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Many veterinary programs provide a course in nutrition, but not all of them make nutritional services available through their teaching hospital or otherwise work to emphasize the role of nutrition in animal care. When these services are provided, they say things about what the school thinks about the role of diet and nutrition in helping treat illness and in promoting animal wellness. When compiling this list of seven great schools with veterinary nutrition programs, we looked at exactly these types of things. Yes, fundamental nutrition courses are important but so are nutrition services programs and faculty members who are certified through the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
Students enrolled in the DVM program at Cornell University may have the chance to work with Dr. Joseph Wakshlag, who is the section chief in clinical nutrition and certified with the ACVIM. Dr. Wakshlag completed his own residency in nutrition at the school from 2000 to 2005. Students might learn from him through his work with nutrition services, which is provided through the school's hospital and promotes optimal diets and healthy recoveries. Specialized formularies are also available to assist with disease management or weight loss. Students in the DVM program can take classes such as Veterinary Nutrition and Applied Dairy Nutrition for Practitioners.
The University of Tennessee at Knoxville has three DVMs on staff with expertise in nutrition. One of these, Dr. Claudia Kirk, even received a PhD in nutrition and is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. The two other nutrition DVMs also are diplomates of the ACVIM. The school has a nutrition services department through which students may be able to learn about obesity management and how to help veterinarians provide critical care support to hospitalized patients. Homemade diet formulation is also available. All students in the school's DVM program need to take Veterinary Nutrition as a required course and Small Animal Nutrition is offered as an elective.
The University of California, Davis has two professors of nutrition on staff, two residents and a nutrition service technician. Dr. Jennifer Larson, who instructs the school's teaching hospital is a diplomate with the ACVIM and has a doctoral degree in nutritional biology. The school offers a residency program in small animal clinical nutrition in which 70 percent of a resident's time is spent at the teaching hospital focused on clinical nutrition. The residency also partially fulfills requirements for certification through the ACVIM.
Students attending the DVM program at Tufts University in Medford Mass., could have a chance to work with Dr. Deborah Linder, who heads up the school's obesity clinic for animals and is a diplomate with the ACVIM. The school offers Clinical Nutrition Services out of its Foster Hospital for Small Animals, providing nutrition for animals hospitalized for critical care, oncology, surgery or other reasons. Consultations related to dietary formulations, reproduction, weight loss and other issues are available to pet owners. Two-year fellowships in small animal clinical nutrition are available and provide students the opportunity to move toward eligibility for ACVIM certification.
The Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine has two faculty members who are DVMs and certified through the ACVIM. Students in the DVM program at the school take Veterinary Clinic Nutrition in their second year and then can take other classes such as equine nutrition, farm animal nutrition or small animal nutrition. Nutritional consultation services are provided through the school's veterinary teaching hospital. A clinical nutrition residency is also available that allows residents to complete either a master's degree in veterinary medical services or a PhD in nutrition. While working as a fellow, students complete the requirements to become board certified by the ACVIM.
The University of Missouri offers a two-year residency in clinical nutrition based out of its teaching hospital. The resident will be mentored by a diplomate of the ACVIM and emphasizes small animal clinical nutrition in their work. Students working on their DVM will be required to take a Veterinary Nutrition course and later can take many different elective courses, including one such as Small Animal Nutrition. This elective entails two week sessions of clinical blocks and allows students to perform nutritional assessments, create feeding plans and monitor outcomes. The staff at the small animal clinic at the school includes two veterinarians who specialize in nutrition.
Ohio State University offers nutrition support services such as consultations for home-made diets and special recommendations for patients who are suffering from cancer, kidney disease, heart disease and other ailments. An indoor cat initiative has even been launched to support the health and well-being of indoor cats. Students in the school's veterinary program may be able to learn from Dr. Tony Buffington, a DVM who has both his master's and PhD in nutrition and is a professor with the school's department of veterinary clinical sciences. Dr. Buffington is also a diplomate with the ACVIM.
