AAVN Webinar: Introduction to Feeding Considerations for Small Mammals

Veterinary healthcare teams are presented with a variety of species in addition to cats and dogs and it is imperative that the team understand nutrition and its effect on all pets coming into the hospital. Proper nutrition and feeding management is the foundation upon which healing and health maintenance rests. This session will discuss the role of nutrition in companion small mammals. Tips for communicating about proper nutrition with owners will also be provided.

Amanda Ardente, DVM, PhD is a veterinarian and consulting comparative nutritionist. She completed her DVM in 2009, followed by a nutrition-focused small animal rotating internship at NC State University (NCSU) College of Veterinary Medicine.  Dr. Ardente worked in private practice in NY, before relocating to FL to continue her education. She received her PhD in veterinary nutrition at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine in 2016, and her dissertation work involved investigating the role of nutrition in kidney stone development in bottlenose dolphins.   Dr. Ardente then gained experience in comparative nutrition as a Post-doctoral Associate at Disney's Animal Kingdom Animal Nutrition Center, before launching Ardente Veterinary Nutrition LLC in 2017, to officially begin her zoo/aquatic nutrition consulting career.   Dr. Ardente works with various facilities, from small educational programs to large-scale zoos and aquariums across the US and internationally, to optimize animal diets and nutrition programs.   She recently relocated back to Florida with her husband, an equine surgeon, two little kids, and 'Fancy', her elderly German Shorthaired Pointer, the best retired running/mountain biking buddy and lover of toddlers.                                                                                                              

This webinar is free to all AAVN members.  The cost for non-members is $20.