Pet Nutrition at OVC – Pet Nutrition at OVC

Weight Wars: Tackling Obesity in Multi-Cat Households

Managing obesity in cats can be challenging, but the stakes are even higher for pet guardians who live with more than one cat. With the joy of having multiple feline companions comes the responsibility of ensuring each one maintains a healthy weight. This task requires careful observation and strategic planning, as the dynamics of a multi-cat home may contribute to an increased risk of obesity. In this blog post, we will dive into the risk factors associated with feline obesity, explore why cats living in groups are particularly susceptible, and provide practical tips for managing weight in a multi-cat home. Whether you're a seasoned cat guardian or new to sharing a living space with more than one feline friend, this blog post aims to support you in keeping all your cats fit and healthy.

My Experience as the Hill’s Pet Nutrition Summer Student

As we conclude our summer semester, we are excited to spotlight another one of our summer research students. Tonia spent her summer with the OVC Pet Nutrition Team, diving deep into the world of pet nutrition with the support of Hill’s. Her journey was filled with learning, growth, and unforgettable experiences.

My Summer as the Nestlé Purina Summer Student

My name is Alison Ng, and I’m currently a second-year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) student at the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC). This summer, I had the privilege of joining OVC’s Clinical Nutrition Service as the Nestlé Purina Summer Student. My activities for the summer included attending rounds in the morning, shadowing procedures, participating in consultations, and working on my research project.

Congratulations to Coco on a Successful MSc. Defense!

On July 9th, Coco (Kehan) Zhang successfully defended her MSc. thesis titled, The fecal microbiome and metabolome signature in adult lean and obese cats fed an isoenergetically reduced macronutrient diets.

Introducing… Dr. Manuela Fischer!

We recently interviewed our newest team member, Dr. Manuela Fischer (MV, MSc, PhD, DVSc Student, ECVCN Resident) to learn more about her veterinary background and interests!

Introducing… Alicia Lorch!

This summer, the OVC Pet Nutrition Team welcomed a new member, Alicia (RVT, CCRVN)! We sat down with Alicia to learn more about her veterinary background, interests and pets!

Carbs & Dogs

Carbohydrates are a major component within the diet for both humans and dogs. However, high-protein, low-carbohydrate diets have become popular for pet owners and their dogs. This has led some pet owners to believe that carbohydrates are not necessary, or potentially harmful to feed to their dogs.

Beyond the Label

Reading a Pet Food Label is a Skill – do you have it? There is a lot of information presented to you on a pet food label, and not all of it is all that important. We have created a detailed guide to interpreting all the sections on a pet food label for you to help you decipher pet foods going forward. Check out the Guaranteed Analysis, Ingredient List, and spot the Nutritional Adequacy Statements! Link in our bio to read on

Can the Easter Bunny Share his Carrots?

Happy Easter! The carrot is a nutrient-dense root vegetable that is high in fibre and several vitamins, including Vitamin A and Vitamin K. Carrots are considered a healthy food for humans, but have you ever wondered if they are healthy for your pet too?

Bringing Home a Puppy!

It’s National Puppy Day!!! To celebrate, we created a guide to help new puppy owners ensure they are ready for their puppy’s arrival. This guide includes information for: What you will need for your puppy Choosing a food for your puppy How to transition your puppy to a new diet

Introducing… Jessica Fletcher!

With a new school year starting, we are excited to introduce you to our new team members who have joined us this fall! We will be interviewing our new team members to help you become acquainted with them as professionals, students and people. Welcome Jess!

Introducing… Shawna Morrow!

The Effect of Starch Sources on Gastric Emptying in Dogs

In humans, gastric emptying rates (GER) have been implicated with obesity, diabetes, and other gastrointestinal disorders. While there is extensive research investigating the impacts of dietary protein and fats on GER, there is a lack of research, specifically in dogs, that focuses on the impacts of carbohydrates. Congratulations to our research team for another publication! Taylor Richards and colleagues investigated the effects of starch sources on gastric emptying in dogs.

Essential Reading

Do you need some summertime reading material?

Tag: Pet Nutrition at OVC