"This course (Introduction to Canine Rehabilitation) was amazing. Thank you for all of your knowledge and sharing. I loved the way you helped us apply the techniques we learned and the layering effects to review and help us remember. Really enjoyed having the hands-on time with all of the different dogs. This has truly been a life-changing experience for me. I canít wait to do the next courses!"
—Lisbeth Weinheimer, MSPT,
Northport, Alabama

“Excellent anatomy review. Much better taught than in vet school! The clay models, repetition, and testing were very effective. Well balanced between lectures and hands-on."
–Seth Bleakley, MVB, MRCVS, CCRT,
Fort Collins, Colorado
Introduction to Canine Rehabilitation
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Upcoming Dates

» September 5-9, 2020
Introduction to Canine Rehabilitation, Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital, Wheat Ridge, Colorado, $2,900. SOLD OUT. Please read our waiting list policy and contact us to be added to our waiting list. A deposit is required.

» Future Class
Introduction to Canine Rehabilitation, Florida or Colorado location, $2,900.

Watch our video overview to learn more about this course.

Faculty: Janet Van Dyke, DVM, DACVSMR, CCRT, Judy Coates, MSPT, MEd, CCRT, Kristin Kirkby Shaw, DVM, PhD, CCRT, DACVS, DACVSMR, Cara Blake, DVM, DACVS-SA, CCRT, Kara L. Amstutz, DVM, CCRT, CVPP, CVA

Prerequisites: This 5-day 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.

We are pleased to announce that we have further streamlined this course to include more online content. This course has 5 classroom days and 7-10 additional hours of pre-course work that must be completed before the first day of class.
Registered students: There are 10 hours of pre-course work required for veterinarians and physical therapists, and 7 hours for veterinary nurses/technicians. 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.)

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

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 DAY 5, students are given a take-home, open-book final exam that they have 30 days to complete. Collaboration with fellow classmates is encouraged.