Nurses Certificate in Small Animal Nutrition

Anatomy, Nutrition, and Immunity

At the end of this module you should be able to:

• Recognise the anatomy and explain the functions of the gastrointestinal tract.
• Describe the rationale behind the physiology and biochemistry of digestion
• Demonstrate your ability to evaluate the anatomy and physiology of the kidneys
• Apply your knowledge of the roles of calcium and phosphorus in order to describe how their levels are regulated
• State the main principles of anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry of the liver
• Recognise the role of nutrition and Immunity

 Speaker: Kirsty Gwynne RVN Cert Ed C-SQP V1

Kirsty Gwynne

RVN Cert Ed C-SQP V1

Kirsty has been a veterinary nurse in practice since 1996 and has worked in mixed practice as well as dedicated small animal practice as Head Nurse and assessor. After being in practice for eight years Kirsty moved into education where she taught on BSc level Veterinary Nursing and Animal Science, FE Veterinary Nursing, Animal Science and Equine programmes. In 2009 Kirsty became a director of Abbeydale Vetlink Veterinary Training Ltd. Kirsty still works in small animal practice and a dedicated emergency clinic part time. Kirsty has a Graduate Diploma in Professional Clinical Veterinary Nursing and is an RCVS examiner and Senior examiner for Central Qualifications.

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Basic Nutrition and life-stage feeding of cats and dogs

At the end of this module you should be able to:

• Recognise the basic nutrients to better understand the principles of optimal nutrition
• Develop your ability to recognise the signs of nutritional health in small animals
• Explain how basic nutritional information can be used to determine energy requirements by completing calculations
• List the different key nutritional requirements of dogs and cats
• Paraphrase nutritional risk factor management in small animals
• Describe the principles and practical aspects of life stage nutrition

 Speaker: Clare Spencer BVetMed MRCVS

Clare Spencer

BVetMed MRCVS

Clare Spencer graduated as a Veterinary Surgeon from the RVC in 1984. She received a Distinction in Animal Husbandry and Nutrition and these two subjects have been of special interest to her during her extensive career. She practised as a veterinary surgeon in N. Ireland, England, Scotland and France, working as a small animal locum in Gloucestershire until just a few months ago. She became Veterinary Affairs Manager for a premium pet food manufacturer, where she worked between 1997 and 2018, initially as a member of staff and subsequently as an independent consultant. This role was primarily technical and educational. It entailed staff training in small animal nutrition and resulted in invitations as a guest lecturer at all the key veterinary congresses and veterinary schools and several of the nurse training colleges. Clare obtained her PTLLS qualification and became a tutor and subsequently an examiner for the City and Guild Small Animal Nutrition course and examination. Clare has published articles in a wide range of journals on the topics of nutrition, husbandry and communications. She is especially interested in medicine, nutrition, client care and treating pets as part of the family. Wherever she works, she knows she can’t do her job properly without the support of a good nursing team and likes to share her knowledge and expertise.

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Small mammal nutrition

At the end of this module you should be able to:

• Demonstrate your knowledge of the anatomy of the digestive tract in rabbits, rodents, ferrets, sugar gliders and small primates
• Paraphrase the principles of digestive tract physiology in small mammals
• Recognise all of the common, and some of the uncommonly encountered exotic mammalian species (eg rabbits, rodents, ferrets, sugar gliders, small primates, etc), and be aware of their gastrointestinal anatomy and physiology, and dietary requirements.
• Describe how nutrition clinically affects relevant areas of other organ systems, and how to prevent this from occurring (e.g., calcium metabolism and the urinary tract in rabbits).
• Be able to construct nutrition plans for small mammals, for both general supportive care, and for the prevention or management of specific diseases.
• Discuss the importance of nurse clinics for the nutritional welfare of the most common small mammals kept as pets (e.g., Rabbits)

 Speaker: Richard A. Saunders BSc (Hons) BVSc FRSB CBiol DZooMed (Mammalian) DipECZM(ZHM) MRCVS  RCVS Specialist in Zoo and Wildlife Medicine (Mammalian) European Specialist in Zoological Medicine (ZHM)

Richard A. Saunders

BSc (Hons) BVSc FRSB CBiol DZooMed (Mammalian) DipECZM(ZHM) MRCVS  RCVS Specialist in Zoo and Wildlife Medicine (Mammalian) European Specialist in Zoological Medicine (ZHM)

Richard Saunders is a Staff Veterinarian at Bristol Zoo Gardens and Clinical Teacher at the University of Bristol. Additionally, he sees referral exotic pets at Highcroft veterinary Referrals, Bristol, and is the veterinary adviser to the Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund. He qualified in 1994, obtaining his DZooMed (Mammalian) in 2010. He has authored numerous articles on rabbits, rodents and other wild and exotic species, and has contributed to a number of textbooks, including co-authoring "Notes on Rabbit Internal Medicine", as well as several chapters for the new editions of the BSAVA Rabbit Manuals, and has co-authored "Rabbit behaviour and Welfare".

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Balanced nutrition for birds and reptiles

At the end of this module you should be able to:

• Recognise representative species of broad taxonomic groups of avian and reptilian species seen in practice, including native wildlife.
• Describe the anatomy of the digestive tract in a wide variety of birds: psittacines; raptors; wild UK birds and backyard chickens-
• Describe the anatomy of the digestive tract in reptiles such as terrestrial and freshwater Chelonia; snakes; representative species of commonly encountered lizard species (herbivore, omnivore, and carnivore)
• Paraphrase the principles of digestive tract physiology in birds and reptiles
• Develop your ability to understand the nutritional requirements of herbivorous, carnivorous, and omnivorous reptiles
• Demonstrate your understanding of nutrition in birds and reptiles into decision making when selecting food to help maintain optimal nutritional status
• Evaluate pet food products for birds and reptiles in relation to clinical disease
• Describe how nutrition clinically affects relevant areas of other organ systems, and how to prevent this from occurring (e.g. calcium, phosphate, and Vitamin D metabolism in exotic avian and reptilian species).
• Be able to construct nutrition plans for these species, for both general supportive care, and for the prevention or management of specific diseases.

 Speaker: Richard A. Saunders BSc (Hons) BVSc FRSB CBiol DZooMed (Mammalian) DipECZM(ZHM) MRCVS  RCVS Specialist in Zoo and Wildlife Medicine (Mammalian) European Specialist in Zoological Medicine (ZHM)

Richard A. Saunders

BSc (Hons) BVSc FRSB CBiol DZooMed (Mammalian) DipECZM(ZHM) MRCVS  RCVS Specialist in Zoo and Wildlife Medicine (Mammalian) European Specialist in Zoological Medicine (ZHM)

Richard Saunders is a Staff Veterinarian at Bristol Zoo Gardens and Clinical Teacher at the University of Bristol. Additionally, he sees referral exotic pets at Highcroft veterinary Referrals, Bristol, and is the veterinary adviser to the Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund. He qualified in 1994, obtaining his DZooMed (Mammalian) in 2010. He has authored numerous articles on rabbits, rodents and other wild and exotic species, and has contributed to a number of textbooks, including co-authoring "Notes on Rabbit Internal Medicine", as well as several chapters for the new editions of the BSAVA Rabbit Manuals, and has co-authored "Rabbit behaviour and Welfare".

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Fashionable diets and impact of feeding behavior.

At the end of this lesson you should be able to:

• Develop an understanding of the effect of feeding on behavior in small animals
• Describe the potential challenges associated with the feeding of raw meaty, vegetarian, and vegan diets in cats and dogs
• Evaluate pet food choices, feeding trends, and types of pet food available

 Speaker: Clare Spencer BVetMed MRCVS

Clare Spencer

BVetMed MRCVS

Clare Spencer graduated as a Veterinary Surgeon from the RVC in 1984. She received a Distinction in Animal Husbandry and Nutrition and these two subjects have been of special interest to her during her extensive career. She practised as a veterinary surgeon in N. Ireland, England, Scotland and France, working as a small animal locum in Gloucestershire until just a few months ago. She became Veterinary Affairs Manager for a premium pet food manufacturer, where she worked between 1997 and 2018, initially as a member of staff and subsequently as an independent consultant. This role was primarily technical and educational. It entailed staff training in small animal nutrition and resulted in invitations as a guest lecturer at all the key veterinary congresses and veterinary schools and several of the nurse training colleges. Clare obtained her PTLLS qualification and became a tutor and subsequently an examiner for the City and Guild Small Animal Nutrition course and examination. Clare has published articles in a wide range of journals on the topics of nutrition, husbandry and communications. She is especially interested in medicine, nutrition, client care and treating pets as part of the family. Wherever she works, she knows she can’t do her job properly without the support of a good nursing team and likes to share her knowledge and expertise.

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Labeling and nutritional clinics

At the end of this module you should be able to:

• Demonstrate your knowledge of proximate analysis into your evaluation of pet food products
• List types of pet food labeling and marketing concepts and demonstrate your ability to compare and contrast pet foods using nutritional data
• Calculate the nutrient content of pet food and explain the principles of dietary management in cats and dogs affected by nutritionally responsive conditions.
• List how modifying key nutritional factors in relation to the care of patients affected by common clinical conditions aids recovery
• Describe available therapeutic pet food choices in relation to the following types of disorders:

• Anorexia, critical illness, and convalescence

• Neoplasia

• Skeletal

• Periodontal disease

• Obesity
• Devise a systematic approach to the use of clinical information about small animal cases in order to select a suitable food type
• Demonstrate your ability to use nutritional data to calculate a feeding plan for patients under your care
• Identify ways by which the provision of nutritional support improves the welfare and outcomes for patients resulting in speedier recovery and shorter periods of hospitalisation

 Speaker: Clare Spencer BVetMed MRCVS

Clare Spencer

BVetMed MRCVS

Clare Spencer graduated as a Veterinary Surgeon from the RVC in 1984. She received a Distinction in Animal Husbandry and Nutrition and these two subjects have been of special interest to her during her extensive career. She practised as a veterinary surgeon in N. Ireland, England, Scotland and France, working as a small animal locum in Gloucestershire until just a few months ago. She became Veterinary Affairs Manager for a premium pet food manufacturer, where she worked between 1997 and 2018, initially as a member of staff and subsequently as an independent consultant. This role was primarily technical and educational. It entailed staff training in small animal nutrition and resulted in invitations as a guest lecturer at all the key veterinary congresses and veterinary schools and several of the nurse training colleges. Clare obtained her PTLLS qualification and became a tutor and subsequently an examiner for the City and Guild Small Animal Nutrition course and examination. Clare has published articles in a wide range of journals on the topics of nutrition, husbandry and communications. She is especially interested in medicine, nutrition, client care and treating pets as part of the family. Wherever she works, she knows she can’t do her job properly without the support of a good nursing team and likes to share her knowledge and expertise.

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Gastrointestinal and endocrine disorders

At the end of this module you should be able to:

• Outline your approach to patients with upper gastrointestinal disorders such as vomiting and regurgitation
• Devise a systematic approach to the provision of optimal nutritional support of patients suffering from acute/chronic diarrhoea and/or colitis
• Describe available therapeutic pet food choices in relation to hyperlipidaemic disorders
• Describe how a personalised nutritional management plan can benefit a patient diagnosed with endocrine disease(s)
• Compare and contrast the different approaches to appropriate dietary support of cats and dogs diagnosed with pancreatitis
• Apply nutritional principles to aid the dietary management of cats and dogs diagnosed with adverse food responses and other dermatological conditions

 Speaker: Clare Spencer BVetMed MRCVS

Clare Spencer

BVetMed MRCVS

Clare Spencer graduated as a Veterinary Surgeon from the RVC in 1984. She received a Distinction in Animal Husbandry and Nutrition and these two subjects have been of special interest to her during her extensive career. She practised as a veterinary surgeon in N. Ireland, England, Scotland and France, working as a small animal locum in Gloucestershire until just a few months ago. She became Veterinary Affairs Manager for a premium pet food manufacturer, where she worked between 1997 and 2018, initially as a member of staff and subsequently as an independent consultant. This role was primarily technical and educational. It entailed staff training in small animal nutrition and resulted in invitations as a guest lecturer at all the key veterinary congresses and veterinary schools and several of the nurse training colleges. Clare obtained her PTLLS qualification and became a tutor and subsequently an examiner for the City and Guild Small Animal Nutrition course and examination. Clare has published articles in a wide range of journals on the topics of nutrition, husbandry and communications. She is especially interested in medicine, nutrition, client care and treating pets as part of the family. Wherever she works, she knows she can’t do her job properly without the support of a good nursing team and likes to share her knowledge and expertise.

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Nutritional support for organ failure, the lower urinary tract, and orthopaedic disorders

At the end of this module you should be able to:

• Outline your approach to the modification of key nutritional factors in relation to the care of patients affected by specific clinical conditions
• Describe therapeutic pet food choices in relation to the following types of disorders:

• Organ failure (liver, kidney, heart, brain)

• Urolithiasis

• Lower urinary tract disorders

• Devise a systematic approach to the use of clinical information about small animal cases in order to select a suitable food type
• Demonstrate your ability to use nutritional data to calculate a feeding plan for patients under your care

 Speaker: Clare Spencer BVetMed MRCVS

Clare Spencer

BVetMed MRCVS

Clare Spencer graduated as a Veterinary Surgeon from the RVC in 1984. She received a Distinction in Animal Husbandry and Nutrition and these two subjects have been of special interest to her during her extensive career. She practised as a veterinary surgeon in N. Ireland, England, Scotland and France, working as a small animal locum in Gloucestershire until just a few months ago. She became Veterinary Affairs Manager for a premium pet food manufacturer, where she worked between 1997 and 2018, initially as a member of staff and subsequently as an independent consultant. This role was primarily technical and educational. It entailed staff training in small animal nutrition and resulted in invitations as a guest lecturer at all the key veterinary congresses and veterinary schools and several of the nurse training colleges. Clare obtained her PTLLS qualification and became a tutor and subsequently an examiner for the City and Guild Small Animal Nutrition course and examination. Clare has published articles in a wide range of journals on the topics of nutrition, husbandry and communications. She is especially interested in medicine, nutrition, client care and treating pets as part of the family. Wherever she works, she knows she can’t do her job properly without the support of a good nursing team and likes to share her knowledge and expertise.

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