Companion Animal Sciences Institute

Program Description

This program combines the Diploma of Canine Nutrition and Diploma of Advanced Canine Nutrition into one program with a reduced tuition.

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

Are you looking for a challenge? Do you want a solid understanding of the science of 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 Nutritional Sciences.

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

Program Package Includes

• Coursework document including assignments and handouts
• Student Handbook

Tuition

Option #2. Payment plan. $972 & 6 monthly payments of $180, 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 3 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.