Rooted Owl Names Dr. Barbara Royal, DVM as Senior Veterinary Advisor and Head of Nutrition

New York, USA, September 29th, 2026, FinanceWire

Renowned integrative veterinarian joins Rooted Owl as the company advances two active clinical studies, prepares to launch a full feline line, and continues to lead the industry with first-of-kind formulations including its Joint & Muscle formulation combining UC-II and L-Carnitine 

Rooted Owl, the New York–based natural pet health company developed by Animal & Plant Sciences LLC, today announced that Dr. Barbara Royal, DVM, CVA, CVNN, CIVTN, FACVBM, one of the country's most respected integrative veterinarians and a pioneer in evidence-based veterinary nutrition, has joined the company as Senior Veterinary Advisor and Head of Nutrition.

 Dr. Royal, an owner and CEO of the Animal Diet Formulator & College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies, is widely recognized as one of the most authoritative voices in integrative veterinary care. Her practice has treated companion for over more than two decades, and her advocacy for clinically grounded, ingredient transparent pet nutrition has made her a defining figure in the modern natural pet health movement. 

"Dr. Royal joining Rooted Owl is a defining moment for us," said Karan S. Madan, Founder and CEO of Animal & Plant Sciences. "She brings unmatched clinical judgment, an evidence-first standard, and a decades-long body of work that aligns perfectly with what we've built. Rooted Owl was founded to bring a higher standard of scientific rigor, ingredient quality, and formulation innovation to natural pet health. Bringing Dr. Royal into the team is how we deepen that commitment. " 

Raising the Standard for Evidence-Based Natural Pet Health 

Rooted Owl has built its differentiation around one principle: every formulation must be defensible in a clinical setting. That commitment has produced an unusually deep body of scientific work for a brand of its size.

• Two active clinical studies currently underway, with topline data expected in 2026-2027
• Multiple completed clinical studies on core formulations, including the company's proprietary   Hemp Calming Oil 
• First-to-market with a Joint & Muscle Health formulation combining UC-II undenatured type II collagen and L-Carnitine — a combination not previously commercialized in the U.S. pet supplement category.
• NASC-certified, 14 SKUs live, currently distributed on Amazon, Chewy, Petco Mexico, independent stores and chains, VSI, Nelson and rootedowl.com

Expanding Rooted Owl's Science-Led Approach to Feline Health 

Alongside Dr. Royal's appointment, Rooted Owl also confirmed that a complete 12-SKU feline line is in final formulation and scheduled to launch in the coming months. The new line will include targeted formulations such as Cardio Support and Kidney Support, bringing Rooted Owl's evidence-based approach to a broader range of feline health needs. 

In her new role, Dr. Royal will guide product formulation, clinical study design, education for veterinary professionals, and engagement with prospective retail and clinical partners. She will also collaborate with the company on the development of new product formulations. 

About Rooted Owl 

Rooted Owl is a science-backed natural pet health brand developed by Animal & Plant Sciences LLC. Founded in New York, the company designs clinically formulated supplements and remedies for dogs and cats, sold direct-to-consumer through rootedowl.com and through Amazon, Chewy, and retail partners in the U.S. and Latin America. Rooted Owl is NASC-certified and holds multiple completed and active clinical studies backing its formulations. For more information, visit rootedowl.com. 

About Dr. Barbara Royal, DVM, CVA, CVNN, CIVTN, FACVBM 

Dr. Barbara Royal is an owner and CEO of the College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies and Animal Diet Formulator. She is one of the most recognized integrative veterinarians in the United States, an author, and a longstanding advisor on evidence-based veterinary nutrition. 

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