I had the incredible opportunity to work with the Clinical Pet Nutrition team at the Ontario Veterinary College Health Sciences Center. As a research assistant, my primary role was to support a PhD student with her thesis project focused on using nutraceuticals to treat dogs with osteoarthritis. However, as often happens in research, unexpected challenges led to the project being temporarily put on hold. While this was an initial setback, it became a valuable lesson in adaptability and flexibility.
Soon I transitioned into a hands-on role within the clinic, diving deep into pet nutrition. My days were packed with nutrition consultations, internal medicine rounds, and an abundance of learning experiences. I got comfortable with the basics of clinical nutrition, including assessing patients’ nutritional statuses and helping to recommend the best treatment to support their health. Using the ‘Circle of Nutrition’ as our guide, we meticulously calculated each patient’s energy requirements and nutritional needs, taking their medical conditions and environments into account to tailor optimal nutrition plans.
Julia Laboni scooping food in the diet kitchen.
I also gained practical experience in body condition scoring and muscle condition scoring for a diverse range of patients. With the guidance of my supervisor, Dr. Sarah Abood, I developed my critical thinking skills to tackle nutrition-related challenges and deepened my understanding of pet nutrition.
This summer was not only about hands-on learning but also about exciting field trips to places like Canadian Veterinary Urolith Center, Royal Canin pet food manufacturing plant, honeybee research center, and an ice cream pilot manufacturing plant. These tours expanded my knowledge in areas I wouldn’t usually explore and gave me a look ‘behind the scenes’ at things commonly encountered in general practice veterinary clinics. Dr. Sarah Abood also encouraged us to explore other services within the hospital. This included attending internal medicine rounds, esophageal tube placements, endoscopy procedures, pathology rounds, and surgery shadowing.
Julia Iaboni and Brianna Chan (from left to right) in the small animal surgery suite.
Most people don’t know about the OVC Summer Career Opportunities and Research Exploration (SCORE) program, which allows summer students to take part in a research project. My research project compared over the counter and veterinary therapeutic joint-supporting diets for cats, and I analyzed their guaranteed analysis, energy densities, and ingredients to identify significant differences. This program also provided workshops to refine my networking and communication skills, and I later got the opportunity to present my research. Through SCORE, I gained confidence in my presentation skills and networked with other students working at OVC.
Overall, this summer was an amazing experience. I had the opportunity to not only learn about clinical pet nutrition, but to also gain knowledge in a variety of other areas. These experiences prepared me for a research course I will take in the coming academic year and my future endeavors within the veterinary field. I’m especially thankful to Dr. Adronie Verbrugghe and Dr. Sarah Abood for their mentorship and support, and to the entire nutrition team for making each day at work so enjoyable. This summer would not have been as rewarding without this fantastic team.
Written by: Julia Iaboni BScH, Class of 2025
Reviewed by:
Dr. Sarah K. Abood, DVM, PhD, Associate Professor, Nestlé Purina Professorship in Companion Animal Nutrition