Pet Nutrition at OVC

08/20/2026

🍽 Tasty Tidbits: Lysine!

Welcome to our monthly series where we break down key nutrients for your pet’s health. This month’s spotlight: Lysine!

Role in the Body:
Lysine is an indispensable amino acid that is involved in the formation of collagen!

✅ Sources:
• Animal-based: Pork, fish, eggs
• Plant-based: Soy, nuts, lentils

💡 How Much?
Needs vary by life stage—growing pets or those reproducing require more. Choose a complete and balanced diet for optimal health.

⚠️ Watch Out:
• Deficiency: Reduced appetite, weight loss, poor skin and coat health
• Excess: No toxic levels reported. In dogs, excess lysine causes growth depression and an arginine deficiency.

Balanced nutrition = a happy, healthy pet! 🐶🐱

👉 Learn more in our full blog post: https://brnw.ch/21x54LO

08/15/2026

🦎 Happy World Lizard Day! 🦎

Today we're celebrating one of the world's most beloved reptile companions—the bearded dragon!

Did you know that proper nutrition goes far beyond choosing the right insects and greens? UVB lighting, temperature, hydration, and calcium supplementation all play critical roles in keeping bearded dragons healthy and helping them live long, active lives.

Learn how to build a balanced diet, avoid common nutrition mistakes, and prevent health problems such as metabolic bone disease and obesity in our latest blog.

🔗 Read the full article: https://ovcpetnutrition.uoguelph.ca/2026/08/15/bearded-dragon-nutrition-feeding-your-dragon-for-a-long-healthy-life/
🎉 Celebrate World Lizard Day by giving your dragon the best care possible.

08/05/2026

🐾 Calling Canadian Dog Owners! 🐾

The OVC Pet Nutrition Team is currently recruiting participants for three exciting canine research studies, and your dog may be eligible!

🔹 Marine Oil Supplements Survey 🔹 We're looking for Canadian dog guardians to share their experiences and perspectives on marine oil supplementation in dogs through a short online survey. Your feedback will help us better understand how pet owners make decisions about these popular supplements.

🔹 Physical Activity Weight Management Program for Obese Dogs 🔹 Could your dog benefit from weight loss? We're investigating whether a structured, home-based physical activity program can support healthy weight loss and improve mobility in dogs with chronic obesity. Eligible participants will receive dog food and treats provided for over 4 months.

🔹 Seal Oil and Salmon Oil for Osteoarthritis 🔹 Does your dog suffer from osteoarthritis? We're studying the effects of different omega fatty acid supplements on the health and wellbeing of dogs with osteoarthritis. Eligible participants will receive dog food and supplements provided for over 4 months.

By participating in our research, you'll help advance evidence-based nutrition and health recommendations for dogs while contributing to the future of veterinary medicine.

👉 Visit our website to learn more about each study and find out if you and your dog are eligible: 🔗 https://ovcpetnutrition.uoguelph.ca/home/research/

📢 Please help us spread the word by sharing this post with fellow dog owners!

🐶💙

07/29/2026

📢 New research alert! 🐾

Our team at the OVC Pet Nutrition Research Lab has just published the paper titled “Metabolic profiles show few differences in serum amino acid, one-carbon, and fatty acid compounds in dogs fed a plant-based (“vegan”) or meat-based diet” in Frontiers in Veterinary Science. 📚

Using advanced metabolomics techniques, we compared healthy dogs consuming a plant-based diet with dogs consuming a meat-based diet for three months. We found only minor metabolic differences between groups, with most changes reflecting differences in nutrient composition rather than ingredient source. 🔬

Head to our blog to read about the highlights of our findings and their implications for the future of pet nutrition research and a link to the full article! 🔬 https://brnw.ch/21x4wBa



Ontario Veterinary College , Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Petcurean

07/23/2026

🍽 Tasty Tidbits: Leucine!

Welcome to our monthly series where we break down key nutrients for your pet’s health. This month’s spotlight: Leucine!

Role in the Body:
Leucine is an indispensable amino acid that assists in protein synthesis in skeletal muscle, and it also helps regulate blood glucose levels.

✅ Sources:
• Animal-based: Beef, salmon, cheese
• Plant-based: Chickpeas, brown rice, peanuts

💡 How Much?
Needs vary by life stage—growing pets or those reproducing require more. Choose a complete and balanced diet for optimal health.

⚠️ Watch Out:
• Deficiency: Reduced appetite, weight loss, impaired nitrogen balance. Note: Deficiency for pets is rare.
• Excess: No toxic levels reported

Balanced nutrition = a happy, healthy pet! 🐶🐱

👉 Learn more in our full blog post: https://brnw.ch/21x4mSY

07/21/2026

On July 15th, members of the OVC Pet Nutrition Team, PhD student Shawna Morrow, DVSc student Dr. Laura Teeger, and MSc student Natalie Maier Aleman, shared their innovative research at the 2026 Ontario Veterinary College Graduate Student Research Symposium!

Photos 1-3 showcase their contributions:

1️⃣Natalie presenting her research on the effects of choline and L-carnitine supplementation on fatty acid metabolism in lean and obese cats
2️⃣Laura presenting her research examining choline adequacy in feline diets for weight management.
3️⃣Shawna presenting her research exploring dog owners' perceptions of nutrition and physical therapy services for canine health and recovery.

Join us in congratulating them on their successful presentations and contributions to advancing veterinary nutrition!

Ontario Veterinary College University of Guelph OVC Pet Trust Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Elmira Pet Products Balchem Animal Nutrition & Health

07/09/2026

Join us in congratulating our very own Dr. Hannah Godfrey who was recently awarded the Animals Best PhD Thesis Award 🎉

This is a wonderful and well-deserved recognition of her outstanding scholarship and the significant contributions she has made through her research.

Hannah's PhD focused on Dietary Macronutrients in Feline Health and Metabolism 🐈‍⬛

➡️ Head to our blog for more information on her thesis https://lnkd.in/ghBwZ7bw

Congrats again, Hannah, and thank you to all those who supported Hannah during her PhD work!

🎉 Congratulations to the winner of the Animals Best PhD Thesis Award!

We are delighted to congratulate Dr. Hannah Godfrey (University of Guelph, Canada), recipient of the Animals Best PhD Thesis Award 2025 👏

This annual award recognizes an exceptional PhD thesis in animal-related research and celebrates emerging researchers making outstanding contributions to fields such as zoology, animal science, animal welfare, animal ethics, and ethnozoology.

Learn more about this year's award and recipient:
🔗 https://brnw.ch/21x3Uah

07/02/2026

There’s still time to complete our survey! Take a look below for more details 🐶

🐕‍🦺 Dog parents of Canada – We want to hear from you! 📢

A new study from our team wants to explore pet guardian perceptions and decision-making for marine oil supplements. 💊💊

We are looking for dog guardians who:
🐶 Live in Canada
🐶 Have access to the internet
🐶 Over 18 years of age
🐶 Proficient in English
🐶 Dog’s primary caretaker
🐶 Have at least one dog over 2 years old

What’s in it for you?
For participation in this survey, there is a chance to win one of eight Amazon gift cards 🛍️

if you wish to participate, complete the 15-20 minute online survey: https://brnw.ch/21wZ53A

For more information, please check the Research page on our website (https://brnw.ch/21wZ53z) or contact Brooklynn Liversidge at [email protected]

🐾 This study has been approved by the Research Ethics Board of the University of Guelph (REB #1834) 🐾

06/24/2026

🍽 Tasty Tidbits: Isoleucine!

Welcome to our monthly series where we break down key nutrients for your pet’s health. This month's spotlight: Isoleucine!

Role in the Body:
Isoleucine is an essential amino acid that has an important structural role in proteins.

✅ Sources:
• Animal-based: Beef, pork, chicken
• Plant-based: Sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, soybeans

💡 How Much?
Needs vary by life stage—growing pets or those reproducing require more. Choose a complete and balanced diet for optimal health.

⚠️ Watch Out:
• Deficiency: Reduced or impaired growth, weight loss, loss of appetite
• Excess: No toxic levels reported

Balanced nutrition = a happy, healthy pet! 🐶🐱

👉 Learn more in our full blog post: https://brnw.ch/21x3BZZ

06/18/2026

The OVC Pet Nutrition Team was delighted to be part of the 2026 American Academy of Veterinary Nutrition (AAVN) Conference in Seattle! 🐾✨

Although presented virtually, we are proud to share that Dr. Hannah Godfrey showcased her research exploring the impact of dietary macronutrients on cardiac function in cats—an exciting contribution to advancing feline nutrition and health. 🐱💡

Representing our team in person were Dr. Adronie Verbrugghe, DVSc resident Manuela Fischer, and Becky Hunt, RVT (VTS Nutrition), who enjoyed connecting with colleagues, exchanging ideas, and staying at the forefront of companion animal nutrition science. 🤝📚

Events like AAVN continue to inspire collaboration and innovation, and we’re grateful to be part of such a passionate and dedicated community. 🌎❤️