Description
SAVC and AVNAT Approved Course
This flexi CPD course is aimed at vet nurses and vet technicians in general practice and is available on-demand with unlimited lifetime access. Each module consists of a tutorial, quiz and further reading articles
Module 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 module, 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
Module 2
Growth
- Optimal growth
- Effects of neutering
- Nutritional considerations for large breed puppies
Learning objectives
After completion of this module, 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
Module 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 module, 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
Module 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 module, 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
Module 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 module, 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
Module 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 module, 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
The course will be available immediately following purchase, with unlimited lifetime access and will provide a total of:
10 hours of CPD (UK)
10 points (Australia and New Zealand)
10 points (South Africa – SAVC Accreditation Number AC/2451/25)
Release date: Apr 2025
Stephanie M –
Very good and in-depth for all life styles. Would have liked more on weight management.
Rated: Introduction level
(Qualified RVN in general practice <5 years - UK)
Kelsi S –
I found this course to be extremely helpful as an RVN who runs weight clinics in practice. I really liked how it went through each life stage in detail and Georgia was very engaging. The forums each week were brilliant, it was great to see what other participants thought and to hear their questions – it was very thought provoking. I liked how Georgia responded to answers on the forum with advice or reassurance. I would definitely recommend this course.
Rated: Introduction / Intermediate level
(Qualified RVN in general practice <5 years - UK)
Rebecca L –
Really well set out, interesting and nice that there were different tasks to do each week. Tutor was very helpful with questions and really explained the topic thoroughly.
Rated: Intermediate level
(Qualified RVN in general practice >5 years – UK)
Steph G –
Useful covering of all basic info needed
Rated: Introduction level
(Qualified RVN in general practice >5 years – UK)
Sameena R –
A great course giving all round knowledge through all stages of life
Rated: Introduction / Intermediate level
(Qualified RVN in general practice >5 years – UK)
Lucy G –
Georgia is very knowledgeable which comes across in her tutorials. Georgia is very good at making the course engaging and her voice is easy to listen to, enthusiastic! Well put together course with helpful tasks/quizzes.
Rated: Introduction / Intermediate level
(Qualified RVN in general practice <5 years - UK)
Savannah I –
This course has been great and has helped me to become more confident in giving out advice for nutrition to clients and also helped me take back some information for my colleagues to use in practice.
Rated: Introduction / Intermediate level
(Qualified RVN in general practice <5 years - UK)