Hi everyone, I am Veronica! I am from China, and I’ve been in Canada studying since grade 10. I graduated with a major in Bachelor’s of Science in Animal Biology from the University of Guelph in 2024, and I’m currently in the first semester of my Master’s by thesis degree in the department of Clinical Studies at the Ontario Veterinary College under the supervision of Dr. Adronie Verbrugghe.
How would you describe yourself?
I would say I am an outgoing person. I love making friends with animals and people. I enjoy hanging out with my friends when free, playing sports such as basketball and badminton, going out for food or movies, or staying home to cook and play board games together.
I also consider myself hardworking. When I am assigned a task, I put in my best effort to get it done. For me, the real motivation comes from that feeling of accomplishment at the end – knowing I’ve completed something and learned new skills or knowledge along the way.
What interests or motivates you most?
Working and spending time with animals is truly what interests me the most. Their pure trust, unconditional love and the simple joy they bring are incredibly rewarding when being around them. The idea that I can make a difference in their lives, whether it’s through care, companionship, or research, is what keeps me motivated every single day.
What program were you in before?
I studied Animal Biology at the University of Guelph. My original plan was to go into veterinary medicine, but my interest shifted to research after volunteering in a few different labs. I realized that research offered another way to make a difference for animals, so I decided to take that path instead.
When did you become interested in nutrition?
I’ve been passionate about pet care since I was young. Over the years, I’ve explored many aspects of it, from behaviour and welfare to physiology and pharmacology. But as I dove deeper, I discovered that my strongest interest lies in nutrition research. To me, nutrition is one of the most crucial components of pet health, and dietary management plays a key role in addressing various health issues. I’m particularly drawn to the idea of providing food that not only meets pets’ energy needs but also promotes overall health and supports medical treatments. This focus on nutrition has become my primary area of interest.
What made you choose this graduate program, and what are you looking forward to most about it?
First and foremost, I absolutely love animals, and I’m all about doing whatever I can to improve their health and well-being. If I had to pick a focus, I’d say I’m especially drawn to companion animals, which is why I chose to specialize in pet nutrition.
I’m also really interested in the idea of nutrition going beyond just meeting pets’ basic energy needs. I want to explore how food can play a therapeutic role, acting as a supportive aid for certain diseases or injuries. The potential for nutrition to have clinical benefits is fascinating to me, and I’m excited to dive deeper into research on how it can contribute to both everyday health and medical treatment.
Tell us about your pets, past and present.
I currently have two cats, and they’re siblings. The brother’s name is Pepper, and he’s the sweetest little gentleman. He’s super cuddly and loves to hop onto my bed, curl up in my arms, and purr away while asking for belly rubs. He’ll fall asleep almost instantly when he’s next to me, belly up and leaning against me. Right now, he’s on a weight management plan since he’s a bit of a chubby cutie, but it’s tough! He has this habit of sitting perfectly in front of me, meowing and giving me the most adorable look, basically begging for food. How could I say no?!
The sister’s name is Sugar, and she’s the friendliest little girl. Every time I come home, she runs straight over to greet me and hops up on the cabinet, asking for cuddles and pets. She’s super chatty too – we can have a full “meow” conversation, and she’ll reply to everything I say. She’s also my constant work buddy, always lying next to my laptop, giving me moral support while I get things done.
I also had a Rottweiler named Luowei back in China, and he was with us for 10 amazing years. He was my first pet, and we truly saw him as part of the family. We took him everywhere – on trips, to visit friends – and everyone knew and adored him. He was such a sweetheart, always cuddly and well-behaved, never causing any mess or trouble. Plus, he was a great singer! Anytime I played the piano or guitar, he’d come right over and start singing along. He really had a talent!
What is your research project?
My research project focuses on exploring the effects of Saccharomyces boulardii, a yeast-based probiotic, on reducing stress-related behaviours in cats after events like car rides or vet visits. By incorporating this probiotic into their diet, I aim to investigate whether it can help improve the cats’ resilience to stressful situations, potentially offering a dietary approach to support feline well-being during common stressors.