Dog parents seem to be at the mercy of their veterinarians for advice on keeping their dogs healthy. The average small animal practitioner is equivalent to a general practitioner in human medicine. There is too much information and variables for any person to learn and retain. So consequently, most veterinarians need to become better versed in nutrition. 

Almost all veterinary schools have corporate sponsors within the commercial pet food industry that significantly influence the type of food the veterinarians graduating from that program will later recommend. Even the most widely used nutrition textbook, Small Animal Clinical Nutrition, is written by the Mark Morris Institute, owned by Colgate-Palmolive, the maker of Hill’s Scientific and Prescription Diets. 

As a dog parent, you must learn to become your dog’s health advocate and find ways to expand your knowledge of preventative methods. You must also learn how to have difficult conversations with your veterinarians if you feel that your dog is not getting the best health care.

Several online programs on small animal nutrition cover many topics, including nutritional requirements for all stages of life, pet food manufacturing, and pet food formulation. Both the commercial food process and homemade diets are discussed. Programs range from short introductory videos to 2-4 semester nutrition certifications. 

The Feed Real Institute offers two online courses in canine nutrition, one written for dog parents and one for veterinary professionals. The courses are based on current scientific peer-reviewed articles and include testing, certification, and annual updates. Unlike other online courses, the FRI course includes many practical ways to apply knowledge learned. The FRI offers interactive DIY Real Dog Food Virtual workshops that build confidence in creating your dog’s real food meals!  The FRI Professional Canine Nutrition Certification course is geared toward veterinary professionals and others in canine-related careers, such as dog trainers, nutrition coaches, and rehabilitation specialists. Graduates of the course can add the title of Certified Professional Canine Nutritionist or CPCN to their name. The course is RACE-approved for 10 CEs for veterinary professionals.

The University of Illinois offers a Companion Animal Nutrition Certificate, a non-degree program for industry professionals, veterinary professionals, and pet enthusiasts.  Course topics include canine and feline metabolism, nutrient requirements, principles of diet formulation, pet food manufacturing processes and technologies, and disease prevention. 

The Science Dog offers a comprehensive, evidence-based course about the essential nutrient needs of the domestic dog.

Raw Feeding 101 is a video-based course that covers all aspects of raw feeding.

The Academy of Natural Health Training Center offers a 100-hour canine nutrition course encompassing nutrition and many other alternative veterinary modalities such as massage, aromatherapy, herbal therapy, chiropractic manipulations, and acupuncture.

North Carolina State University offers a 12-credit-hour certificate in animal nutrition. The University Certificate in Animal Nutrition provides in-depth livestock, horse, and companion animal nutrition knowledge.

College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies offers a Natural Animal Nutrition that covers the principles of small animal nutrition, including prepared pet foods, alternative feeding approaches, and homemade diets. Topics include nutrition basics, commercial pet foods, alternative feeding practices, homemade diet formulation of maintenance, weight loss, detoxification, and supplements. 

Udemy offers a variety of companion animal nutrition short courses, including; Natural Raw Food Diet for Dogs and Cats, Natural Dog Nutrition & Wellbeing - Nature Knows Best!, Rock Your Dog’s Diet Crash Course, Animal Ration Nutrition and Formulation and  Insights and Details into Canine Raw Feeding and Nutrition.

Dogs Naturally Pro offers three animal nutrition courses within its membership. Pet Food Nutrition course trains the participant to evaluate pet food on the market and make safe scientific recommendations. The Raw Dog Food Nutrition course teaches how to build and assess raw diets. You will also learn to spot the flaws in many commercial diets and supplement commercial diets with natural, fresh food. The Advanced Canine Nutrition provides an understanding of the link between nutrition and health. 

Companion Animal Science Institute offers a comprehensive program with a Canine Nutrition Certificate. This is a science-based course that provides a solid knowledge base required to understand the nutritional needs of dogs. Its six classes begin with the general understanding of nutrients and advance into the life stage requirements of dogs. Students are allowed one year to complete the course materials. 

NAVC Pet Nutrition Coach Certification is a nutrition course available for veterinary professionals to enhance their knowledge about canine nutrition. Graduates are awarded 8 CEs.

As the dog parent, you must advocate for your dog’s best interests. 

Choose a dog nutrition program that provides you with the knowledge to fully understand your dog’s nutritional requirements and also provides practical training to create your dog’s real food meals. 

Developing a firm understanding of your dog’s nutrition requirements and that nutrition is the foundation of all aspects of health will give you the confidence needed to make crucial decisions regarding all of your dog’s health care.

Brady, C. (2020). In Feeding dogs: dry or raw? The science behind the debate (pp. 336–359). essay, Farrow Road Publishing.

Companion Animal Nutrition Certificate | Department of Animal Sciences : College of ACES, University of Illinois 

Animal & Pet Nutrition Online | Academy of Natural Health Sciences  

Animal Nutrition | NC State Online and Distance Education (ncsu.edu) 

https://www.civtedu.org/natural-animal-nutrition/ 

Natural Dog Nutrition & Wellbeing - Nature Knows Best! | Udemy  

CN | Companion Animal Sciences Institute - School (casinstitute.com) 

Online Canine Nutrition Courses

Feed Real Institute

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