Canine and Feline Nutrition Certificate

• August 26, 2025
• January 15, 2026
• April 21, 2026

• Contact Dr. Amer AbuGhazaleh at aabugha@siu.edu.

You will receive an email confirmation when you register, later a second email will be sent just prior to the start of the course, providing your username and password to access the online course.

I would highly recommend the Canine and Feline Nutrition certificate program to anyone who is interested in obtaining a solid foundation in pet nutrition. This program did an outstanding job of preparing me to assess nutrient needs of cats and dogs at various life stages and health conditions and help them to meet those needs through a variety of food options. The information was presented in a well organized profession where concepts taught in previous lessons were reinforced and expanded upon in subsequent lessons and skills were honed throughout the program. the information was easy to understand with lots of good examples to illustrate key points and calculations. The self-paced, online delivery of the courses allowed for a great deal of flexibility, but still kept me on track to finish in a timely manner. The weekly assignments and quizzes provided me with the opportunity to learn the information presented in the narrated PowerPoint slides and reading chapters from the textbooks. I found the instructor feedback on those assignments to be incredibly helpful and it was provided very promptly. The final assignment to prepare homemade pet diets was fun but challenging and did a great job of making me review and apply many of the concepts that I learned throughout the program. In addition to learning a lot, I now also have exceptional resources that I can refer back to as I continue to work with pets and their people to achieve optimal nutrition and health. Thanks for a great program! It was exactly what I was hoping for to be able to add cat and dog nutrition to my human nutrition practice.

“After taking a few basic canine nutrition courses, and assisting a Pet Nutritionist in formulating recipes, I still didn’t feel confident in my knowledge to provide nutritional consultations or to open my own business. Since taking this course I have gained invaluable knowledge in canine nutrition and formulation. The course topics are thorough and extensive, and the material is easy to understand. What was beneficial for me is the material is presented in an easy to read and comprehensive manner. In the first section, Amer presents the material in different learning styles, ie, will repeat material in different ways, to provide a clear understanding of what is being taught.
Amer is a wonderful attentive professor in that he makes himself always available, and promptly answers your questions, even when he is traveling. Amer was always attentive in answering my myriad of questions.

The final section was instrumental to my learning in that it covered topics in the nutritional management and formulation of pets with health conditions. There are not many certification programs that offers this. Therapeutic diets as well commercial formulations are a strong area of interest for me and I immensely enjoyed gaining greater insight and knowledge in these areas.
I highly recommend the Canine and Feline Nutrition program, for anyone, may it be just for general interest in your current field of work or if opening your own consulting business. This program has given me the confidence and comprehensive knowledge to now pursue my career in pet nutrition consulting.”

“The Canine & Feline Nutrition program provides a comprehensive overview with very easy-to-follow course instructions. I enjoyed diving into dietary management for specific diseases and conditions that affect pets. One of my favorite parts was practicing homemade diets which I now feel very confident in creating for my pets. Professor AbuGazaleh is a great resource and was very accessible throughout the program for questions and feedback. I would highly recommend the program to those interested in getting a foundational understanding of canine and feline nutrition at what I consider to be a pretty affordable cost given its value.”

 “I really enjoyed the program! I think it is really accessible for everyone, the slides were easy to understand and "key" to understand the topic when studying from the book's chapters.

The clinical part was the most challenging for me but I loved the detailed and scientific approach used throughout the program. I highly suggest to undertake the Canine and Feline nutrition certified program at SIU if you want to start with a solid and valid preparation in this field (even if you come from a different background), Dr. Amer accompanies you step by step.”

 I would like to share my recommendation for this exceptional course: Certification in Canine and Feline Nutrition from Southern Illinois University. I must say it was an extraordinary experience. The course instructor, Professor Amer, is highly qualified and conveys the information in a clear and easy-to-understand manner.

One of the highlights of this course was the comprehensive coverage of the nutritional requirements of dogs and cats for all life stages, including pathologies. The section on creating homemade diets for both healthy and sick animals was undoubtedly a great differentiator of this course. This provided me with substantial experience.

The assignments and quizzes were incredibly beneficial. The course significantly broadened my understanding of pet nutrition. Now, I feel much more confident in my ability to make informed decisions about my pets' diets and overall health.

In summary, I highly recommend this course from SIU. Whether you are a pet owner looking to better understand your furry friend's dietary requirements or a professional in the field, this course offers valuable knowledge and insights. Professor Amer's dedication and expertise make this course a truly worthwhile investment in your education.

“The SIU Canine and Feline Nutrition Course is a comprehensive and well-structured program that covers a wide range of topics from the basic principles of nutrition to homemade diets and nutritional requirements for dogs and cats with different health conditions. I highly recommend the course to pet owners who want to deepen their understanding of pet nutrition. I particularly enjoyed the section on homemade diets which required me to craft various types of diets for dogs and cats.

Prof Amer gave useful and timely feedback on the assignments, which were challenging but not too difficult as long as you go through the study material provided. The course can be completed at your own pace and time, so it's very convenient even if you're not based in the same time zone as SIU.”