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About the Course

This short course covers the principles of small animal nutrition, including prepared pet foods, alternative feeding approaches and home-made diets. The course provides the knowledge and skills to advise on the advantages and disadvantages of each, as well as being able to assess in a broad way a food or diet from a nutritional standpoint. Natural nutrition fills in the gap of knowledge from mainstream nutrition philosophy which focuses on prepared pet foods. A balanced viewpoint is taken, along with an evidence based approach in the interests of animal health and wellbeing. This course includes access to the Animal Diet Formulator while studying.

Please note that this is an evidence-based course delivered by qualified and experienced practitioners but is not an Australian government-accredited qualification.

Communication and course materials

  • modified online lectures
  • forum participation
  • Animal Diet Formulator tutorial
  • reading of journal articles and texts
  • exploring web resources
  • email support

Assessments

  • online quiz (25%)
  • two assignments (50%)
  • case study (25%)
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Dr Mio Shinohara Royce
Dr Barbara Fougere
Dr Barbara Royal
Dr Susan Wynn
Dr Jean Dodds

Meet the Tutors and Lecturers

Dr Mio Shinohara Royce
BVM, PhD, GDip VCHM
Starting as a vet nurse, Mio has worked in the veterinary industry for 30 years. She graduated from Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology with a veterinary degree in 2002 and received PhD in 2006 from State University of New York for...
2 Webinars and 9 Courses
BSc BVMS (Hons) MODT BHSc (CMed) MHSc (Herb Med) FACVBM GDVA GDVCHM GDVWHM CVA (IVAS) CVBM CVCP CMAVA
Dr Barbara Fougere is a 1986 graduate from Murdoch University Veterinary School Western Australia. She practices in Sydney Australia, exclusively in veterinary integrative medicine. She has served on the Australian Veterinary Association Policy...
18 Webinars and 11 Courses
DVM, CVA, CVNN, FACVBM
Dr. Barbara Royal, is a Chicago-based integrative veterinarian, IVAS certified acupuncturist, author, and educator with extensive experience in veterinary care, including a zoo, marine, and wildlife animals, nutrition, acupuncture, emergency...
3 Webinars and 3 Courses
DVM, DACVN, RH(AHG), CVA (certified veterinary acupuncturist) CVCH (certified veterinary Chinese herbalist)
Susan G. Wynn, DVM, DACVN is a 1987 graduate of the University of Georgia’s College of Veterinary Medicine. She completed an internship with Friendship Hospital for Animals in Washington DC in 1988, a post-doctoral fellowship in viral...
2 Webinars and 5 Courses
DVM
Dr Jean Dodds became a veterinarian in 1964 after graduating from the Ontario Veterinary College, and has spent more than 5 decades as a clinical research veterinarian. From 1965-1986, she was a member of many national and international committees...
10 Webinars and 1 Course

What will you Learn

  • Nutrition Basics
  • Practical Nutrition
  • Commercial Pet Foods
  • Alternative Feeding Practices
  • Home-made diets
  • Supplements
  • Detoxification with Diet and Supplements
  • Weight Control
  • Nutrition Basics
  • Practical Nutrition
  • Commercial Pet Foods
  • Alternative Feeding Practices
  • Home-made diets
  • Supplements
  • Detoxification with Diet and Supplements
  • Weight Control
Read More
Download Brochure
Natural Animal Nutrition

Before you take the course

Below requirements are needed before you can take this course.
  • Access to the internet
  • Headphones

Course Testimonials

Get inspired with our student journeys.

"The Natural Nutrition course offered by CIVT was outstanding. I have completed many online courses and none of them compare this robust and rigorous education. The pace was quick, with readings and a few videos interspersed throughout. The assignments really hammered home the material and were an opportunity to practice what we learned. I thoroughly enjoyed this course and it has become integral to my practice. I recommend this course to anyone who is interested in a thorough and grounded view on canine and feline nutrition, from pet owners to veterinarians." 

Gillian Gallimore
MMSt, BSci (Hons)
Canada

"Working In an integrative Veterinary clinic with a focus on natural nutrition, I found completing the CIVT Natural Nutrition Course to be invaluable. The combination of videos and online content made the course not only achievable but enjoyable whilst working full time. The online support and forums were extremely helpful when needed. I’m excited to be able to provide more information to our clients on nutrition and in particular the ability to read and assess pet food labels."

Natalie Smith
VN cert IV, Dip VN Surgery
Australia

As a Certified Veterinary Technician I constantly get asked about nutrition and what's the best food to feed. After completing every mainstream veterinary nutrition course I could find, I realized that all of them were offered by and sponsored by pet food manufacturers and none of them addressed raw and homecooked diets. With an increasing number of clients interested in and already feeding home prepared diets, I scoured the internet for reputable courses and came across CIVT's amazing program. I highly recommend the Natural Animal Nutrition course for anyone interested in a more thorough approach to nutrition. 

 

Melissa McClelland
CVT, B.S.
United States of America

“I have benefited extensively from this course. The course team listens and provides help in an encouraging sensitive manner. The course notes are comprehensive and fully explanative with access to reference sites, there are also lots of interesting videos to break the study cycle. This evidence based approach is in the interests of animal well-being for pet owners and pet professionals. The course includes access to the Animal Diet Formulator program which suggests foods, nutrients and supplements to formulate as a specifically required ideal diet for any dog or cat, at any life stage to heal and maintain good health from a balanced nutritional aspect. This an important course to be done at your own pace the rewards will be lifechanging.”

Jan Collins
B.App.Sc. (Acup), CCHM, TCM, VT (Alternative Therapies)
Australia

"I’ve recently completed the Natural Animal Nutrition course and was very impressed by the quality of the materials and lecturers – you will learn from the best in the field!

The skills and knowledge I gained are invaluable to make informed and science-backed decisions about what to feed my beloved animal companion and why. I walked away from the course being able to understand and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of feeding approaches and so much more! 

The course is very flexible and was easy to fit around my schedule. I looked forward to my readings and course materials each week learning from international experts and really appreciated the thorough feedback provided by the course tutor on assignments.

I would recommend this course to anyone who wants to learn from leading experts and recent science in the nutrition space. You will walk away a better pet parent!"

Evelyn Derus
Australia

"I was looking for a course to "upgrade" my knowledge of dog and cat nutrition because I work in the pet industry. My job requires that I attend to clients' queries on pet food and nutrition. This course in Natural Animal Nutrition is just what I needed. I found the course content very relevant to my daily work. The course is science-backed, easy to follow, has a clear structure, and is flexible enough to work around my work schedule. The tutors and lecturers are very knowledgeable and quick to respond to any questions that we may have. I've learnt so much in this course. The skills and knowledge gained from the course are invaluable. I feel more equipped and confident to talk to my clients about pet food and nutrition now that I have finished the course. In my opinion, anybody, professionals or pet owners alike, should take this course."

Katherine Khoo
ABAAHP, DipNM, CANH, BIT
Singapore

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Submit your information and we will send the brochure to the provided email address.
 
 

Frequently Asked Questions

Want to know more about the questions that our students asked?
Is online study right for me?

The College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies offers courses that are both challenging and rewarding. You can learn at your own pace under the tutelage of experts in their field. Online or distance learning is not for everyone. Think carefully before you enroll. To succeed in online learning and distance education you will need:

  • A commitment to study and enquiry
  • To be capable of self directed learning with our guidance and support through your course
  • Motivation to pursue your course of study
  • Access to the internet and a printer
  • A good internet service that provides a good speed for downloads
  • An enthusiasm for engaging with your tutors and peers
  • The ability to work on your own or collaborate in a team
  • The capability of an independent level of written and spoken English
  • An appointment by phone may be requested prior to course commencement- we don't want you to start if we think we can't provide the right experience for you
  • If you are not sure contact us, we can help you gain a  full understanding of our courses before applying.

What you won't need is to pay airfares, travel, hotel bills by participating in green education!

All our courses are available to enrol at any time.  Our courses are part time, self paced within the course timeframe, and fully online.  Sometimes there is a scheduled start date for a course, in which we accept a group intake of enrolments. This encourages a cohort of students to move through the course together, making for a more interactive learning experience.

Although some courses have live sessions available, there are no live sessions that you are required to attend for any of our courses.  Our courses are delivered online and are self paced within the course timeframe, to give you the greatest flexibility with your study. You can study anywhere, anytime that suits you. We have great learning tools such as lectures, comprehensive course notes, videos, online resources, discussion forum and continuous support from our highly qualified and experienced tutors to help you can get the most out of your course.

Please refer to our enrolment terms and conditions when seeking extra time in a course, https://civtedu.org/enrolment-terms-and-conditions 

If you take a "leave of absence/deferral" from a course this freezes your progress in the course.  You will have no access to the course during this time.  A request for a leave of absence/deferral can be made for up to 3 months, initially.  Longer periods of time away from the course can be reviewed after this time.  If you want to use any course resources whilst you are taking your leave of absence/deferral you will need to download the material (such as documents, course notes, reading material) beforehand.  There is no fee to take a leave of absence/deferral, however your regular payment instalments for the course will continue.

If you request an "extension" for a course, you may be given extra time in a course and still have full access to the course.  An extension can be granted for up to, or equal to, the maximal period of study for that course.  There is a fee involved in applying for an extension, this varies according to the amount of extra time requested and is found on the link provided.

 

This depends on the type of course you enrol in.

Our introductory or short courses require approximately 3-5 hours per week.  Our Certifications and Graduate Diplomas require approximately 5-10 hours per week.  This will vary amongst individuals, depending on the pace in which they learn.  More time may be needed each week, depending on how long an individual needs to spend on completing assignments. 

If you are a registered Veterinarian, you are eligible to enrol in any of our courses, https://civtedu.org/courses 

If you are a Veterinary Technician or Veterinary Nurse or Animal Health Professional you may be able to apply to enrol in selected courses for Veterinarians, however you will need to go through an eligibility process first. Otherwise, you can apply for our courses for Animal Health Professionals, https://civtedu.org/courses/animal-health-professionals 

If you are a Pet Owner, you can apply for our courses designed for Pet Owners, https://civtedu.org/courses/pet-owners 

 

Earn your own CIVT certificate of completion

The College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies offers courses that are both challenging and rewarding. You can learn at your own pace under the tutelage of experts in their field. What you won’t need is to pay airfares, travel, hotel bills by participating in green education!

Your certificate will be issued in your legal name and sent to you upon successful completion of the program, as per the stipulated requirements.

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Payment Options

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$1,195.00 USD
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$1,314.51 USD

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Extend your knowledge with our Webinars

Access webinars in your preferred time or join with our upcoming live webinars
Natural Nutrition
Natural Nutrition
Dr Doug Knueven DVM, CVA, CVC, CVCH
Raw Food: Are the anecdotes onto something?
Raw Food: Are the anecdotes onto something?
Dr Susan Wynn DVM, DACVN, RH(AHG), CVA (certified veterinary acupuncturist) CVCH (certified veterinary Chinese herbalist)