You chose physical therapy over vet school, but you love animals all the same?
Just like their human counterparts, animals can develop functional limitations and mobility impairments as they age. Therefore, animals will also benefit from a skillfully developed plan of care for rehabilitation to address these issues. An animal rehabilitation therapist is just the person for the job.
Animal rehabilitation is a growing niche field - so much so that the APTA’s Orthopaedic Section has a Special Interest Group dedicated to it! The World Confederation of Physical Therapy also established a subgroup for PTs in Animal Practice in 2011. As the field expands, human physical therapists have more and more opportunities to become involved with animal rehabilitation.
How did animal rehabilitation start?
The veterinary community has long recognized the benefits of physical therapy for animals, but its clinical application and relevance here in the United States is still in its infancy. Among the earliest recorded pioneers of animal rehabilitation was Sir Charles Strong, a European neighbor who published a book on Equine Physiotherapy in the mid-1960’s. As equine sporting events grew in popularity, so did associated racehorse injuries. Thus, horses may have been one of the first 4-legged species to publicly benefit from physical therapy!
By the 1980’s, canine rehabilitation was well known in Europe and by the 1990’s, the U.S. started to take notice. The first canine rehabilitation certificate program was started soon after the American Veterinary Medical Association added “animal physical therapy” to its guidelines in 1996.
Much like human medicine, veterinary medicine is seeing a shift in practice to more preventative care versus curative and palliative care. This concept has played a fundamental role in shaping the development of animal rehabilitation, underpinning emerging practices and professional standards. In 2003, the Canine Rehabilitation Institute, established by veterinarian Dr. Janet Van Dyke, welcomed its first set of students with the vision and foresight to prepare professionals with tools and knowledge to treat our animal companions.
Similarly, the University of Tennessee established a slew of higher education programs for canine and equine rehabilitation. These programs are offered to veterinarians/vet technicians, as well as PTs/PTAs and OTs/OTAs.
As of today, our canine companions have most of the spotlight when it comes to animal rehabilitation. There are two places where you can become certified in canine rehabilitation: The Canine Rehabilitation Institute (CRI) and the University of Tennessee (UoT)
At CRI, you will be working towards the Canine Rehabilitation Therapist Certification (CCRT) and you must have your physical therapy license to qualify for enrollment. The CRI program is structured into professionally designed modules, each covering specific topics to ensure comprehensive training. At UoT, the Canine Rehabilitation Certificate Program (CCRP) is offered to both PTs, PTAs, and students of those disciplines, and is also organized into distinct modules for advanced and flexible learning.
UoT also has certification programs for equine rehabilitation, equine taping, canine fitness training, canine osteoarthritis case management, canine pain management, and nutrition case management. Both centers have been approved by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards Registry of Approved Continuing Education.
Both the CRI and UoT websites offer fairly comprehensive descriptions of the length and cost of their courses, but here’s a table for a quick comparison:
What education and training do you need to become an animal rehabilitation therapist?
If you’re passionate about helping animals regain their mobility and quality of life, becoming an animal rehabilitation therapist is a rewarding path that blends expertise in physical therapy, veterinary medicine, and animal behavior. Here’s how you can get started on this unique career journey:
- Begin with a degree in physical therapy:The foundation for a career in animal rehabilitation starts with a solid education in physical therapy. Most aspiring therapists earn a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree, though a master’s degree may also be accepted. This rigorous training equips you with a deep understanding of anatomy, biomechanics, and the principles of rehabilitation—skills that are essential whether you’re working with humans or animals.
- Build experience in human physical therapy:Many animal rehabilitation therapists first gain hands-on experience treating human patients. This background helps you develop clinical reasoning, patient care skills, and a strong grasp of physical therapy techniques, all of which translate well to animal patients.
- Pursue specialized training in animal rehabilitation:To transition into animal physical therapy, you’ll need to complete a comprehensive program focused on animal rehabilitation. Universities and organizations offer specialized courses and certifications, such as the Canine Rehabilitation Therapist Certification (CCRT) or Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist (CCRT) programs. These programs cover topics like canine rehabilitation, pain management, laser therapy, and animal physical assessment, preparing you to treat animals with a variety of conditions.
- Commit to continuing education:The field of veterinary rehabilitation is always evolving. To stay at the forefront, animal rehabilitation therapists regularly participate in continuing education courses. These courses keep you updated on the latest research, techniques, and technologies in animal rehab, from advanced pain management strategies to innovative laser therapy applications.
- Obtain certification to demonstrate your expertise:While certification isn’t always mandatory, becoming a certified canine rehabilitation therapist or earning similar credentials can set you apart. Certification programs, often approved by organizations like the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) or the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), validate your skills and commitment to high standards of care.
- Develop strong animal handling and behavior skills:Working with animals requires more than clinical knowledge—it demands patience, empathy, and a keen understanding of animal behavior. Gaining experience with dogs, horses, and other species will help you safely and effectively deliver rehabilitation, ensuring the best outcomes for your patients.
- Stay connected and informed:To provide the best care, it’s important to stay current with industry developments. Attend conferences, workshops, and online courses, and visit reputable websites like the University of Tennessee’s veterinary continuing education program for the latest resources and networking opportunities.
By following these steps, you’ll be well-prepared to enter the field of animal rehabilitation therapy. Not only will you gain the expertise needed to treat animals with chronic pain, injuries, or post-surgical needs, but you’ll also enjoy the satisfaction of making a real difference in the lives of pets and their families. Whether you’re working with dogs, horses, or other animals, your dedication to education, training, and certification will help you thrive in this growing and impactful profession.
What's it like being a canine PT?
Most animal rehabilitation therapists work alongside veterinarians and veterinary technicians in a clinic-based setting. To gain more knowledge about the life of an animal PT, I went straight to the source and interviewed Francisco Maia, PT, DPT, CCRT, also known as TheK9PT.
Francisco earned his certification in 2015 and has been working full-time since then as a Chicago-based canine therapist. He has created a fantastic website detailing the ins and outs of what it’s like to work with our canine friends on a daily basis.
Francisco also offered some practical insights for those interested in pursuing canine rehab:
- If possible, shadow someone who already works in the field to learn more about animal rehab before making such a large financial investment and time commitment. For example, a physical therapist might spend a week shadowing a certified canine rehab specialist to observe daily routines and gain hands-on experience before deciding to pursue certification.
- Experience with dog handling and behavior is a must to keep you safe. It will also teach you how to get the most out of your patients.
- Understanding animal behavior and handling is part of what makes a successful animal rehabilitation therapist. The rehab concepts are more or less the same as human physical therapy - you just need to learn how to integrate animal anatomy and physiology with your physical therapy knowledge.
- A successful animal rehabilitation therapist needs to know how to educate the family/owner about diagnosis, rehab programs, prognosis, and HEP.
- Look carefully at your physical therapy state act as it can vary a lot from state to state in terms of how you can practice.
Want to find out more? Check out The Ultimate Guide to Canine Rehabilitation by Francisco Maia!
To further connect with Francisco, you can visit his public pages:
Website: https://thek9pt.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theK9PT/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thek9pt/
Though I love canines, what about our other animal friends?
Well, that's the exciting part.
It can begin with YOU! Canine and equine physical therapy are just the beginning of animal rehab. Don't hesitate to further the conversation and build your own realm of expertise with a group of like-minded individuals!
For now, it seems that getting certified in canine rehabilitation is a good place to start. However, there are countless animal populations that would reap many benefits from rehab (have you seen the turtle on wheelies yet?). Plenty of therapists have further applied their canine rehab knowledge to treat our similarly aging and/or post-surgical feline friends. Additionally, animals like bunnies will have conditions like torticollis and splay leg. Other special-needs animals may have neurological impairments or may require limb amputations.
The opportunities within animal rehabilitation are endless. Go after your animal rehab passions and improve the lives of our earth-sharing companions!
Are you an animal rehabilitation therapist or are you interested in seeing the field develop? Comment below and share your story. We would love to hear from you.
References
APTA: Orthopaedic Section SIG Animal Rehabilitation
Canine Rehabilitation Institute: http://www.caninerehabinstitute.com/
Today's Veterinary Technician: http://todaysveterinarytechnician.com/articles/feline-physical-rehabilitation/
The University of Tennessee: http://www.utvetce.com/
World Confederation of Physical Therapy: PTs in Animal Practice
