cat – Pet Nutrition at OVC

Tuxedo cat and brown and white dog sitting next to eat other looking at camera

Nutritional Approaches to Exocrine Pancreas Insufficiency (EPI)

The pancreas is a gland within the digestive system that makes two hormones needed to regulate blood sugar. The pancreas also secretes enzymes into the small intestine to help break down proteins, fats, and carbohydrates so they can be digested and absorbed into the blood. The part of the pancreas responsible for producing digestive enzymes is known as the exocrine pancreas, and the production of these enzymes is controlled by the presence of food in the stomach and small intestine. As a meal is eaten and swallowed, the release of pancreatic juices is triggered to help break down nutrients so they can be more easily absorbed.

Are you Kidney me?! – CKD in Cats and Dogs

As we wrap up National Kidney Month this March, we're continuing our discussion from our previous post on acute kidney injuries in cats and dogs. In this blog post, we explore chronic kidney disease (CKD) and how it affects our pets. Learn how nutrition can make a difference in managing CKD and supporting long-term kidney health.

Considering Canadian Made Pet Food Options in 2025

Looking for the Canadian options for your pet in 2025? Our latest blog post explains label claims such as “Made in Canada” and “Product of Canada” and provides guidance on navigating the complex pet food market!

Are you Kidney Me?! – AKI in Cats and Dogs

Did you know it's National Kidney Month? 🐾 This week, we're raising awareness about kidney health in pets by sharing important information on acute kidney injuries in cats and dogs. Discover its impact, prevention tips, and the crucial role of nutrition in our latest blog post!

Creative Exercise Ideas for Your Furry Companions

In this blog post, we will explore fun and innovative ways to keep pets entertained, healthy, and happy. Let’s dive into the exciting world of pet fitness!

Feeding tube lab: A hands on experience for student veterinarians

This blog post summarizes the annual Feeding Tube Lab hosted by the Ontario Veterinary College's Nutrition Club. Keep reading to learn more about this event!

The Scary Truth About Pet Obesity

Did you know that October is National Pet Obesity Awareness Month? While some extra weight on your pet might not seem scary, pet obesity is a wolf dressed in a sheep costume! Read on to learn about how to prevent obesity in your pets!

Joint Pain in Pets – How to Recognize and Treat Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a common condition with a variety of risk factors in both dogs and cats. Read on to find out how to reduce the risk of your pet developing osteoarthritis and improve your pet's condition if they have already been diagnosed!

Feline Hepatic Lipidosis

This blog post goes into detail on one the common liver diseases in cats: Feline hepatic lipidosis (FHL), also known as fatty liver disease. If you'd like more information on what exactly FHL is, the clinical signs to watch out for, what to do if you suspect your cat may have this disease, and how to treat and prevent it, give this a read!

How do you feed your pet?

Does your pet gobble down their food and beg for more? Do they wake you up early every morning wanting breakfast? Are they displaying other destructive or disruptive behaviours? Changing how you feed can help both you and your pet by slowing food consumption, encouraging them to use their brain to solve problems, and alleviating boredom.

Nutrition in Training

We know that taking home a dog is a lifelong commitment. A trained dog is a happy dog, with ongoing training a cornerstone of that lifetime of care. With more families welcoming dogs into their lives for the first time, some basic nutrition training tips can help keep them healthy in both mind and body.

Hidden Risk: Aflatoxins in Pet Food

Recently in the news, there has been a large concern in the pet industry with dog foods potentially contaminated with aflatoxin. An international recall of pet food products was issued in December 2020, as many dogs became ill after eating contaminated dog food. According to the FDA, the recalled products contained potentially fatal levels of these toxins. In September 2020, a pet food sample was found to contain unsafe levels of aflatoxins, resulting in Sunshine Mills to announce a recall of the tested pet food product and other products made with the same corn.

New Year’s Resolutions: Plant-Based Diets

In some cultures, it is tradition to ring in the New Year in January with an opportunity to grow and develop and make resolutions to be a new you. Quite often, these resolutions will revolve around health, with new goals being to go to the gym more, cut down on fatty snacks, or give your body a detox with a “dry January”. One organization in particular has made good use of this “new” mentality to propose a particular adaptation for the month of January, with diet being a very large component. That organization is Veganuary, a non-profit organization taking would be New Year resolutions to the next level, bringing people, brands, restaurants and supermarkets together for the ultimate goal of eating a plant-based diet.

The Benefits of Exercise as a New Year’s Resolution for Pets and People

As we quickly approach the new year, it is not too late to consider a New Year's resolution for pet parents and pets focusing on healthy eating habits and exercise!

Tricky Treats

We are in that beautiful time between Canadian Thanksgiving and Halloween, where many of our human family members are treating themselves to a multitude of tasty snacks! With all this snacking and indulgence, we of course want to include our pets in the family fun. It’s important to note that treats can be tricky, as there are many ways treats can be a bane rather than a boon to our pets!

GANS: Fuelling Wellness Symposium

The Fuelling Wellness Symposium was the final day of the Global Animal Nutrition Summit. This event was to provided a platform for open and inclusive pet nutrition and collaboration, open to all skilled pet professionals. To optimize attendee’s educational opportunities, three streams were offered; the veterinary, paraprofessional and equine streams. Attendees were able to attend multiple streams and even return to view other streams after the recorded live sessions were posted.

More Room at the Table: Unconventional Diets on the Rise

Pet food is no longer just about kibbles and cans, as more owners are exploring different avenues to feed their canine and feline companions. This was recently demonstrated by Dr. Sarah Dodd's recent publication in the British Medical Journal Veterinary Record, An observational study of pet feeding practices and how these have changed between 2008 and 2018 .

Thinking Outside the Bowl

In the Before The Bowl Blog, we will aim to share two to three new posts per month, something which can be used by veterinary team members and pet caregivers alike. We will try to bust myths, share new information on veterinary and pet nutrition as it becomes available and explore new feeding trends.

When a Little Means a Lot

Our team's work was recently showcased at the Canadian Nutrition Society's Annual Conference, hosted virtually this year. MSc student, Hannah Godfrey, had the opportunity to present her study, Choline supplementation lowered body weight, body condition score, and daily food intake compared to a control in post-gonadectomized kittens. Despite it's potential health and behavioural benefits, spay and neuter surgery has been demonstrated to increase the risk of obesity. By supplementing growing kittens with choline after their neuter surgeries, dietary choline might provide a preventive effect against obesity.

Tag: cat

Nutritional Approaches to Exocrine Pancreas Insufficiency (EPI)

Are you Kidney me?! – CKD in Cats and Dogs

Considering Canadian Made Pet Food Options in 2025

Are you Kidney Me?! – AKI in Cats and Dogs

Creative Exercise Ideas for Your Furry Companions