Week 1

From Conception to Weaning

Parent health prior to conception and how this may affect pregnancy, parturition, and offspring

Nutritional requirements during pregnancy

Nutritional adaptations required during lactation

Neonate nutritional requirements, including how to hand feed effectively

Weaning

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Discuss how nutrition affects reproduction and key adaptations that are required

Have a clear understanding of how to promote health through nutrition during lactation

Identify the essential nutritional requirements for neonates

Understand how to hand feed neonates correctly

Week 2

Growth

Optimal growth

Effects of neutering

Nutritional considerations for large breed puppies

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Correctly use growth charts to map growth

Identify when growth is not ideal and the necessary changes that are required to maintain a healthy weight to adulthood

Have a good understanding of the nutritional adaptations that will be required at the point of neutering

Week 3

Adult Maintenance

Promoting health in adults

Maintaining a stable weight

Treat management

Recognise key aspects of feeding working dogs

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Understand nutritional requirements for adults and how these must be adapted for each pet’s circumstance

Identify points of concern and to make appropriate recommendations

Reflect on how nutritional requirement for working dog may differ from pet dogs

Week 4

Golden Oldies – Senior Pets

Defining ‘senior’ age as an individual process

Understanding age related changes and how these require nutritional adaptation

Environmental considerations for pets in their senior years

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Confidently assess the needs of a senior pet

Identify environmental changes that may be required

Understanding of the dynamic changes to nutrition that are required for seniors to better support the pet and pet owner

Week 5

Diet Choices

Examination of the pet food label

Introduction to alternative diet types and how to have conversations with pet owners

How to manage pets fed an alternative diet within a hospital environment

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Identify all key information on a pet food label and how this is used to determine a feeding amount

Have a broad understanding of the pros and cons associated with alternative diets that are now commonly fed

Appreciate methods for assessing the suitability of alternative diets and how to improve safety

Confidently talk to the pet owner who wish to feed an alternative diet type

Week 6

Maintaining an Ideal Weight

Assess ideal weight through body condition scoring and muscle condition scoring

Simple steps to ensure obesity does not occur, and what can help if it does

How to calculate a feeding quantity of dry, wet or mixed diet types

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Confidently be able to body condition score and muscle condition score to identify an ideal weight and good health

Understand how simple food management in the home can prevent obesity occurring

Thoroughly understand calculations for determining a feeding amount to prevent over, or under feeding