Companion Animal Sciences Institute

Program Description

The Diploma of Advanced Canine Nutrition and Fitness is an advanced and in-depth, program of study in dog fitness and nutrition; it is our most extensive program of study. Graduates will have a solid foundational knowledge of all important topics in nutrition and fitness for companion dogs. 

Are you looking for a challenge? Do you want a solid understanding of the science of fitness and nutrition of dogs? If so this program of study may be just what you need in order for you to achieve your goals.

This program is challenging and condensed! The assignments in this program are short fill-in type answers, multiple choice, true and false, and short essays and case studies. Students can expect to do a lot of reading and learning in this program, exploring the various topics in depth at an advanced level. We recommend, but do not require, that students have a high school senior level science or biology course as preparation.

Graduates will be awarded a Diploma of Advanced Canine Nutrition and Fitness.

Program Objectives

Students should emerge from this program of study with a detailed understanding of:

• Energetics: GE, DE, ME, NE, RER, RMR; Value of protein; Energy balance
• Nutrient classes
• Carbohydrates, (definitions, classifications, functions, requirements, etc)
• Protein, (definitions, classifications, functions, requirements, etc)
• Fats, (definitions, classifications, functions, requirements, etc)
• Minerals, introduction, function, required, toxic, interactions
• Macro minerals
• Trace minerals
• Vitamins, general, classifications, interactions, functions, requirements, deficiencies, etc.
• Water, function, requirements
• Digestion, anatomy, physiology, enzymes, hormones, absorption, etc.
• Life stage nutrition, pregnancy, lactation, weaning, puppies, adults, geriatrics
• Commercially prepared dog foods
• Home-cooked diets
• Raw diets
• Non-nutritive feed additives
• Ingredient analysis and evaluation
• Aflatoxins, mycotoxins, endotoxins
• Terminology, crude, complete and balanced, split ingredients, etc
• Obesity
• Terminology: RBW, RER, EER, BCS, TEF, AF
• Morphometric measurements
• Breed prevalence
• Keeping records
• Weight loss programs
• Nutritional effects on behavior, protein levels, blood sugar, etc
• Neurotransmitters and amino acids; tryptophan, serotonin, tyrosine, dopamine, etc
• Blood brain barrier
• Fatty Acids
• Omega 6 vs. Omega 3
• Allergic skin reactions, atopy, food allergies, pruritis
• Supplementation
• Elimination diets
• Canine athletes, endurance, sprint, physiology, glycogen storing and repletion
• Feeding guidelines for performance dogs
• Nutrients
• TCA cycle
• Body and Energy Systems
• Oxygen usage
• Motor nerves
•  Movement vs. reflexes
• Anatomy, feet, legs, spine, ligaments, growth plates
• Muscles, location, function, fast twitch, slow twitch
• Anaerobic and aerobic metabolic processes
• Structure
• Head and body types
• Sprint vs. strength
• Angulation
• Gait analysis
• Terminology, reach, drive, balance, etc.
• Sports psychology, canine and human
• Burn out, attitude, stress
• Nutrients, fats, carbohydrates, protein, water, requirements
• Performance diets, requirements, glycogen
• Sports, Rally-O, obedience, agility, flyball, lure-coursing
• Conditioning programs
• Jumping, movements, trajectory, leg positions
• Exercise, warm-ups, cool-downs, indoor and outdoor exercises
• Fitness
• Special Populations, brachycephalic, obesity, performance, geriatrics
• Limited mobility, canine and human
• Pre-existing conditions and injuries
• Sprains, strains, fractures
• Therapies and Rehabilitation, acupuncture, chiropractics, massage
• First aid, heat distress, splints, bleeding, tourniquets

Program Package Includes

• Coursework document including assignments and handouts
• Student Handbook

Tuition

Tuition is in Canadian funds (Currency Converter), + 4% fee for for online payments. Textbooks not included in tuition. They may be purchased through http://www.dogwise.com, http://www.amazon.com, http://www.abebooks.com or http://www.half.com in most cases. Also check the Student Library. Canadian Residents 5% GST. Payment plan available for tuitions over $1000. See Enroll page for details on the payment plan option. Payment buttons may be found at the top of this page.

Option #1. $2600 Canadian (plus 4% service charge) = $2704.

Option #2. Payment plan. $1404 & 6 monthly payments of $260, requested on the first of each month after enrollment and due within 7 days from then.

Prerequisite

We recommend, but do not require, that students have a high school senior level science or biology course as preparation.

Schedule

The program begins as soon as your enrollment is complete and you receive your enrollment package. Although we allow 4 years for this course, you are free to complete the course sooner if you can, and we do allow extensions if need be. Note that you will see time limits for each individual course on the course pages, but when you are enrolled in a diploma program there are no intermediate deadlines. Nothing is due before the program time-frame listed here.

Enrollment

Visit the "ENROLL" page and follow the application instructions.