60-hour clinical nutrition course for dogs and cats

1.910,57 

This comprehensive bundle includes all 12 modules of the Vet Clinical Nutrition Academy, providing an integrated, evidence based curriculum that covers the full spectrum of canine and feline clinical nutrition. The program has been designed to build competence step by step, from core assessment skills to advanced nutritional planning for complex and multimorbid patients.

The bundle combines:
Foundational principles (patient assessment, diet evaluation, EBVM tools)
Organ system nutrition (GI, renal, hepatic, pancreatic, urinary, endocrine)
Condition specific modules (obesity, critical care, allergies, AFR, nutritional imbalances)
Advanced clinical reasoning (conflicting recommendations, multimorbidity, prioritisation)
Extensive real-life case discussions, including participants’ own cases
• A fully brand-neutral approach based on current evidence and global guidelines

Throughout the course, participants learn to interpret data, make structured nutritional decisions, and communicate clearly with owners and colleagues in complex situations.

Learning outcomes for the full bundle:
After completing the entire program, participants will be able to:
• Perform complete nutritional and patient assessments using validated tools (BCS, MCS, microbiome, diet recall).
• Design safe, effective diets for dogs and cats across organ systems and disease stages.
• Evaluate commercial and home prepared diets using EBVM principles.
• Build structured nutritional plans for patients with single and multiple comorbidities.
• Communicate risks, benefits and shared decisions in a clear, professional and owner friendly way.
• Integrate nutrition into multimodal treatment plans across diverse clinical presentations.

The current edition of the Vet Clinical Nutrition Academy is in progress. You can still join now or purchase individual modules at any time.

If you want the full experience with all live sessions from the beginning, you can join the waiting list for the next edition, which will most likely open in 2027

A detailed description of each module is available under the individual product pages linked below.
Introduction to Clinical Nutrition (total 6 h)
Alternative diets (total 3 h)
Obesity & Mobility (total 6 h)
Hepatobiliary Diseases (total 4 h)
Adverse Food Reactions (total 4 h)
Gastrointestinal Diseases (total 6 h)
Diseases of the Pancreas (total 6 h)
Critical Care (total 6 h)
Lower Urinary Tract Disease (total 4 h)
Kidney Disease (total 6 h)
Nutritional Imbalances (total 3 h)
Multiple Conditions (total 4 h)

The full VCNA Clinical Nutrition Curriculum brings together 12 interconnected modules that guide participants through the entire field of canine and feline clinical nutrition:

• Foundations of clinical nutrition, patient assessment and diet evaluation
• Alternative and unconventional diets: safety, adequacy and owner communication
• Obesity and mobility: structured plans, monitoring and complex cases
• Hepatobiliary, renal, pancreatic and gastrointestinal diseases
• Urinary tract disorders and dissolvable/preventable uroliths
• Allergies, intolerance and elimination diets
• Diet induced and deficiency based disorders (DCM, NSHPT, vitamin and mineral imbalances)
• Critical care nutrition: enteral access, refeeding syndrome, oncology, cachexia
• Prioritisation in multimorbidity and advanced decision-making frameworks
• Practical case discussions, interactive clinical reasoning and participant case consultations

The program provides a complete and clinically applicable framework for veterinarians and nutrition professionals who want to deliver high level nutritional care in daily practice.

By combining foundational knowledge, system-specific modules and advanced clinical reasoning, the bundle ensures a cohesive learning experience that prepares participants to confidently manage a wide range of nutritional challenges.

Board-Certified Veterinary Nutritionist, EBVS® European Specialist in Veterinary and Comparative Nutrition

She has a multidisciplinary background that spans clinical practice, public health, academic research, and the pet food industry. She is first and foremost passionate about supporting pets and their families, striving to create nutrition strategies that improve health and quality of life. She earned her Doctor of Veterinary Science (DVSc) from the University of Guelph, where her research focused on feline obesity and the gastrointestinal microbiome. Her academic work has been published in peer-reviewed journals, and she continues to serve on advisory boards supporting graduate student development. After several years with Royal Canin in a global role focused on nutritional product development and international regulatory advocacy, Dr. Tal-Gavriel returned to clinical practice in 2024. She first served as a Veterinary Nutritionist at Central Toronto Veterinary Referral Clinic, supporting specialists with nutrition strategies for complex medical cases. She then founded VetWell Nutrition, an independent platform providing expert nutrition services to veterinarians, pet owners and the pet food industry. Most recently, Dr. Tal-Gavriel joined Open Farm as Head of Veterinary Nutrition, expanding her impact in the pet food industry by driving evidence-based product innovation and nutritional excellence. Through her dual roles at Open Farm and VetWell Nutrition, she delivers individualized nutrition plans for pets with medical or wellness needs, offers clinical support to veterinarians through direct case collaboration, and consults for pet food companies on science-based formulation, innovation, and compliance. Above all, Dr. Tal-Gavriel’s approach blends clinical expertise, scientific evidence, and regulatory insight with a heartfelt commitment to improving pets’ lives. She is dedicated to empowering veterinary teams and pet owners alike with practical, impactful nutritional solutions that truly support the health and wellness of the animals she serves.

Board-Certified Veterinary Nutritionist®, EBVS® European Specialist in Veterinary and Comparative Nutrition

She obtained her veterinary degree in 2000 and her PhD in animal nutrition in 2005 by the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) She completed a residency in small animal clinical nutrition at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at UC Davis, California and is board certified in veterinary nutrition by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Nutrition) and by the European College of Veterinary and Comparative Nutrition (ECVCN) since 2010. After working as the chief of service of the veterinary teaching hospital nutrition service in UAB for 6 years, she is now a consultant in clinical nutrition for Expert Pet Nutrition (www.expertpetnutrition.com) and Veterinary Information Network (VIN). She is a member of the WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee and has written several articles and book chapters on the topic of companion animal nutrition.

Board-Certified Veterinary Nutritionist, EBVS® European Specialist in Veterinary and Comparative Nutrition

She obtained her veterinary degree by the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Germany in 2009. Her doctoral thesis – at the Institute of Veterinary Physiology, University of Zurich, Switzerland (“Disturbed eating at high altitude”, Dr. med. vet., 2012) was followed by one year as a postdoctoral research assistant. She was the first resident completing a standard residency program of the European College for Veterinary and Comparative Nutrition at the Institute of Animal Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Zurich (EBVS® European Specialist in Veterinary and Comparative Nutrition, 2018). As a research assistant at the Institute of Animal Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Zurich until 2021 Kerstin focused on clinical nutrition provided by the veterinary nutrition consultation service, was involved in teaching of students, veterinarians as well as pet owners and was part of various research projects. From 2022 Kerstin follows her passion in clinical nutrition and dietetics, spreading scientifically based knowledge to support pet’s health by healthy, individually suitable nutrition as veterinary specialist in Marigin Zentrum für Tiermedizin, a big veterinary clinic and referral centre in Feusisberg, Switzerland. “My daily motivation is to impart scientifically based specialized veterinary knowledge in order to support our pets with balanced nutrition as an essential basis for life and health. It fascinates me that even with more than 10 years of experience in this field, every day brings something new, no two cases are the same and every animal benefits from an individually adapted diet.”

Yes. Each module can be purchased separately.
However, if you plan to complete the entire Vet Clinical Nutrition Academy (60 hours), purchasing the full package is more cost-effective and allows you to take the final exam.

The course is also open to veterinary technicians, animal nutritionists, students, and pet food professionals who wish to expand their clinical nutrition knowledge.
It was, however, designed primarily for veterinarians and assumes a basic understanding of pathophysiology and diagnostic principles in small animal medicine.
Lectures include short refreshers on key topics but focus mainly on nutritional management of clinical patients.

Live meetings are held online via Google Meet in English, at 7:30 p.m. (CEST).
You will receive a meeting link by email before each session.
All live sessions are recorded, so you can watch them later if you can’t attend in real time.

Yes. Upon completing all lessons and quizzes, you will receive a personalized PDF certificate (in English), signed by the lecturer and featuring the Vet Clinical Nutrition Academy logo.

You will have 12 months of access to all videos and course resources from the date of purchase.

Yes. Invoices are issued automatically after purchase – for EU companies with an active VAT number (reverse charge mechanism).
For participants outside the EU, the net price (0% VAT) applies.

No, but participation is highly recommended, as live sessions include clinical case discussions, practical calculations, and Q&A with the instructor.
Recordings are available for those who cannot attend.

Yes. In addition to video lectures, the course includes hands-on exercises (small-group workshops), calculations, quizzes, and opportunities to analyze real clinical cases and pet foods submitted by participants.

Yes. You can purchase the course as a gift voucher.
Please contact: pytania@karolinaholda.com for more details.

  • Start date: Enroll anytime
  • Total duration: 60 hours
  • Certificate: Yes
  • Access period: 24 months

The VCNA course has been designed primarily for veterinarians who wish to deepen their expertise in the dietary management of canine and feline diseases.
It is also suitable for veterinary technicians, animal nutritionists, veterinary students, and pet food professionals interested in the clinical application of nutrition.