The Feed Real Institute (FRI) is excited to announce its new canine nutrition courses for dog parents and veterinary professionals. But why introduce a new course when so many are already offered online? All the FRI team members graduated from the Companion Animal Science Institute (CASI) Canine Nutrition certification course to establish a solid canine nutrition foundation. However, there was a gap in the study materials and practical experience needed to advise dog parents on nutrition. None of the available courses have all the information we sought.
The Differences in Entrance Requirements
The intended audience is the first difference between the CASI course and the FRI courses. The CASI course requires a high school diploma or equivalent that the student be at least 18 years of age. The FRI Dog Parent course is open to anyone interested in canine nutrition.
Although the FRI Professional Canine Nutrition course is geared toward the veterinary professional or the person wanting a career in canine nutrition, it is open to anyone who wants to expand their knowledge on the role of nutrition for their dog’s health and longevity. Many “canine nutritionists” gate their knowledge and information, insinuating that dog owners cannot make or formulate their own food - we disagree with this approach. Our goal is to make what we’ve learned available to all dog owners and empower them to take charge of their dogs’ wellness.
Cost
The cost of the CASI course at $999 Canadian ($726.81 US) is more the four times that of the Feed Real course for the dog parent ($149) or almost three times the amount for the Feed Real professional course ($299). The Feed Real Professional Canine Nutrition certification course price includes the cost of the mandatory virtual workshop.
The CASI course requires the use of two textbooks, Small Animal Clinical Nutrition 5th Edition by Hand, which can be downloaded at http://www.markmorrisinstitute.org/sacn5_download.html and the Introduction to Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology (2004) by Victoria Aspinall.
The Feed Real Institute provides all course materials for both courses. However, for the mandatory virtual workshop, the students must purchase the necessary food components to prepare seven days of raw meals for their dogs.
Goals
As per the CASI course description, the main goal of the course is to gain advanced knowledge about canine nutrition. However, the goals of the FRI courses are a combination of academic knowledge and practical how-to tips and procedures for providing a species-appropriate diet for dogs. Both the CASI course and the FRI Professional Canine Nutrition courses result in a certification; the FRI course also provides hands-on guidance to build the graduate’s confidence in leading clients through their dog nutrition journey.
Course Content
The CASI course is based on Small Animal Clinical Nutrition 5th edition (SACNSACN). The text is published by the Mark Morris Institute (MMI), a non-profit organization that promotes optimal companion animal health through appropriate nutrition. Of the eight MMI board members, three are employed by Hill Pet Nutrition, Inc. Thus; the text is biased toward commercial pet foods.
The CASI course is described as an advanced and comprehensive for people interested in gaining a solid understanding of canine nutrition with the possible intention of further and more advanced study in the field of canine nutrition. The course states that it is academic with no emphasis on consulting or practical skills.
Although the SACN text is used as a reference for many of the tutorials in the FRI nutrition courses, each tutorial also references current scientific articles from peer-reviewed scientific and veterinary journals. Other sources used throughout the courses include
- The Forever Dog: Surprising New Science to Help Your Canine Companion Live Younger, Healthier, and Longer by Karen Becker and Rodney Habib
- Feeding Dogs: The Science Behind The Dry Versus Raw Debate by Conor Brady
- Raw Meaty Bones: Promote Health by Tom Lonsdale
- Give Your Dog a Bone: The Practical Commonsense Way to Feed Dogs for a Long Healthy Life by Ian Billinghurst
- Natural Remedies for Dogs and Cats by C. J. Puotinen
Both courses emphasize the importance of nutrition on dogs' overall health and well-being, but the difference is how the material is presented. Although the CASI course acknowledges that there is no requirement for carbohydratescarbohydrates in dogs, it does not discourage feeding kibblekibble that contains up to 70% carbohydrates. The nutrition-based diseases of diabetesdiabetes, obesityobesity, cardiovascular disease, cancer, cognitive decline, and other age-related disorders are discussed. Still, the link to the excessive consumption of carbohydrates is not mentioned.
Throughout the Feed Real Institute courses, the emphasis is placed on feeding a species-appropriate diet that includes very few carbohydrates, except for fruits and vegetables that contain nutrients unavailable from meat sources and insoluble fiberinsoluble fiber required for a healthy gut microbiome. Although the course is based on feeding whole, raw, and fresh food, the options of lightly cooked meals and kibble toppers are also presented.
The CASI course fails to explain the dangerous chemicals produced during the ultra-processing of dog kibble. Cancer-causing agents such as advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), Heterocyclic amines (HCAs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are all created during the manufacturing process of kibble.
Within the Feed Real Institute course, those dangers and others, such as the presence of glyphosate, are discussed, and details on how to help detoxify the dog’s body are presented. We feel dog parents must know how kibble is produced and what potential hazards are present to allow them to make informed decisions on the food they choose for their dog.
The limited mention of raw feedingraw feeding in the CASI course is a glaring difference. There is a section on "Introduction to Diets," which is a general overview. Unless something has changed, there are precisely five pages (if you include the quiz questions) of course material dedicated to Raw Feeding, and the section is prefaced with "Since there are no current books available on raw diets that present all sides without bias, I will include some general notes on this type of diet."
The FRI canine courses are based on feeding raw, but it also includes how to add real food to kibble to enhance it nutritionally. So each course has a bias, CASI for kibble and FRI for fresh and real food homemade diets.
Both institutes allow one year for the completion of their courses. For the FRl Professional Canine Nutrition course, the written material must be completed within a year. Still, the virtual workshop may be completed when available after the final exam has been completed.
Outcomes
The CASI course has a certification of Certifed Canine Nutritionist awarded after successfully completing the course. Graduates of the course can use the acronym Cert CN behind their name.
At the Feed Real Institute, we decided that the dog parent course is just that, a course. People take the course for personal knowledge and for the practical approach of learning about their dog and its nutritional requirements.
For veterinary professionals, the Feed Real Institute Certified Professional Canine Nutrition course does have a certification upon completion. The professional course still has practical guidance but is more academic and scientific. The tests and quizzes are more comprehensive. To become certified as a Certified Professional Canine Nutritionist, CPCNTM, students must participate in a virtual hands-on workshop upon completing the written material.
The Professional course is approved through the American Association of State Veterinary Boards for 10 RACE (Registry of Approved Continuing Education) CEs for veterinary professionals.
Why We Created the Feed Real Institute Nutrition Courses
Both institutes have produced well-written informational courses on canine nutrition. The entire team of nutritional consultants at Real Dog Box has taken the CASI course to establish their nutrition knowledge. However, we realized there was a considerable gap in academic learning and the process of creating dog meals. Having a solid knowledge base did not prepare our team to advise others on making homemade diets for their dogs.
We sampled many other online courses to bridge the gap between academia and practicality, but we found each one lacking in some areas. We started researching and writing our articles and tutorials. We soon realized we needed to consolidate all this information into a format that would teach others what we were learning. Our goal was to provide an affordable and easy-to-digest course for everyone. We then realized that the veterinary community was also interested in the information, so we split the course into two courses that mirror each other in content. The primary difference is the scientific language and the more in-depth explanations within the professional course. Veterinary staff can use the courses in tandem with their clients to ensure everyone gets the same information.
We encourage you to keep learning and asking questions no matter your path.