised in the Brisbane area, I ask that in return for the session you allow a couple photos or videos to be taken and to leave a review on Facebook / Google of your’s and your dog’s experience. These sessions are usually valued at $135 + extras + travel.

The ideal canine candidate for CMT will have arthritis, participate in canine sports, exhibit some anxiety or have low grade lameness. In saying this, I am open to treating any dog provided there is capacity in my schedule.

If interested, please DM us, or email info@functionalcanine.com

Thanks everyone, I’ll do my best to fit you all in!
Jackie 🐾

I have missed putting time and attention into education on my social media platforms. The past 2-3 months have been very...
18/01/2026

I have missed putting time and attention into education on my social media platforms. The past 2-3 months have been very pivotal in the growth and direction of Functional Canine, as well as in other areas of my life.

Since November, I have been working for Elaine Cebuliak at Animal Wellness in East Brisbane, and two weeks ago I made the official move up here with my partner and two dogs. Having been out of the clinical world since completing my Animal Science degree back in 2013, this role is a welcomed challenge. Not only does it allow for me to offer my skills, but to also learn from a highly esteemed professional who specialises in acupuncture, TCM, western herbal medicine, dentistry and holistic cancer treatments.

Other exciting things that are happening:
- Creation of a new recipe for Bogey’s Mix in the US
- Consultation for an exciting new product at Glatisse in Adelaide
- Creation of a new nutritional calculator app
- New bodywork offerings for dogs commencing in Brisbane
- New website (still a work in progress!)
- Capacity to take on new nutrition clients, both private and commercial

I hope to continue to build upon my skills to support past, existing and future clients as the year progresses.

Address

Adelaide, SA
5000

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 10pm
Tuesday 8am - 10pm
Wednesday 8am - 10pm
Thursday 8am - 10pm
Friday 8am - 10pm
Saturday 8am - 5pm
Sunday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

0449542844

Website

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