Companion Animal Physical Rehabilitation

Post-Secondary Programs
Credential Earned: Graduate Certificate
Campus: Haileybury
Program Length: 2 Semesters

Program Codes
H151 (HL) – Haileybury Campus

Please note: This program is a graduate certificate and is available to graduates of a Veterinary Technician two-year diploma program. If applying directly from high school, please choose our Veterinary Technician program, program H058. Once you graduate from a Veterinary Technician program, you will qualify to apply for our Companion Animal Physical Rehabilitation program.

As they age, our pets have the same needs we do. And whether they’re recovering from an injury, surgery or simply need to lose weight, rehabilitation is key.

This is an ever-growing branch of the animal health industry. And, once you’ve completed our two year Veterinary Technology training, Northern’s Companion Animal Physical Rehabilitation program will give you the critical skills you need to dive in.

With its strong focus on specialized patient care, this one-year graduate certificate will prepare you to help dogs and cats live life to the fullest – with minimal pain and discomfort.

It will also give you a critical advantage in the workplace. After all, your sought-after skill-set will expand the range of services offered within a veterinary practice. And that will make a significant impact on a lot of lives, including those of well-loved pets

Physical rehabilitation is becoming part of everyday veterinary medicine. It is emerging as an important complementary form of care that is a valuable professional asset for veterinary technicians who have undertaken this additional qualification. They provide this specialized care within the context of a veterinarian-client-patient relationship, helping to extend the range of services offered within a veterinary practice.

Contact Information

For questions about being admitted into the program, please contact Northern College Admissions at admissions@northern.on.ca or by phone at 705-235-3211 ext. 7222.

For questions about the content of the program, contact the Program Coordinator.

Kellie Broderick
Program Assistant, School of Veterinary Sciences
Tel: 705-672-3376 ext. 8854
Email: vetsciences@northern.on.ca

Student Success & The Northern Experience

Help animal recover more quickly and fully from injury.

Our one-year Companion Animal Physical Rehabilitation graduate certificate program for veterniary technicians will give you the critical skills you need to work in specialized patient care. This program addresses the patient needs and demonstrates the pivotal role technicians play in improving the quality of life for pets.

Does this program sound like a good fit for you?

Connect with us to learn more.

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Course Information

Course descriptions can be found below.

Please note, course information is based on our current offering and is subject to change. Current students can find more information on courses in their student account.

If you have questions or require program information for previous academic years, please contact the Program Coordinator.

Semester 1

This course covers legalities, goals, benefits and applications to common orthopaedic and neurological conditions.

The pathophysiology of pain is covered in depth in this course. Pain sensation, transduction, transmission and perception are discussed, together with ways by which pain pathways can be interrupted. The complementary role of analgesics in contributing to successful companion animal rehabilitation is explored. Students learn about the benefits and risks of specific analgesics that a veterinarian may prescribe to companion animals.

This course reviews the various modalities available for canine physical rehabilitation. These include techniques such as stretching, strengthening and proprioception exercises, application of heat and cold packs, analgesics and massage. These techniques will be applied in a laboratory setting to selected cases.

Focusing on canine anatomy, directional terminology, anatomic planes, bones, muscles, joints, ligaments and tendons, this course will be, an in-depth study requiring students to name and explain the function of the components of the skeletal system, including joints, ligaments and tendons, muscle origins and insertions, muscle function and muscle innervation and blood supply. Lectures will be accompanied by a laboratory component requiring the anatomically correct construction of a Canican model using plasticine to construct muscles, ligaments and tendons. The models will be accurately labeled for all the major skeletal and muscle structures.

This course covers the theory of companion animal massage. Upon the completion of this course, the student will have an understanding of the concepts of massage. The pathophysiology of common neurologic and orthopedic conditions is covered. Conditions that accompany ageing in canines are covered in detail. Common therapies that may be used in the rehabilitation of each condition will be discussed and students will design physical rehabilitation protocols and treatment schedules based on individual case details. Students will develop the ability to formulate treatment objectives and plans for specific conditions. The students will be expected to apply their knowledge and skills developed in previous companion animal anatomy and physiology, communication and behaviour courses.

The student would learn how to conduct a neurological and orthopaedic examination on dogs in order to assess gait, posture and movement. Topics would include assessing range of motion and assigning a lameness score. Review of the importance of palpation in order to detect swellings and lumps will be emphasized. Videos or live demonstrations will be used to demonstrate normal and abnormal canine gaits.

The student is introduced to the concepts and use of electric stimulation (E-stim), low level laser and ultrasound as applied to canine physiotherapy.

The Kennel Duty courses at Northern College are a vital part of preparing students to provide excellent animal care. You will acquire these competencies through practice while developing responsibility and confidence to work safely, knowledgeably and as part of a professional animal care team in our simulated veterinary clinic environment. During your kennel duty shifts, you will care for the colony animals housed at Northern College, following guidance in our Standard Operating Procedures.

Semester 2

In this course students will apply skills learned in previous courses to companion animal patients with orthopedic and neurological dysfunction. Assessments, design and implementation of rehabilitation protocols will be carried out in a collaborative environment.

Focusing on muscle, cartilage, bone, the nervous system and lymphatics. This is an in-depth course requiring students to name origins and insertions of individual muscles and their function. Lectures would be accompanied by a laboratory component requiring identification of individual muscle groups on live animals, as well as dissection of fresh or preserved animal bodies.

The students will use theory that has been taught in Companion Animal Massage RE1022 to apply to their case studies. Massage techniques, friction techniques and using cryo/thermotherapy will be delivered to their patients. Students will be taught different massage routines and how and when to apply them to their patient. This course is hands on, and incorporates the importance of communicating with their patient, but also working in a group setting.

The pathophysiology of common neurologic and orthopedic conditions is covered. Conditions that accompany ageing in canines are covered in detail. Common therapies that may be used in the rehabilitation of each condition will be discussed and students will design physical rehabilitation protocols and treatment schedules based on individual case details.

This course will introduce students to the fundamental approach to starting and managing a small business in Canada. An examination of what is necessary to start a small business will encompass strategic areas such as goal setting, organizational set-up, financial planning, accounting, marketing, human resources and legal issues.

This general education course will provide students with an introduction to Canadian Indigenous Nations’ history, sovereignty, land titles, cultural history and current critical issues. Topics addressed include the content of Indigenous rights, economic and social development, community and political processes, and business law and policies, justice & social services. Canadian Indigenous History and Relations is a general education course that has been incorporated into all programs at Northern College.

42 Hours

The student learns to apply the principles of aquatic therapy in its various delivery methods to develop protocols for individual cases based on patient assessment.

The Kennel Duty courses at Northern College are a vital part of preparing students to provide excellent animal care. You will acquire these competencies through practice while developing responsibility and confidence to work safely, knowledgeably and as part of a professional animal care team in our simulated veterinary clinic environment. During your kennel duty shifts, you will care for the colony animals housed at Northern College, following guidance in our Standard Operating Procedures.

Graduate & Career Information

Accreditation

Our Veterinary Technician program is accredited by:

     

Career Opportunities

Graduates may find employment in veterinary clinics, private rehabilitation facilities and pet daycares with conditioning/fitness programs as well as a variety of other opportunities.

Admissions Information & Requirements

Program Specific Requirements

Companion Animal Physical Rehabilitation Requirements [PDF, 305 KB]

 

Admission Requirements

  • Graduate of a Veterinary Technician program.
  • Proof of rabies vaccination, showing a current protective titre.
  • Some experience in a veterinary clinic or hospital is considered an asset.

Tuition, Fees & Payments

Tuition and fees are updated yearly for the upcoming Academic Year by May 1.

Current amount may be based on last years amounts and are subject to change. Ancillary fees vary by campus and program.

If the tuition and fee information for international students does not appear on this page, visit northerncollege.ca/international/tuition to see amounts for general programs.

Please refer to your Student Account for the most up-to-date information.

Student Year Campus Program Code Tuition Ancillary Fees Total Fees
StudentDomesticYear1CampusHaileybury - HLProgram CodeH151Tuition$3,481.87 Ancillary Fees$1,130.50 Total$4,612.37
StudentInternationalYear1CampusHaileybury - HLProgram CodeH151Tuition$14,382.00 Ancillary Fees$1,653.58 Total$16,035.58
Tuition & Payment Information

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haileybury campus veterinary sciences building exterior

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