Introduction to Canine Rehabilitation is currently being offered in a hybrid format combining one Zoom online session, independent study, and a small, in-person 4-day session. Please read our Hybrid Course Notes below.
Watch our video overview to learn more about this course.
Faculty: Janet
Van Dyke, DVM, DACVSMR, CCRT, Cara Blake, DVM, DACVS-SA, CCRT, Kara L. Amstutz, DVM, CCRT, CVPP, CVA, Amber Kenney, MPT, MTC, CKTP, CCRT, Suzie Stoke, MSPT, CCRT
Prerequisites: This
course is open to veterinarians, physical
therapists and veterinary technicians/nurses. Veterinary students may take this course any time after their first year of veterinary school. Physical therapy students may register for this course, but can't start the course until after they graduate and are licensed. Veterinary
technicians/nurses must submit an Employment
Agreement Letter indicating that
there is a veterinarian or physical therapist
either certified in canine rehabilitation working
in their practice or registered
for Introduction to Canine Rehabilitation.
Registered students: All students will have 8-9 hours of video lectures to watch; veterinarians and physical therapists will have an additional 6 hours. We will send you instructions for accessing the pre-course work before the start of class. |
Course
Description: Introduction
to Canine Rehabilitation provides
students with a fundamental understanding of
canine anatomy, physiology and biomechanics.
Students build relevant structures on canine
skeletons using clay, and get hands-on experience
palpating live canines. Common orthopedic and
neurological disorders of the canine patient
are covered including both conservative and
surgical treatment options. Canine rehabilitation
modalities including traditional physical therapy
and integrative therapies are introduced, as
well as ways they can be incorporated into
a veterinary practice.
This course is
RACE approved by
the AAVSB.
Please note: Students who
do not attend a full day of class will not
receive any CE credit hours for that day and
may have to return to make up the missing hours. |
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Course Fee: $2,900 (for courses based in U.S.)
Hybrid Course Notes: Starting in January 2021, our Introduction to Canine Rehabilitation module will consist of one 2-hour Zoom meeting and more independent study, a change from the six Zoom meetings in the earlier curriculum. This will be followed by a 4-day in-person session.
Please Note: Many of our core certification courses (Introduction
to Canine Rehabilitation, Canine Rehabilitation Therapist, Clinical Skills (formerly Canine Rehabilitation Therapist), Clinical Applications, Canine Rehabilitation Veterinary Nursing, and Canine
Sports Medicine) sell out months in advance. We recommend that students register for all their core certification courses as soon as they know their schedules. Some courses must be taken in a specified order, but you do not need to complete Introduction
to Canine Rehabilitation to register for other courses. Please see our CCRT and CCRVN pages for more information.
Topics Covered Include:
- Comparative (human and canine) anatomy
and biomechanics
- Canine neuro/musculoskeletal structures
including bones, muscles, nerves, ligaments,
tendons and cartilage; also, the origin,
insertion, innervation, and action of each
- The fundamental physiology, kinesiology,
and biomechanics of joint, muscle and muscle
action as they relate to common canine injuries
- Traditional physical therapy terminology
and techniques including manual therapy,
therapeutic exercise and aquatic therapy;
also, physical modalities utilizing LASER,
ultrasound, thermal agents and electrotherapy
- Integrative therapies including acupuncture,
chiropractic, magnetic therapy and homeopathy
- Diagnosis, treatment planning, and outcome
measurement in canine rehabilitation
- Infectious diseases and zoonoses in canine
rehabilitation
- Neurological rehabilitation
- The business of canine rehabilitation
In-person classes are held each day from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm in Colorado and Florida. There is a 1-hour break for lunch. Registered students: Please watch for specific emails about each class as there may be occasional minor changes to class times.
At the end of the course, students
are given a take-home, open-book final exam
that they have 30 days to complete. Collaboration
with fellow classmates is encouraged.
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