Animal Physiotherapist

Animal physiotherapists help to reduce pain, improve mobility and prevent the recurrence of injury in animals. Treatment can only be carried out with permission or referral from the veterinary surgeon treating an animal.

Horses and dogs are the most common types of animal referred for physiotherapy. Others include cats and some farm and zoo animals. Physiotherapy techniques include:

• soft tissue and joint mobilisation
• hydrotherapy and massage
• magnetic field therapy and ultrasound.

Chartered animal physiotherapists are also qualified in human physiotherapy. Many treat both animals and humans.

Animal physiotherapists may earn between £18,500 and £65,000 a year.

Animal physiotherapists must be flexible and work at times that meet the needs of animal owners. Many work part time. Full-time hours are usually around 35 to 40 hours a week.

Work is both indoors and outdoors. It is a physical job that needs strength and stamina. There is likely to be heavy lifting at times.

An animal physiotherapist should:

• be experienced in handling different types of animal
• be physically fit
• have good hand skills
• have a genuine interest in animals and their welfare
• have a strong commitment to provide the best possible animal care
• be interested in self-employment.

Many animal physiotherapists are self-employed. Others are employed by animal hospitals and clinics and in larger veterinary practices throughout the UK. It is a small profession but the number of animal physiotherapists is growing.

There are two routes open to those who want to train for animal physiotherapy. Some choose to train directly in animal physiotherapy, while others qualify as human physiotherapists first.

The National Association of Veterinary Physiotherapists (NAVP) and the College of Animal Physiotherapy offer part-time training courses open to those who train directly as animal physiotherapists. The courses last between one and three years.

Qualification in human physiotherapy requires a degree in physiotherapy. Those who then wish to become chartered animal physiotherapists must undertake a part-time course leading to an MSc or Postgraduate Diploma in veterinary physiotherapy offered by the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) in Hertfordshire or by the University of West of England in Gloucester.

Practising animal physiotherapists have to undertake continuing professional education (CPD) each year to maintain their membership of a professional body.

Progression for self-employed animal physiotherapists usually means building their business by establishing a good professional reputation and developing commercial skills. Promotion may be possible in larger veterinary practices and animal hospitals to senior or chief animal physiotherapist. Experienced physiotherapists may work as lecturers or consultants.

Further details