*This Course is being offered by the Animal Rehabilitation Division of CPA

Course Description
The purpose of this course is to provide the participant with a fundamental understanding of functional anatomy and palpation, canine behaviour as it relates in a therapeutic setting, and the ability to perform a rudimentary musculoskeletal and neurological assessment of the dog. Participants will be guided to use their existing problem solving knowledge and understanding of basic physiotherapy principles and treatment techniques when confronted with canine-specific conditions and pathologies.

Learning Objectives

•  Describe clinically relevant anatomical differences between human and canine patients.
•  Identify key neuromusculoskeletal structures: bones, muscles, nerves, ligaments, tendons and cartilages.
•  Demonstrate the ability to palpate important musculoskeletal structures on live canine subjects.
•  Recognize normal and abnormal gait patterns within and between breed and canine body types.
•  Perform a rudimentary neuromusculoskeletal physical examination on a dog (inclusive of extremities and the axial skeleton)
•  Specific to common canine pathologies and conditions, identify treatment goals and physiotherapy techniques and/or tools to address the treatment goals
  

Course Outline:
Day 1: 9:00am – 5:00pm (registration starts at 8:30 am)

•  Welcome & Introductions
•  Handling Techniques & Concepts
•  Functional Anatomy Review
•  Anatomy Palpation
  

Day 2: 9:00am – 5:00pm

•  Gait Analysis
•  Assessment Skills
• Musculoskeletal Assessments
• Neurological Assessments
•  Review of Common Canine Conditions
•  Rehabilitation perspectives, Goal setting & Treatment selection for these common canine conditions
  

Day 3: 9:00am – 4:00 pm

•  Review of common canine conditions continued
•  Rehabilitation perspectives, Goal setting & Treatment selection for these common canine conditions
•  Practical application of physiotherapy treatment skills & Manual therapy
•  Introductory legalities, business perspectives, and the Dip-CR process