Pet Nutrition at OVC

10/24/2025

Have your say in the 2025 Pet Obesity & Nutrition Opinion Survey! 🐾

The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP) has launched its 2025 global survey, inviting veterinary professionals, pet owners, and members of the pet health community to share their perspectives on how obesity and nutrition are understood and managed in companion animals.

The survey is open through December 31, 2025, and aims to gather diverse insights from around the world to better inform education, communication, and prevention strategies.
Alongside the survey, APOP and the World Pet Obesity Association (WPOA) are also sharing new practical tools to support veterinary teams and pet owners in promoting healthy body weight and nutrition for pets.

🩺 Your input matters!

By taking part, you’ll help shape a more consistent, compassionate, and science-based approach to tackling one of the most common health challenges facing pets worldwide.

👉 Take the survey here: https://bit.ly/2025APOP

10/22/2025

Your cat might still act like a kitten, but by age 7, their officially in their mature years!

As cats age, their metabolism slows down and their calorie needs drop, but their appetite might not. Without adjusting their diet or activity, extra pounds can sneak on fast! 🐾

Here are a few simple ways to help prevent obesity as your cat ages:
✔️ Adjust food portions to match their lower calorie needs
✔️ Encourage gentle, age-appropriate play to keep their muscles strong
✔️ Monitor weight and body condition regularly

Keeping your mature cat lean today means a healthier, happier senior tomorrow! 🐱💪

Ontario Veterinary College University of Guelph OVC Pet Trust
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10/15/2025

One of the simplest tools available to monitor an adult cat’s weight is called Body Condition Scoring (BCS)—and yes, you can do it at home!

BCS is a standardized system that helps estimate how much body fat your cat is carrying. By using visual cues and gently feeling key areas of the body, you can tell if your cat is too thin, just right, or carrying excess weight that could affect their health.

🎥 In this video, we’ll walk you through:
✔️ What BCS is and how it works
✔️ 3 simple steps to assess your cat’s body condition
✔️ What to do if your cat’s score is off track

A healthy weight means a longer, happier life for your cat. Let’s catch problems early and stay ahead of obesity.

Talk to your vet if you're unsure about your cat’s score or ideal weight! Read more about body condition scoring for both cats and dogs here: https://ovcpetnutrition.uoguelph.ca/2021/10/25/scoring-for-health/

Ontario Veterinary College University of Guelph OVC Pet Trust

10/10/2025

Don’t miss Dr. Sarah Abood of the OVC Pet Nutrition Team as she shares her expertise in an exciting upcoming webinar hosted by the Canadian Academy of Veterinary Nutrition — plus, check out other insightful webinars from the CAVN happening throughout the month!

[LIVE WEBCASTS] Be sure to register for each webcast…

Register for the October 7 webcast 👉 https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/1717573688958/WN_zerq_x1ZQDeB3X_J5g8TWQ?fbclid=IwY2xjawNHjFpleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETE0WHNZQUdtTnRpVHNIaTM0AR6pf3Ay-fUI7EN0Q7VLj1ABGU6sLgp1-nUDQoGYMo6S-8qvIgNP8bYc4zL2KQ_aem_rcXGGlhLz3Zdd6V38k0xeg #/registration
Register for the October 14 webcast 👉 https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/7017573689675/WN_l7NR9P_UTYOcwZVlXDDnpg?fbclid=IwY2xjawNHjHtleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETE0WHNZQUdtTnRpVHNIaTM0AR6pf3Ay-fUI7EN0Q7VLj1ABGU6sLgp1-nUDQoGYMo6S-8qvIgNP8bYc4zL2KQ_aem_rcXGGlhLz3Zdd6V38k0xeg #/registration
Register for the October 21 webcast 👉 https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/7217573690281/WN_jMVZTapSTjiikxUUZBXpiA?fbclid=IwY2xjawNHjIVleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETE0WHNZQUdtTnRpVHNIaTM0AR7DTp2EEQh-Hd8Mx9dFSeslZ7_2y6v3C6zRRWjSNAMBDmoKPCQ5X4DCmwverA_aem_ncJqthzUmESWk9yaNmUaKA #/registration
Register for the October 28 webcast (French presentation) 👉 https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/5317573690854/WN_-_SJXqRJQyiMmXBnPeaelw?fbclid=IwY2xjawNHjJBleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETE0WHNZQUdtTnRpVHNIaTM0AR4GRKmVihWoYpxgE0uyzi_3xmBU5UnmROMSvFI5h9zs4kZ6hPSEDnFnVdm9jA_aem_Ar9yrf7-je-lwoF7lDHnOg #/registration

10/08/2025

Kittens grow fast, and monitoring their weight can help catch issues early—before they become long-term health problems. 📈

A growth chart is one of the easiest tools to track your kitten’s development week by week, and it only takes a few minutes to use! 🐾

🎥 In this video, we show you:
✅ Why growth charts matter
✅ How to use them
✅ Where to find a reliable growth chart online

✨ Set your kitten up for a lifetime of health—start tracking today!

🔗 Follow this link to access the growth chart https://brnw.ch/21wWsfI


Ontario Veterinary College University of Guelph OVC Pet Trust

10/01/2025

October is !

This month, we’ll be diving into obesity prevention in cats across every life stage. Building healthy habits early set the foundation for lifelong wellness, and preventing obesity is easier than treating it. Obesity is one of the most common health issues in companion animals; with even a small excess in body weight increasing the risk for conditions like diabetes and arthritis.

Throughout October, we’ll be highlighting tips and tools to help build healthy habits that last from kittens to seniors.

Follow along as we explore weight management at every stage of your cat’s life!

Ontario Veterinary College University of Guelph OVC Pet Trust

09/24/2025

🦴🍲 New Blog Alert! 🍲🦴

Wondering how diet can support pets with liver disease? 🐶🐱 Our latest blog, "Nutritional Approaches to Liver Diseases in Dogs and Cats," explores the role of nutrition in managing liver health.

Tap the link below to learn more! 🔗 https://ovcpetnutrition.uoguelph.ca/2025/09/24/nutritional-approaches-to-liver-diseases-in-dogs-and-cats/

University of GuelphOntario Veterinary College

09/17/2025

We are still recruiting dogs for this exciting new study in Guelph, ON!

Please feel free to share with your network 🐶

Do you have a dog suffering from osteoarthritis? if so, we want to help! A new study from our team seeks to evaluate the health effects of seal oil versus salmon oil in dogs with osteoarthritis.

Dog food and supplements will be provided for over 4 months! For more information, complete the 15-20 minute online screening survey found at https://brnw.ch/21wQOh3

This project has been reviewed by the Research Ethics Board for compliance with federal guidelines for research involving human participants(REB 23-09-013). All experimental procedures for this study are approved by the University of Guelph Animal Care committee (AUP #5093).

If you have any questions or concerns please contact Brooklynn Liversidge at bliversi@uoguelph.ca

09/10/2025

The OVC Pet Nutrition Team had an incredible time at the European Society of Veterinary and Comparative Nutrition (ESVCN) congress in Leipzig last week 🇩🇪

📸 Swipe through to see:
1️⃣ Past and present team members representing the OVC Pet Nutrition Team in Germany at the Congress Gala Dinner
2️⃣ Brooklynn Liversidge, PhD Candidate, presenting her research on EPA and DHA in joint health diets
3️⃣ Shawna Morrow, PhD student, sharing insights on veterinary communication strategies around pet obesity
4️⃣ Shawna again, this time with her poster on pet guardian attitudes toward physical therapy and nutritional counselling
5️⃣ Dr. Hannah Godfrey presenting her work on dietary macronutrients and feline cardiovascular function
6️⃣ And finally, Hannah received the ESVCN-Waltham Award for her outstanding presentation — see you all at AAVN 2026, where she’ll be presenting again as part of her award! 🎉🐾

We’re proud of the team’s contributions to advancing pet nutrition research and grateful for the opportunity to connect with colleagues from around the world. 🌍💙

09/02/2025

08/28/2025

🌟 Exciting News! 🌟
Our summer students — Julia, Mariana, and Emily — recently presented their research projects at the Ontario Veterinary College’s Summer Career Opportunities & Research Exploration (SCORE) program! 🐾📚

SCORE is designed to spark student interest in research and highlight its impact across veterinary medicine and beyond.

✨ Here’s a look at their work:
🔹 Julia explored the influence of pet guardian nutrition practices on canine nutritional care.
🔹 Mariana investigated the role of dietary fibre in managing canine diabetes mellitus.
🔹 Emily examined how feeding frequency affects the metabolic signature of domestic cats.

👏 A big congratulations to Julia, Mariana, and Emily — your hard work and dedication this summer have been truly inspiring!

And a special thank you to Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Purina Canada, and Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada for funding for our summer student positions 🐾


Ontario Veterinary College University of Guelph OVC Pet Trust

08/20/2025

🐾 New Blog Alert! 🐾

Is your pet struggling with weight loss, diarrhea, or poor coat quality? Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI) could be the culprit. In our latest blog, we explore nutritional strategies to help pets with EPI thrive, from enzyme supplementation to diet adjustments. 🥩🥦

📖 Read now to learn how proper nutrition can make a world of difference: https://ovcpetnutrition.uoguelph.ca/2025/08/20/nutritional-approaches-to-exocrine-pancreas-insufficiency-epi/ 🔗✨