BluePearl Pet Hospital
Irvine, CA
Nutrition

24/7 Emergency and Specialty

Pet nutrition by BluePearl.

Combining nutrition and science to help your pet live a longer and better life.

We understand that seeing your pet experience unusual symptoms or act out of the ordinary can be stressful – especially if you don’t know what’s wrong. Fortunately, our veterinary nutrition team is made up of experts in diagnosing and treating diseases of the heart and lungs, and we’re here to help. 

Our commitment is not just to deliver advanced nutritional medicine; it’s to enhance the well-being of your pet and be with you every step of the way.

A vet specialist holds a small grey puppy wearing a cone on an exam table.

Conditions we treat.

A BluePearl anesthesiology and pain management vet prepares to fix an anesthetic facemask on a yellow lab while a vet tech helps hold the dog on the exam table.

If your pet has a health condition, you’ll have an entire nutrition team helping to improve your pet’s quality of life so you can get back to what matters most – spending precious moments together.

Specialty nutrition services can be helpful for pets with:

  • Chronic diseases such as kidney, heart, gastrointestinal and skin conditions
  • Obesity or anorexia
  • Food allergies or sensitivities
  • Age-related nutritional needs

Services we offer.

Your pet will receive unparalleled medical care during their time at the hospital (and they’ll be spoiled with love and attention, too).

Advanced diagnostics

Your pet can’t tell us what’s wrong, so we use sophisticated diagnostics and imaging tools to uncover the source of the problem.

  • Blood pressure measurement
  • Blood work
  • Urinalysis

Treatment plans

Just as no two patients are the same, neither are their treatment plans. Our nutrition team has experience with a range of options to get your pet on the path to wellness, including:

  • Treatment of chronic conditions
  • Weight loss and management
  • Assisted feeding and feeding tube support
  • Medication bioavailability recommendations
  • Maintenance of healthy diet
  • Commercial and homemade diet consultation/analysis
  • Supplementation/nutraceutical review
  • Assisted feeding consultation (any type of feeding tube/port)

Our board certified specialists and nutrition team.

Experience makes all the difference. 

Our nutrition team is made up of veterinarians, vet technicians and assistants, and support staff with rigorous training and experienced in specialty medicine. The team works hand in hand to provide the comprehensive, compassionate care your pet needs and deserves. Because we’re a multidisciplinary hospital, the team can consult the expertise of other specialty departments, too.

Rachel Kurzbard

MS, DVM, DACVIM (Nutrition)
Board Certified in Veterinary Nutrition

Nutrition
Servicing locations

On the job

Dr. Rachel Kurzbard enjoys working on cases with multiple concurrent conditions. She is also interested in assisted feeding, critical care nutrition, and weight loss plans.

Education
  • Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Nutrition)
  • Residency, Small Animal Clinical Nutrition, University of Missouri, Columbia
  • Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Southern California Veterinary Specialty Hospital, Irvine
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA
  • Master of Science, Animal Biology, University of California, Davis
  • Bachelor of Science, Animal Science, University of California, Davis
Off duty

Outside of work, Dr. Kurzbard enjoys jogging and reading. She and her family like to spend time outdoors, especially near the ocean.

Publications & Articles

What to expect.

We want you to be prepared for your pet’s visit to the nutritionist, so you have one less thing to worry about. Our entire BluePearl team will be with you every step of the way.

Before your visit

  • Make an initial appointment by calling us directly or via referral from your pet’s primary vet. 
  • We’ll get records from your primary or emergency vet before your first visit and collaborate with them to discuss your pet’s history and current condition.

During your visit

  • When possible, we’ll examine your pet with you by their side to make them more comfortable. If additional tests are needed to create a treatment plan, we’ll discuss those options with you.
  • You’ll have plenty of time and opportunity to ask questions as we go over your pet’s treatment plan together.
  • Before you leave, you’ll receive a customized nutrition plan with recommendations on diet, treats, supplements, monitoring and follow-up.

After your visit

  • Our team will continue to partner with your primary veterinarian as part of the ongoing management of your pet’s care.
  • You know your pet better than anyone, and you play a crucial role in their treatment plan. If you have any concerns about providing care at home (such as giving medication, maintaining a specific diet or monitoring your pet’s symptoms), let us know – we’re here for you.