Bio

Dr. Jessica Trites obtained her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the Ontario Veterinary College in 2010. She spent 10 years in small animal practice before joining Royal Canin as a Technical Services Veterinarian in 2019. Her interests include small animal internal medicine and nutrition, and she enjoys educating and sharing her passion for nutrition with others. In her more recent role as a Scientific Communications Veterinarian, Jessica spends much of her time consulting with veterinary professionals about the best nutritional solution for their patients. She is also involved in providing education to veterinary clinics in central Ontario and to veterinary students at the Ontario Veterinary College. Outside of work, Jessica enjoys life alongside her husband Adrian, their three young children, elderly cat, and young Labrador retriever.

Synopsis:

Title: The F Word – The role of dietary fat in clinical nutrition

Description: In a world fixated on protein, why talk about fat? Although often vilified as a source of excess calories, dietary fat is an essential nutrient that can be adapted to match the individual needs of our veterinary patients. This is particularly important in gastrointestinal conditions. In this talk, we will discuss the role that fat has in individualized nutrition and how to make a plan for your patients using the most readily available information: signalment, history, and clinical signs.

Learning objectives:

• Understand sources of fat and their roles in a complete and balanced diet
• Recognize where adapted levels of fat may be needed for veterinary patients in health and disease
• Understand that adjustments in dietary fat are individual, variable, and relative