Communivet Announcement
CAVN 6th Annual Fall Live Webinar Series
October 7, 14, 21, 28 at 7 p.m. (EDT)
4:00 BC (PDT), 5:00 ABISK (MDT), 6:00 MB (CDT), 7:00 ON/QC (EDT), 8:00 PEI/NB/NS (ADT), 8:30 NL (NDT)
Join Canadian Academy of Veterinary Nutrition experts as they explore emerging trends in pet nutrition.
Registration is not automatic for all four sessions.
You must register separately for each webcast you wish to attend.
October 7, 2025
Assessing alternative pet diets in clinic – A practical approach
Moran Tal-Gavriel, BSc, DVM, DVSC, Dipl. ECVCN,
Board-Certified Veterinary Nutritionist
- Overview of the growing use of unconventional diets (home-prepared, raw, and commercial fresh foods)
- Evidence-based framework for evaluating these diets in practice
- Focus on nutritional adequacy, safety, and individual suitability
- Application of a structured assessment approach through clinical examples and current research
- Identification of nutritional risks and gaps
- Guidance strategies to help clients with confidence and compassion toward optimal nutrition
October 14, 2025
Comparing alternative diets – What goes into home-cooked formulations?
Sarah K. Abood, DVM, PhD
- Case examples illustrating how veterinary nutritionists balance homemade recipes for companion animals
- Practical tips to help veterinary professionals guide pet owners seeking nutritional advice
- Strategies for establishing regular monitoring of pets on homemade diets
October 21, 2025
Decoding pet diet trends: Communicating with confidence
Jenna Manacki, DVM, residency-trained in clinical nutrition, and Becky Hunt, RVT, VTS (Nutrition)
- Tips and tools for discussing nutrition trends and myths with clients Insights from both technician and veterinarian perspectives on client communication
- Topics will include effective client communication on diet history, lifestyle preferences, raw diets, grain-free diets, and home-cooked diets.
- Emphasis on a collaborative, team-based approach to nutrition discussions
October 28, 2025
Les nourritures non conventionnelles et leur évaluation – French Presenation
Younès Chorfi, DVM, MS, PhD
- Constat de la popularité croissante des aliments dits
<< non conventionnels » pour chiens et chats - Exploration des nouvelles tendances alimentaires en
nutrition animale - Présentation d’outils pratiques pour les médecins vétérinaires afin d’évaluer ces nourritures
- Stratégies pour mieux accompagner les propriétaires d’animaux de
compagnie dans les choix alimentaires pour leurs compagnons
MEET THE CAVN EXPERTS
Moran Tal-Gavriel
BSc, DVM, DVSC, Dipl. ECVCN
Board-Certified Veterinary Nutritionist
Dr. Tal-Gavriel is a board-certified specialist in veterinary and comparative nutrition with a background spanning clinical practice, public health, academic research, and the pet food industry. She holds a Doctor of Veterinary Science from the University of Guelph, where her research focused on feline obesity and the gut microbiome. Dr. Tal-Gavriel has published in peer-reviewed journals and serves on advisory boards supporting graduate student development. Her experience includes a global role at Royal Canin in nutritional product development and international regulatory- science advocacy. In 2024, she returned to clinical practice as a Veterinary Nutritionist at the Central Toronto Veterinary Referral Clinic and later founded VetWell Nutrition, offering expert services to veterinarians, pet owners, and pet food companies. She currently serves as Head of Veterinary Nutrition at Open Farm, where she leads evidence-based product innovation and supports nutritional excellence. Through her dual roles, Dr. Tal-Gavriel is dedicated to improving animal health and wellness with practical, science-based nutrition solutions.
Dr. Tal-Gavriel is a board-certified specialist in veterinary and comparative nutrition with a background spanning clinical practice, public health, academic research, and the pet food industry. She holds a Doctor of Veterinary Science from the University of Guelph, where her research focused on feline obesity and the gut microbiome. Dr. Tal-Gavriel has published in peer-reviewed journals and serves on advisory boards supporting graduate student development. Her experience includes a global role at Royal Canin in nutritional product development and international regulatory- science advocacy. In 2024, she returned to clinical practice as a Veterinary Nutritionist at the Central Toronto Veterinary Referral Clinic and later founded VetWell Nutrition, offering expert services to veterinarians, pet owners, and pet food companies. She currently serves as Head of Veterinary Nutrition at Open Farm, where she leads evidence-based product innovation and supports nutritional excellence. Through her dual roles, Dr. Tal-Gavriel is dedicated to improving animal health and wellness with practical, science-based nutrition solutions.
Sarah K. Abood
DVM, PhD
Dr. Sarah Abood earned both her undergraduate and veterinary degrees at Michigan State University (MSU), then completed an internship in large animal medicine and surgery at the University of Minnesota. She went on to pursue a nutrition residency and a PhD at The Ohio State University. Her career spans diverse roles, including five years in the pet food industry and 15 years as Assistant Dean of Student Programs at MSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Since 2009, she has run her own consulting company, and since 2017, she has been involved in designing pet food recipes for small start-ups. Currently. Dr. Abood is co-owner of PetDiets, LLC. and serves as Section Chief of the Ontario Veterinary College’s Clinical Nutrition Service. In this role, she teaches in all four years of the veterinary curriculum, conducts nutrition referrals, and mentors residents and graduate students. Dr. Abood is also proud to serve as the current President of the Canadian Academy of Veterinary Nutrition.
Jenna Manacki
DVM
Residency-Trained in Clinical Nutrition
Dr. Jenna Manacki completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Guelph, receiving a bachelor’s degree in zoology with a concentration in nutrition. She attended Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine and completed her clinical training at the University of Saskatchewan. After graduating, she spent four years in small animal private practice and then pursued a clinical nutrition residency at the University of Missouri, finishing in 2022. Dr. Manacki currently runs a clinical nutrition service at the Veterinary Emergency Service in Toronto.
Dr. Jenna Manacki completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Guelph, receiving a bachelor’s degree in zoology with a concentration in nutrition. She attended Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine and completed her clinical training at the University of Saskatchewan. After graduating, she spent four years in small animal private practice and then pursued a clinical nutrition residency at the University of Missouri, finishing in 2022. Dr. Manacki currently runs a clinical nutrition service at the Veterinary Emergency Service in Toronto.
Becky Hunt
RVT, VTS (Nutrition)
Becky graduated from the Veterinary Technician program at Seneca College in 2016. She began her career in a small animal general and surgical referral practice, where she developed a deep passion for preventative medicine and nutrition. This interest led her to pursue her Veterinary Technician Specialty in nutrition and become a member of the Academy of Veterinary Nutrition Technicians in 2023. Today, Becky is part of the Clinical Nutrition Service at the Ontario Veterinary College, as one of only two Registered Veterinary Technicians with a specialty in nutrition. She collaborates closely with pet parents on all things nutrition.
Younès Chorfi
DVM, MS, PhD
Dr. Chorfi obtained his veterinary degree in 1994 at the Agronomic and Veterinary Institute of Rabat, Morocco. He then completed a master’s degree in Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology in 1999 and a doctorate in Veterinary Biomedicine in 2005 at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Montreal, where he is a Full Professor of Nutrition, Food and Animal Production. Dr. Chorfi is the current Director of the Department of Veterinary Biomedicine at the Faculté de médecine vétérinaire of the University of Montreal. He has authored numerous publications and his research interests include biomarkers of exposure to mycotoxins in pets, the effect of mycotoxins on the health and performance of domestic animals, the immune system and susceptibility to infections, and improvement of animal health through nutrition and targeted feeding.