My name is Tonia, I graduated last year from the University of Guelph with a Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in Animal Biology. This summer, I had the incredible opportunity to join the Ontario Veterinary College’s (OVC) Pet Nutrition Team as the Hill’s Pet Nutrition Summer Student. Under the guidance of Dr. Adronie Verbrugghe, Dr. Sarah Abood, Shoshana Verton-Shaw (RVT), and PhD candidate Hannah Godfrey, I gained a new perspective on companion animal nutrition.
As a veterinary assistant with over six years of experience in general practice, I had initially viewed nutrition as a linear process: identify the problem, prescribe the appropriate diet, and monitor the results. However, my time at OVC revealed that veterinary nutrition is far more complex. Through working with the clinical nutrition team and assisting with nutrition consultations, I quickly learned that nutritional management is a cyclical and iterative process. It involves a thorough assessment of the patient’s complete medical history, diet, and environment, allowing us to identify the essential nutrients needed to medically support the patient. Each specific patient requires careful consideration and constant re-evaluation.
In addition to enhancing my clinical skills, I also had the opportunity to hone my research abilities. I worked alongside PhD candidate Hannah on her project investigating the carbohydrate landscape of commercial cat foods. This research opened my eyes to a huge knowledge gap in feline nutrition. I was enrolled in the OVC Summer Career Opportunities and Research Exploration (SCORE) program, where I had the honor of presenting our findings. This experience sharpened my presentation skills and gave me a glimpse into the world of research.
The OVC Pet Nutrition Team went above and beyond to mentor me and provide numerous learning opportunities. I attended internal medicine rounds, where we discussed complex cases and got the chance to observe different procedures, such as endoscopes and bone marrow aspirates. These rounds were invaluable in deepening my understanding of the interconnectedness of various medical conditions. One of the highlights of my summer was touring the Canadian Veterinary Urolith Centre, a laboratory that analyzes bladder stones. Having sent numerous stones to this lab from my general practice clinic, it was fascinating to see the intricate processes involved in their analysis.
I am deeply grateful to the OVC Pet Nutrition Team and Hill’s Pet Nutrition for this incredible opportunity. The mentorship and support I received have been instrumental in shaping my career aspirations. As I continue along my career journey, I will carry the lessons and experiences from this summer with me. Thank you to everyone at OVC for making this summer an unforgettable and transformative experience.
Written by:
Tonia Palermo, BScH, OVC Hill’s Pet Nutrition Summer Student
Reviewed by:
Adronie Verbrugghe, DVM, PhD, EBVS® European Specialist in Veterinary and Comparative Nutrition (Dip ECVCN), Associate Professor, Royal Canin Veterinary Diets Endowed Chair in Canine and Feline Clinical Nutrition