Nutrition and Disease Management for Veterinary Technicians and Nurses

Ann Wortinger, BIS, LVT, VTS, was an Organizing member for the AVNT, and one of the first VTS (Nutrition). She on the faculty at Appalachian State University in the Veterinary Technology Program, based in Boone, North Carolina. She works and resides outside metro Detroit, Michigan, USA.

Kara M. Burns, MS, MEd, LVT, VTS, is Founder and Past President of the Academy of Veterinary Nutrition Technicians, an independent consultant, and Director of Veterinary Nursing Development, at Well Haven Pet Health.

Section 1: The Basics of Nutrition

1) Nutrients and Energy
2) Water
3) Carbohydrates
4) Fats
5) Proteins 
6) Vitamins
7) Minerals
8) Digestion and Absorption
9) Energy Balance
10) Prebiotics, probiotics, synbiotics
11) Nutrition calculations

Section 2: Nutritional Requirements of dogs and cats

12) History of pet foods
13) Reading pet food labels
14) Nutrient content of pet foods
15) Types of pets foods
16) Raw food diets
17) Grain-free and boutique diets
18) Pet food preservatives
19) Homemade diets
20) Resources for alternative diets

Section 3: Feeding Management for dogs and cats

21) Feeding regimens for dogs and cats
22) Body condition scoring
23) Pregnancy and lactation in dogs
24) Pregnancy and lactation in cats
25) Neonatal puppies and kittens
26) Growth in dogs
27) Growth in cats
28) Adult maintenance in dogs
29) Adult maintenance in cats
30) Feeding the healthy senior dog and cat
31) Performance in dogs
32) Feeding requirements of cats
33) Nutrition Myths
34) Cost of feeding

Section 4: Nutritional disease management for dogs and cats

35) Gastrointestinal
36) Critical Care nutrition
37) Assisted feeding in dogs and cats
38) Liver 
39) Respiratory
      Urinary Tract – cat and dog
40) Dermatology
41) Fatty acids in disease management
42) Endocrinology & Metabolic Diseases (DM, Hyperthyroidism, etc.)
43) Cancer
44) Trauma and Infection
45) Cardiovascular Diseases (including nutrition and DCM) 
46) Musculoskeletal
47) Weight Management
48) Cachexia and sarcopenia
49) Dental Health
50) Pancreatitis
51) Pancreatic Insufficiency
52) Hyperlipidemia
53) Brain Health/Cognitive Dysfunction
54) Kidney disease 

Section 5: Feeding Management for other Companion Animals

55) Avian
1. Chickens
56) Small Pet Mammals
1.  Rabbits
2. Ferrets
3. Horses
4. Guinea pigs
5. Rats
6. Mice
57) Equine