Despite nutrition’s essential role in pet well-being, most nutrition courses focus solely on basic dietary needs for growth, overlooking the complexities of nutrient metabolism disorders.
Nathalie Trottier, professor of animal nutrition in the department of animal science, is addressing this gap with ANSC 4290: Management of Nutrient Disorders in Cats and Dogs.
Unlike traditional nutrition classes, this course shifts the focus from meeting basic dietary requirements to understanding the consequences of nutrient imbalances in cats and dogs. “The class examines cases where nutrients aren’t doing what they’re supposed to — and, in many instances, this is due to how we manage and feed these animals.” Trottier said.
Students explore 13 key disorders, from breed-specific conditions like copper storage disease in dogs to nutrition-related issues like obesity and diabetes. They not only learn effective nutritional management strategies but also critically evaluate the health claims of commercial therapeutic diets.
“It’s a very different approach to teaching that engages students and fosters critical thinking.”
— Nathalie Trottier
The course structure is both rigorous and interactive. Each week, students analyze scientific articles on a different disorder and write short essays, culminating in student-led presentations and discussions on Fridays. “It’s a very different approach to teaching that engages students and fosters critical thinking,” Trottier explained.
Steven Katz ’25, an animal science student on the pre-veterinary track, highlighted how the course builds on his previous nutrition studies. “Nearly every nutrient — whether a vitamin, mineral or fatty acid — plays multiple crucial roles in the body, and they’re all deeply interconnected,” he said.
“For example, we discussed zinc-responsive dermatosis, a disorder caused by a dietary zinc deficiency that leads to anorexia, stunted growth and hair loss," he continued. "We then learned that calcium interferes with zinc absorption, so dietary calcium must also be considered when treating the disease.”
