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Tuition: $33 ($30 early bird special if enrolled by April 20, 2023) * Students currently enrolled in an AVMA accredited or CVMA approved Veterinary Technician Program may be eligible to receive a 50% discount off the regular rate for this course (upon verification of student status).

Course Information:
Kittens are dependent on the queen to provide food during the neonatal or nursing period. The transition from queen’s milk to solid food (weaning) is a gradual process and is an integral part of the nursing period. However, the veterinary team must be prepared to care for orphaned kittens as well. Kittens are considered orphaned if they lack sufficient maternal care for survival from birth to weaning. Several physiologic needs normally provided by the queen must be met to ensure survival of neonates: heat, humidity, nutrition, immunity, elimination, sanitation, security and social stimulation. A foster queen or the caregiver must meet these needs for orphaned kittens.

The post weaning period through the first year of life is a critical time for development. It is important for the veterinary team and the pet owner to impart a strong nutritional foundation to help to support the growth and development of the kitten throughout the demanding neonatal and post weaning period. This presentation will discuss feeding nursing kittens, feeding orphaned kittens, and integrating the weaning process. Additionally, we will discuss nutritional assessment, key nutrients for a healthy kitten, and feeding to achieve healthy growth, optimize trainability and immune function, and minimize obesity.

• Demonstrate understanding of nutrition for the obligate carnivore.
• Identify key nutrients for a healthy, growing kitten.
• Address the misperceptions that kittens and puppies have the same nutritional needs.
• Communicate nutrients and their role in healthy kitten development to owners.

RACE Credit Approval: This program has been approved for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for veterinary technicians/technologists in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval.(20-938401)

Successful completion (scoring 80% or better) on the end-of-course test is required to earn a certificate of completion for the course. To learn more about the requirements for earning a CE certificate, please refer to Receiving Your CE Credit and Course Completion Certificate.

1. Enrollment qualifications: VIN CE courses are open to VIN member and non-member veterinarians. Veterinarians enrolling in a VSPN CE course must be a VIN member. Veterinary support staff must be a VSPN member to enroll in a VSPN CE or a VIN CE course open to VSPN member enrollment.
2. Each enrollee must be able to receive emails from @vspn.org and @vin.com addresses. Email is our major form of communication with participants; personal emails are highly recommended rather than clinic/hospital email addresses.
3. For further assistance call 800-846-0028 ext.792 or email VSPNCE. Please include the course title, your full name, and contact information in your correspondence.