Canine fitness and rehabilitation (and equine fitness/rehab) are now the new very cool must-dos for everyone participating with their pup in dog sports.

I think this is AMAZING. The more people who know about this amazing field the more pups will avoid injury and return to full function if they are injured.

It has, however, led to a lot of confusion about the level of training that practitioners have. Here in Australia there is no regulation protecting you or your animals from people with no training. It has resulted in people advertising that they are canine rehabilitation specialists after attending a course that has no veterinary input. Veterinary input is vital to ensure that the differences between humans and companion animals are understood. There are many canine diseases with the same name as human diseases, that have completely different underlying mechanisms.

I will not deny that this makes me a little scared. Sometimes I see dogs that have been treated by individuals with inadequate training and some of these dogs have had treatments that are contraindicated and some have had adverse outcomes. There are no ramifications for unqualified practitioners, unlike vets, physios, chiros and osteopaths who can all have their licence and ability to practice revoked if they are negligent. Hopefully one day there is a group that will register everyone that has an interest in canine sports and rehabilitation here in Australia so that there are minimum standards, and regulations to protect the innocent animals.

Human trained physiotherapists, chiropractors, osteopaths all have a place in canine care, they can offer treatments that the veterinary field have not even thought of. They bring a different mind-set and experience. But once again, they must have further training in the differences between humans and animals. Further they need extensive training in animal behaviour, low stress handling and animal body language to be able to offer a safe and effective treatment for your pet.

 

Here is my advice to help progress the industry, to help you get your pet the help they need:

1. Check the credentials of the practitioner before attending. Check the course that gave the person their credentials. If it is a course taught with no Veterinarian involved, then it is unlikely to truly cover the necessary aspects for working on animals with injury.

It may be necessary to see a Veterinarian for a referral in some states, in others you can go to the animal trained Physio, Chiro or Osteo- at times they will need to refer you back to your vet or a rehab vet for further examination. It is not appropriate to go to a massage therapist without first getting a diagnosis and a list of safe and unsafe activities and treatments. Your therapist can then tell you if it is appropriate for your pet to have a massage.

A massage therapist on the other hand is perfect during a comp to help flush waste products from your pets body and help them relax.

Canine Fitness therapists are best seen after an all clear has been given by a rehab professional. We cannot deny that dogs are amazing at getting the job done and masking injury.

2. Give feedback to your health care team. If your pet is uncomfortable during a consult, step in and stop the process. If they do something that makes your pet painful or deteriorate then let them know. Further if you find that they have made an incorrect diagnosis (technically only vets are allowed to make a diagnosis in Australia, and anyone else telling you that your dog has hip dysplasia or cruciate disease is breaking the law) you need to tell them. This helps them grow and improve their service.

3. Be prepared for a team approach. We all bring different skills, past experience and techniques to the table. A multidiscipline team will help keep your pet safe and ensure the best results.

4. Watch the Dr title. You can get a PhD in business and call yourself a Dr. This can be misleading in the medical world with non-veterinarians leaving out that their qualifications are not relevant.

 

Here is the list of credentials that I have found in the last 24hrs. I hope, with time, to link to the courses they represent to make it easier again to research what the qualification is but my brain is currently melted. Please let me know of any to add or if I have put one in the wrong category.

 

Practitioners with Veterinary qualifications-

Licensed with the Veterinary Practitioners Board in their state.

Would require further training in manual therapies and rehabilitation. Will be able to see animals as a first point of contact.

BVSc- Bachelor of Veterinary Science

DVM- Doctor of Veterinary Science

BSc BVMS- Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery

An additional qualification for Veterinarians who have extensive knowledge and training in this area (aka what I hope to embark on in the not to distant future):

DACVSMR- Diplomat of the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation

 

Practitioners with human qualifications-

Licensed with the practitioners board in their state/country.

Require further training to work on animals and potentially in other modalities ie rehabilitation. May be able to see animals without referral in some states/countries, in others will need Veterinary referral.

DPT- Doctor of Physical therapy

BScPT- Bachelor of Science in Physical therapy

BPhty- Bachelor of Physiotherapy

MPT- Masters in Physical Therapy

B. Chiro- Bachelor of Chiropractic

M. Chiro- Masters of Chiropractic

B.Sc. (Chiro)- Bachelor of science (Chiropractic)

D.C - Doctor of Chiropractic

B Osteo Sci- Bachelor of Osteopathic science

M.Osteo- Masters in Osteopathy

B.App.Sc. (Osteo) - Bachelor of Applied Science (Osteopathy)

B.Sc.(Clin.Sc) M.H.Sc. (Osteo) - Bachelor of Science (Clinical Science) Master of Health Science (Osteopathy)

 

Injured animals MUST be seen by professionals with the above qualifications. The qualifications listed bellow are in addition to the above qualifications. Don't be swept away by the number of courses someone has done- for your pets safety please use someone who is registered or licensed to practice and can be held accountable for their actions by their superiors and their peers. 

I am happy to discuss the courses that I am familiar with and recommend those that are amazing. I will not discuss courses that I am unfamiliar with so if you have a GREAT course let me know so I can become familiar and steer people your way- ok that was totally shameless of me to try and stickybeak at more courses that I would like to do!

 

Courses that have pre-requisites that require practitioners to be registered/licence to practice in one of the above areas of study.

CCRT- Certificate in Canine Rehabilitation Therapy

CAC- Certified in Animal (Veterinary) Chiropractic

CVA- Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

Grad Dip An Chiro- Graduate diploma in Animal Chiropractic

Grad Dip AMB- Graduate diploma in Animal Biomechanical Medicine

CVSMT- Veterinary Spinal Manipuative therapy

CVMRT- Certificate in Veterinary Massage and Rehabilitation Therapy

MScVPT- Masters of Veterinary Physiotherapy

CCRP- Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner **Veterinary nurses are also allowed to do this course and are not licenced here in Australia (They are in the US) so please look for additional qualifications when assessing this particular certification.

CERT- Certified Equine Rehab Therapist

 

General rehabilitation courses that have no degree level pre-requisites. 

Appropriate to go to with an animal who have been to see a professional if they have had an injury for assessment first.

Licensed professionals may take these courses but check for additional qualifications if you are going to them with an injured pet.

CCRA- Certificate Canine Rehabilitation Assistant

CERP-Certified Equine Rehabilitation Practioner

CERA- Certified  Equine Rehabilitation Assistant

 

Fitness courses that have no degree level pre-requisites.

Appropriate to go to with animals who have been cleared as healthy for performance improvement. Not appropriate for injured or recovering dogs.

CCFT- Certified Canine Ftiness trainer

CPCFT- Certified Professional Canine Fitness Trainer

Cert.CF- Certificate of Canine Fitness

 

Soft tissue massage courses that have no degree level pre-requesites. 

Appropriate to go to with an animal  who have been to see a professional if they have had an injury for assessment first.

CCBW- Caninology Canine Body Worker

CMT- Certificate in Canine Myofunctional Therapy

CCMT- Certified Canine Massage Therapist

MFR- Myofascial release

AMP- Animal Massage Practitioner

CMFT- Canine Myo-Manipulative Functional Therapy

ANMR- Animal Neuro-Myofascial release technique

EMFT- Equine Myo-Manipulative Functional Therapy

CEMT- Certification in Equine Massage Therapy 

EMT- Certificate in Equine Myofunctional Therapy

CEST- Certificate of Equine Sports Therapy

DETT- Diploma of Equine Tactile Therapy

 

 

General courses that have no degree level pre-requisites. 

These should not be stand alone qualifications and do not constitute rehabilitation courses. 

NCM- Nutrition Case management

CAPMC- Companion Animal Pain Management certificate

OCMC- Osteoarthritis Case management certificate

CEB (VGA)- Certificate of Equine Biomechanics (Video Gait Analysis) 

CEH- Certificate of Equine Handling

CER- Certificate of Equine Rehabilitation  In this section as there are no Vets involved in teaching this course so not equivalent to the course above.