9. Lower Urinary Tract Disease
246,00 €
This is the nineth module of Vet Clinical Nutrition Academy.
The full bundle of 60-hour program (12 modules) is available here: Vet Clinical Nutrition – 60-hour course
In this module, we focus on nutritional management of lower urinary tract diseases (LUTD) in dogs and cats, with emphasis on urolithiasis, cystitis and feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD). Participants learn how to select and adjust diets based on stone type, urine chemistry, patient risk factors and clinical presentation, while maintaining a brand neutral, evidence based approach.
Key topics include:
• Causes, clinical signs and diagnostic approaches for urolithiasis in dogs and cats
• Common stone types: pathogenesis, targeted dissolution diets and prevention strategies
• Nutritional and medical approaches for prevention and treatment
• Diet management strategies for cystitis and FLUTD
• Monitoring and plan adjustment: urinalysis, imaging and owner compliance
LEARNING OUTCOMES
After completing this module, you will be able to:
• Match diet type to the specific urolith, using urine chemistry targets including pH, USG and relative supersaturation (RSS) concepts.
• Build individualized prevention plans focusing on water intake, diet rotation and structured monitoring.
• Manage struvite and calcium oxalate pathways effectively, using a fully brand neutral and evidence based decision process.
Schedule:
28 May 2026 – Pre‑recorded material (2 h)
4 Jun 2026 – Live: cases + Q&A (2 h)
Total ~4 h
(Live sessions take place at 7:30 p.m. CEST via Google Meet.)
Live meetings include case discussions and small-group workshops. The course also includes supporting literature, practical tools, knowledge-check quizzes, and access to a private Facebook community.
It is conducted in English.
This is a fully online program that you can complete from anywhere, at your own pace.
This module offers an in depth, evidence based overview of lower urinary tract disease in dogs and cats, with a strong focus on the role of nutrition in prevention, dissolution and long term management.
Participants explore the causes, risk factors and clinical signs associated with urolithiasis and learn how to differentiate between key urolith types based on diagnostic imaging, urinalysis and patient history. The module covers the pathogenesis of the most common stones, including struvite and calcium oxalate, and provides targeted nutritional strategies for both dissolution (where applicable) and prevention.
A central part of the module focuses on urine chemistry manipulation, including the practical use of pH, urine specific gravity (USG) and the concept of relative supersaturation (RSS) to guide diet selection. Participants also review water intake strategies, diet texture and moisture considerations, and structured monitoring protocols to support long term success.
The module further covers nutritional approaches in cystitis and FLUTD, including environmental and behavioural factors that influence disease risk. Medical and nutritional strategies are integrated in a step wise, brand neutral framework that supports consistent decision making in clinical practice.
Practical instruction is provided on monitoring and adjusting the management plan through regular urinalysis, imaging, and owner communication to support compliance and prevent recurrence.
By the end of this module, participants will be able to confidently design, implement and monitor dietary plans for a wide range of lower urinary tract diseases, using a structured, evidence based and brand neutral approach.
Dr Moran Tal‑Gavriel, BSc, DVM, DVSc, Dip ECVCN
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.
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.
