
Nutrition Day Webinar 2024
SCOVE X Purina Institute
This webinar was a collaboration with IVSA's Diamond Sponsor: Purina Institute! We hosted 2 international expert speakers who shared insights on both basic and advanced topics in veterinary nutrition. The event took place on 16th of June, 2024 via Zoom platform.
1st Lecture Speaker & Abstract

Dr. Catherine Lenox, DVM, DACVIM on "Selecting a Diet and Talking to Pet Owners About Nutrition"
It is often confusing how to tell if a diet is "good" - which is a common question from pet owners. A good diet will be safe, efficacious, and appropriate for a patient. In this talk, we will discuss how to make diet recommendations for your patients. Topics covered include performing a nutritional assessment on dogs and cats, how the nutritional assessment process can be helpful when selecting a diet for a patient, evaluating diets, and recommending supplements. Common questions from pet owners about nutrition and how to answer them and communication tips for handling difficult nutrition conversations was also discussed.
2nd Lecture Speaker & Abstract

Dr. Sina Marsilio DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM (Small Animal Internal Medicine), Dipl.ECVIM-CA on "Microbiome Fundamentals and Interventions for Pet Health"
Our bodies provide many biologically niches for a variety of organisms including bacteria, protozoa, viruses, and fungi collectively "the microbiome". Different body parts are home to different communities of microorganisms. Microbiome can interact with the host through various mechanisms including influence on the immune system, epithelial cell health (intestinal lining), and the production of metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids, vitamins, etc.
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This lecture discussed host-microbiome interactions and effects the microbiome can have on our body. The lecture investegated how the microbiome can get out of balance and dysbiosis can occur. Lastly, it also highlighted ways to influence the microbiome and help it to get back in a healthy state.
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