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An Introduction to Canine Manual Therapies

Courses
Duration:

4 Months

Price:

$890.00 USD

Enrolments for our next course intake will open soon. Please email enrolment@civtedu.org with your expression of interest.

About the Course

Manual therapy is a general term that is used for all hands-on treatment approaches used on dogs. Manual therapy is just one set of skills that can be used by physical rehabilitation practitioners, trainers, and pet parents. The manual techniques taught in this course are introductory, and if applied with awareness and care, are unlikely to cause harm. These therapies include gentle massage, myofascial release, and acupressure. Physiotherapeutic joint mobilisations, osteopathic and chiropractic manipulations are advanced procedures that require veterinary knowledge and training to be applied safely and effectively.

The intention of this course is to equip those that work with dogs with skills that enhance the health and well-being of their canine companions. Manual therapy is effective in treating numerous musculoskeletal conditions especially those that result in pain and mobility dysfunction. These indications may include osteoarthritis, prevention of injury, and neurological disorders (to name a few). The focus is on careful applications that can enhance professional treatments. This course is designed to empower pet parents and to enable them to improve the quality of life of their beloved companions. This information will enhance the services provided by groomers and trainers. Veterinary professionals will also benefit from training in these skills. Manual therapy provides a much-needed nurturing component to the in-hospital patients.

This practical four month course is delivered fully online, with two live tutorials and a forum for asking questions. 

Assessments

All modules are to be completed. Satisfactory completion of the course requires a minimum 70% pass in all quizzes (you can take them more than once) and the submission of five assignments.

Study Outcomes

After completing the course, attendees should:

  • Have a more in depth understanding of canine anatomy particularly as is applies to manual therapy and movement (muscles and joints).
  • Better understand the structure of a dog and how this is linked to movement and function.
  • Be able to identify the signs of stress in a dog.
  • Understand how dogs may express pain.
  • Be able to apply this knowledge in a practical setting, to enable assessment of the dog/patient.
  • Know the components of connective tissue and the function of fascia.
  • Understand the basic principles of massage, myofascial release, and acupressure.
  • Be able to discuss the benefits of manual therapy.
  • Gain the ability to perform basic massage, myofascial release, and acupressure on dogs with the aim of relieving stress, enhancing relaxation, facilitating healing and movement, and improving the quality of life of the dogs in their care.
  • Understand that these skills do not remove the need for veterinary diagnostics and treatments. Canine manual therapy is adjunctive.
  • Be able to document their findings and discuss the dog’s progress with the guardian and other veterinary professionals.

 

Dr Tanya Grantham

Meet the Tutors and Lecturers

Dr Tanya Grantham
BSc (Hons) BVSc (Univ. of Pta,,S. Africa) CCRP (Univ of Tennessee, USA) CCBW (USA) CVA (Chi Institute, USA) Canine Sports Medicine CRI (USA)
Dr. Tanya Grantham qualified as a veterinarian in 1994. She is now the owner of Animal Health and Hydro, a facility dedicated to physical rehabilitation and pain management in dogs and cats. Aside from a burning desire to enhance the quality...
6 Webinars and 3 Courses

Frequently Asked Questions

Want to know more about the questions that our students asked?
Is online study right for me?

The College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies offers courses that are both challenging and rewarding. You can learn at your own pace under the tutelage of experts in their field. Online or distance learning is not for everyone. Think carefully before you enroll. To succeed in online learning and distance education you will need:

  • A commitment to study and enquiry
  • To be capable of self directed learning with our guidance and support through your course
  • Motivation to pursue your course of study
  • Access to the internet and a printer
  • A good internet service that provides a good speed for downloads
  • An enthusiasm for engaging with your tutors and peers
  • The ability to work on your own or collaborate in a team
  • The capability of an independent level of written and spoken English
  • An appointment by phone may be requested prior to course commencement- we don't want you to start if we think we can't provide the right experience for you
  • If you are not sure contact us, we can help you gain a  full understanding of our courses before applying.

What you won't need is to pay airfares, travel, hotel bills by participating in green education!

All our courses are available to enrol at any time.  Our courses are part time, self paced within the course timeframe, and fully online.  Sometimes there is a scheduled start date for a course, in which we accept a group intake of enrolments. This encourages a cohort of students to move through the course together, making for a more interactive learning experience.

Although some courses have live sessions available, there are no live sessions that you are required to attend for any of our courses.  Our courses are delivered online and are self paced within the course timeframe, to give you the greatest flexibility with your study. You can study anywhere, anytime that suits you. We have great learning tools such as lectures, comprehensive course notes, videos, online resources, discussion forum and continuous support from our highly qualified and experienced tutors to help you can get the most out of your course.

Please refer to our enrolment terms and conditions when seeking extra time in a course, https://civtedu.org/enrolment-terms-and-conditions 

If you take a "leave of absence/deferral" from a course this freezes your progress in the course.  You will have no access to the course during this time.  A request for a leave of absence/deferral can be made for up to 3 months, initially.  Longer periods of time away from the course can be reviewed after this time.  If you want to use any course resources whilst you are taking your leave of absence/deferral you will need to download the material (such as documents, course notes, reading material) beforehand.  There is no fee to take a leave of absence/deferral, however your regular payment instalments for the course will continue.

If you request an "extension" for a course, you may be given extra time in a course and still have full access to the course.  An extension can be granted for up to, or equal to, the maximal period of study for that course.  There is a fee involved in applying for an extension, this varies according to the amount of extra time requested and is found on the link provided.

 

This depends on the type of course you enrol in.

Our introductory or short courses require approximately 3-5 hours per week.  Our Certifications and Graduate Diplomas require approximately 5-10 hours per week.  This will vary amongst individuals, depending on the pace in which they learn.  More time may be needed each week, depending on how long an individual needs to spend on completing assignments. 

If you are a registered Veterinarian, you are eligible to enrol in any of our courses, https://civtedu.org/courses 

If you are a Veterinary Technician or Veterinary Nurse or Animal Health Professional you may be able to apply to enrol in selected courses for Veterinarians, however you will need to go through an eligibility process first. Otherwise, you can apply for our courses for Animal Health Professionals, https://civtedu.org/courses/animal-health-professionals 

If you are a Pet Owner, you can apply for our courses designed for Pet Owners, https://civtedu.org/courses/pet-owners 

 

Earn your own CIVT certificate of completion

The College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies offers courses that are both challenging and rewarding. You can learn at your own pace under the tutelage of experts in their field. What you won’t need is to pay airfares, travel, hotel bills by participating in green education!

Your certificate will be issued in your legal name and sent to you upon successful completion of the program, as per the stipulated requirements.

Enrolments for our next course intake will open soon. Please email enrolment@civtedu.org with your expression of interest.