Course Work
Candidates will be required to take both the introductory and advanced canine rehabilitation courses. The prerequisite for both courses is a license to practice physical therapy in their province (or equivalent). The Independent Learning Course: ‘Introduction to the Canine Patient’ has been created as and additional prerequisite and pre-reading material for the Introduction to Canine Rehab Course.
The Animal Rehabilitation Association of Canada courses courses are designed to augment PT knowledge and constitute 100 hours of course work (plus 100 hours of self-directed study). A description of the courses is found below:
Examination
Upon completion of the course work above candidates will be eligible to take the examination pertaining to those courses. The take-home exam is based on the Introductory course and the Advanced course. A passing grade of 85% must be achieved.
Case Study
All candidates must submit a case study (an example will be provided) that follows a case through from referral to discharge. It will be two parts, the first based on the veterinary information provided and/or surgical report and referral and the second will be the rehabilitation portion. Cases will be graded on sound rationale for treatment choices, use of outcome measures, timely communications with the referring veterinarian and professional appearance of the report.
Veterinary Clinic / Rehab Practice Observation
All candidates will be required to complete 40 hours (5 days) of veterinary clinical experience. This is intended to give the candidate an appreciation for the veterinary side of animal healthcare and provide an opportunity to gain animal experience and see many different conditions and diagnostic procedures. Candidates will provide the Animal Rehabilitation Association of Canada with information on which veterinarian/veterinary clinic they will be completing this experience with and the Association will provide the appropriate forms for the veterinary clinic to fill in and sign off on. Past experience will be accepted, but must be verified and signed off on.
Animal Husbandry and Handling Skills
Perhaps most important to successful entry into canine rehabilitation for the physical therapist is the possession of good animal husbandry and handling skills. This category requires the candidate to be ‘checked off’ on a list of skills. Persons qualified to witness and check off the candidate are veterinarians, veterinary technicians, dog trainers or practicing canine rehabilitation practitioners (PTs) with 4 or more years of animal experience. The persons checking off the skills must be someone other than the candidate him/herself! The dogs used to test the candidate must be other than the candidates own animal(s). Each skill must be signed and dated and the candidate must provide a contact phone number or e-mail for the Animal Rehabilitation Association of Canada to be able to verify authenticity if needed. The Association will provide the necessary forms to be checked-off.
The following skills will need to be demonstrated and witnessed:
- Demonstrate knowledge of and ability to give ‘sit’ and ‘down’ commands
- Demonstrate the ability to lead 5 dogs who are not one’s own (not all at the same time!)
- Identify the presence of a hind limb lameness or gait abnormality
- Identify the presence of a forelimb lameness or gait abnormality
- Body condition score 5 different animals based on the Purina body scoring system
- Demonstrate an ability to lie a dog on its side (5 different animals)
- Demonstrate an ability to restrain and calm an overactive dog
- Demonstrate an ability to muzzle a dog
- Demonstrate an ability to perform full range of motion of the forelimbs and hind limbs in both lying and standing positions.
- Evaluate dental health, nail length and overall grooming in 5 different animals
Safety Issues
All candidates must provide a short written assignment that answers the following questions. Please use references to justify your answers. A combination of literature and/or personal communications is acceptable. (Answers are worth 3 marks per question)
What are common signs of aggression and warning signals displayed by dogs?
How would you deal with an aggressive dog?
What are some common triggers for aggressive behaviour?
How would you handle a dog in excessive pain?
What are some calming signals used by dogs when stressed?
To help complete this assignment or for future reference, the Animal Rehabilitation Association of Canada recommends the following resources:
Aloff, Brenda. (2005) Canine Body Language A Photographic Guide. Dogwise publishing (www.dogwise.com), ISBN 1-929242-35-2
Beaver, Bonnie. (1999) Canine Behaviour: A Guide for Veterinarians. W.B. Saunders Co. (www.elsevier.com), ISBN 0-7216-5965-9
Fogle, Bruce. (1990) The Dog’s Mind Understanding Your Dog’s Behaviour. Howell Book House, New York or Maxwell Macmillan, Canada, Toronto.
Rugas, Turid. (2000) (Video) Calming Signals: What Your Dog Tells You, or (Book) On Talking Terms With Dogs. (www.hanaleipets.com or www.dogwise.com)
Expectations and Assumptions
The process to complete the requirements for the Diploma in Canine Rehabilitation is estimated to take 200 hours inclusive. Completion of the necessary course work, veterinary observation experience, written examination, case-study treatment and writeup, animal husbandry and handling requirements, and behavioral short answer questions must be completed within 3 years from the time of taking the Introduction to Canine Rehabilitation Therapy course. A fee of $400 + GST/HST must be submitted along with all of the required documents.
