TECH133-0806: Pet Food Fundamentals

INSTRUCTOR:
Geneva Keene Acor, DVM, MS

DATES:
August 24 - September 25, 2006
Real Time Sessions: Friday evenings, September 8 & 15, 2006; 9:30pm-11:00pm ET (USA)

This course is opening early to allow participants time to review the basics of nutrient components as listed in the course area library. There are only two real time sessions as listed above.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

The course is a "macro" version of nutrition that includes understanding the manufacture and marketing of pet foods including feeding trials, palatability testing, significance of label requirements, the "boutique" foods, natural, organic, holistic, and premium designations, and marketing versus science in pet food product claims. This course will not cover the basics of nutrient components; participants should already have a good understanding of protein, carbohydrate, fat, minerals, etc. and how they relate to nutrition.

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• List the major global pet food manufacturers and most common brands,
• Explain the components of the pet food label and the significance of the guaranteed analysis, ingredients' list, product name relationship to percentages of ingredients, and nutritional adequacy statement,
• Recount the steps in the manufacturing process and important check points,
• List the palatability factors for the dog and cat,
• Describe a palatability test and a feeding trial and the importance of each,
• Identify and evaluate trends in pet food (including raw foods) in relation to evidence based medicine, and
• Evaluate pet food claims as marketing versus science.

Course Outline:

Prior to Week 1: Review of Basic Nutrition. If you have not had basic nutrition, you may want to review the six basic nutrients prior to the class and the concept of nutrients versus ingredients. Several Internet sites will be provided for this review or you may review in the recommended textbooks. These links will be available in the course area library on the date the course opens.

Week 1 - Pet Food Manufacturers and Processes
Content: The focus of the first week is to identify the major pet food manufacturers, the manufacturing process, and the relevance of the pet food label information. This will include defining terms such as natural, organic, holistic, and premium. Also, specific criteria for palatability tests and feeding trials will be discussed.

Week 2 - Marketing Versus Science
Content: In the second week, we will discuss the evidence based triangle and how this may serve to validate pet food product claims. Participants will research pet food claims on packages, in advertising, and/or on Internet sites and bring the information to class for discussion of marketing versus science in claims.

Textbook: There is no required text for this course; however, the instructor highly recommends the following texts.

Recommended Text:
Pocket Companion to Small Animal Clinical Nutrition, 4th Edition, Hand & Novotny. (2002). (available through the VIN Store at a significant discount to participants in this course through a generous educational grant from Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc.) Use this VIN Store link to purchase this text: https://store.vin.com/custom/edit.asp?p=99698
*** Click on the LOGIN link on the VIN Store to get your VIN/VSPN member discount.

Additional recommended text (the large full text is an essential for veterinary libraries):
Small Animal Clinical Nutrition, 4th Edition, Hand, Thatcher, Remillard, & Roudebush, Available at www.barnesandnoble.com ISBN 0-945837-05-4

LIBRARY MATERIALS:
Library materials will be made available prior to the topic week so participants will have plenty of time to prepare for the real time sessions and discussion. Due to the amount of material to be covered, it is highly recommended the student comes to class having reviewed the handouts for that week, reviewed the previous week's homework and study guide, utilized the message boards for the course, and is prepared to interact during the real time session.

MESSAGE BOARD DISCUSSIONS:
Message board discussions regarding the topic presented will begin on the day the course opens and continue for one week following the last real time session. These discussions will be held in the VSPN CE course area.

CE HOURS: 4 (RACE and VHMA approval applied for)

TUITION:
Registration: $70 ($ 63 early bird special if registered before August 10, 2006). There are a limited number of spaces in this course so enroll early.
Students currently enrolled in and taking at least 2 classes or 5 units at an AVMA accredited or CAAHT approved Veterinary Technician Program may be eligible to receive a 50% discount off the regular rate for this course (upon verification of student status)
*VT students: You must include the following information in the comments section of the CE enrollment form in order to be eligible for this discount: your program directors name and contact information (email/phone) and school name.

** NOTE: Registration will be closed when the maximum number of participants is reached or at 5pm ET on September 8, 2006 whichever comes first.

** Minimal computer requirements for participating in VSPN and VPSNCE: http://www.vspn.org/CE/MinReqs.htm

** For More Information on VSPN's upcoming CE Courses, check out http://www.VSPN.org/CE

TO REGISTER:

1. Each enrollee must individually be a registered member of VSPN (www.vspn.org). Membership in VSPN is free.
2. To enroll in any VSPN CE course click on the ENROLL NOW link below the course title on the right side of the page at www.vspn.org/CE
3. Each person must be able to receive emails from @vspn.org and @vin.com addresses. This is our major form of communication with participants. It is highly recommended that course participants use their own, personal emails rather than clinic/hospital email addresses.
4. VIN Member veterinarians SHOULD NOT register for their staff. Please have the staff member register through VSPN. Please email VSPNCE@vspn.org if you have questions.

Note: "This program was submitted (but not yet approved) to the AAVSB's RACE program for continuing education. Please contact the AAVSB's RACE program at race@aavsb.org should you have any comments/suggestions regarding this program's validity or relevance to the veterinary profession." (Attendees are encouraged to check with their licensing jurisdiction(s) for information regarding recognition by their board.)

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COURSE WITHDRAWAL AND REFUND POLICY: Withdrawal prior to the listed start date of a course entitles the registrant to a complete refund or a credit toward a future VIN CE course, whichever is preferred. Withdrawal within 1 week after the listed start date (i.e. including no more than one real-time session) entitles the registrant to a credit toward any future VIN CE course. (Does not apply to courses with only one real-time session.) After the first real-time session, a registrant may withdraw due to special circumstances and receive prorated credit towards a future VIN course. These requests will be handled on an individual basis. The amount of the prorated credit will be determined based on 65% of the time remaining in the course at the time of withdrawal. It is not possible to withdrawal retroactively. Note: To ensure rapid handling of your request for withdrawal, we recommend that you call the VIN office at 1-800-700-INFO.

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Nanette R. Walker Smith, RVT, CVT
VSPN Content Director
Nanette@vspn.org or VSPNCE@vspn.org

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