Course Info
Nutrition is the cornerstone to staying alive, and the better the nutrition an animal or human gets, the better they are able to function both physically and emotionally.
Many pet owners are not aware of the importance of good nutrition and the more our students can learn and advise owners about, the better.
This course is unique in that we are not promoting any particular brand or type of feeding regime; it gives the student all the most up to date information about the nutrition requirements of dogs and cats.
There are 2 options for this course:
1. The standard twelve-month course with a pre-set release date for each unit and assignment due dates.
2. Do It In Your Own Time (DIIYOT) which has no pre-set assignment dates, a new unit is released when your assignment for the previous one is received. The maximum time allowed for completion is 24 months.
Certificates are awarded on the successful completion of the course.
Nutrition courses, including the DIIYOT option, start whenever you’re ready to enrol.
Important information
- This course is online and requires you to be computer literate.
- To successfully do this course you must have access to Microsoft Word.
- Please note that your course notes are included in the course fee, however any prescribed books need to be purchased and paid for on top of this.
What the student will learn
- What constitutes a balanced diet and the make-up of the main nutrient groups. The workings of the digestive system and the effects of stress and obesity.
- What the nutritional requirements are at varying life stages and the role of nutrition in disease.
Course Content
- Unit 1 – Evolution, Behaviour and Nutrition
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Unit 1 explores the evolution and domestication of dogs and cats and how they have adapted to exploit new resources within changing environments.
We investigate the feeding behaviour of dogs and cats, including the unique adaptations of the cat as a specialised hunter. Students are introduced to the digestive systems of dogs and cats and develop an understanding of the major nutrient groups and their role in animal nutrition.
- Unit 2 – Pet Food, Palatability and Energy
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Unit 2 explores the factors that influence palatability and digestibility in pet food. We examine the role of regulatory bodies in different countries and explore commercially available pet foods and the methods used to produce them.
Students learn how to interpret dog and cat food labels and understand the information provided to consumers. We also explore the important role of energy in animal nutrition and how energy requirements influence feeding.
- Unit 3 – Nutritional Screening, Life Stages, Obesity and Stress
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Unit 3 begins with the nutritional screening process, introducing students to how the nutritional needs of individual dogs and cats can be assessed and identified.
We then explore the different life stages of dogs and cats, from breeding and reproduction through the growth and development of puppies and kittens to healthy ageing. We also examine obesity and stress, including predisposing factors, signs of stress and appropriate dietary considerations.
- Unit 4: In this final unit we investigate
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In this final unit we investigate the role of nutrition in disease. We look at various types of disease from Cardiovascular disease, Diabetes, Mellitus, Renal and Urinary tract disease, Gastrointestinal, Hepatic disease to Dental, Dermatological and Orthopaedic disease.
