Veterinary Physiotherapy with Hydrotherapy Level 6 Diploma + L3 Small Animal Hydrotherapy.

Learners must be at least 18 years of age to enrol. Learners must also be able to access veterinary physiotherapy clinics to complete 800 hours of clinical practice.

Minimum Age restriction

18

Average completion timeframe

You have 3.5 years to complete your course.

Assessement requirements

You will be assessed via a combination of video and photo submissions, case studies, your supervisor will also need to provide witness testimonies.

Placement or Practical required

Learners need to attend 25 days of practical training and assessment (at one of our centres), PLUS 5 days of hydrotherapy training and assessment, PLUS 800 hours of physiotherapy clinical practice that they need to arrange themselves.

If placement or practical required, when?

The provided placements are completed at a chosen hydrotherapy centre, PLUS our canine fitness centre. Placement dates can be chosen to suit the learner.

Additional requirements

There are no additional requirements.

Certification Timeframe

Learners can expect their certification within 6 months of completing the course, following the (EQA) External Quality Assurance of assessment.

All course fees, inclusive of all payment plans including our Premium Credit Limited option, must be settled before certification can be ordered.

*You will have access to the course for 36 months.

Unit 1: Introduction to Small Animal Hydrotherapy

• This unit provides background information about small animal hydrotherapy. Gain an understanding of the properties of water, types of equipment used in hydrotherapy and the intended outcomes of hydrotherapy.

Unit 2: Small Animal Anatomy and Physiology

• The unit introduces the subjects of anatomy and physiology – this is essential for successful hydrotherapy sessions and achieving the desired outcome.

Unit 3: Biomechanics and Gait

• This unit studies gait patterns and relevant terminology, as well as posture and muscle contractions relevant to hydrotherapy treatment.

Unit 4: Conditions Presented for Hydrotherapy

• This unit explores the conditions that are commonly presented for hydrotherapy. This includes medical, orthopaedic, and neurological conditions.

Unit 5: Understanding Small Animal Massage

• Explore the benefits of small animal massage and the techniques used in small animal massage. Learn about the various forms of massage and the benefits of massage on common injuries.

Unit 6: Water Maintenance, Balance and Testing

• Learn about water testing and how to interpret results from water tests.

Unit 7: Practical Skills in Small Animal Hydrotherapy

• This unit explores the practical application of hydrotherapy from the initial assessment to preparation of the patient, to hydrotherapy treatment and aftercare.

Unit 8: Practical Advanced Aquatic Treadmill Therapy

• Learn about the practical application of advanced aquatic treadmill techniques and how to adjust hydrotherapy treatment and review patient performance.

Unit 9: Practical Aquatic Treadmill Treatment

• This practical unit is all about the aquatic treadmill and how to create treadmill sessions for patients.

Unit 10: Administration in a Hydrotherapy Centre

• Learn about the importance of CPD, professional conduct within the workplace, roles and responsibilities within a hydrotherapy centre and administration carried out in an animal hydrotherapy centre.

Unit 11: Assessing Suitability of Animals for Hydrotherapy

• This unit studies the veterinary referral process. It also explores the subject of health checking small animals. Learn about the various professional team members that are involved in assessing patients suitability for hydrotherapy and the patients subsequent treatment.

Unit 12: Animal Behaviour

• Gain an understanding of small animal behaviour in relation to hydrotherapy. Learn about safe handling and how to understand body language in small animals.

Unit 13: First Aid for Small Animals

• This unit examines the aims of first aid, the different types of emergencies that the student may come across in a hydrotherapy centre, and the practical application of first aid techniques.

Unit 14: Tissue Healing

• This unit explores the tissue healing process, including factors that may affect this process, types of pain, and timing of hydrotherapy treatment.

Part One:

Unit 1: Application of Advanced Hydrotherapy and Treadmill Techniques

• This unit focuses on conducting hydrotherapy sessions using advanced pool and treadmill techniques. 

Unit 2: Hydrotherapy Business Management and Branding

• Learners will develop knowledge of how to establish a hydrotherapy company. They will explore the importance of branding and marketing and learn how to manage hydrotherapy business accounts.

Unit 3: Comprehensive Canine Nutrition

• This unit looks at the role of nutrients for canines and how they support bodily functions. Learners will study the structure and function of the canine digestive system and understand what nutritional benefits the canine diet provides.

Unit 4: Common Medical Conditions that Benefit from Hydrotherapy

• Learners will explore orthopaedic and neurological conditions that benefit from hydrotherapy treatment. Learners will investigate how to manage small animals with these conditions.

Unit 5: Feline Behaviour and Welfare in Hydrotherapy

• This unit examines feline behaviour and how to handle felines safely in a hydrotherapy setting.

Unit 6: Musculoskeletal System Anatomy and Terminology

• Learners will explore in detail the muscles and joints and their role within the skeletal system. Learners will become familiar with the anatomical terminology used in referrals.

Unit 7: Comprehensive Canine Laser Therapy

• This unit looks at canine laser therapy and the different types of class IV laser equipment. Learners will explore the different types of wavelengths and their importance in laser therapy. They will also learn about the various conditions in small animals that will benefit from laser therapy and understand the health and safety responsibilities of a Laser Therapist.

Unit 8: Canine Musculoskeletal System and Physiotherapy Practice

• This unit covers the structure and function of the canine musculoskeletal system. Learners will look at common orthopaedic conditions, the range of equipment required, and the professional duties of an Animal Physiotherapist.

Unit 9: Fundamentals of Land-Based Manual Therapy

• Learners will study the importance of clinical reasoning of land-based manual exercise. Learners will also investigate the risk and contraindications of land-based therapy. And will discover the reasons for integration and transfer of land-to-water based therapy.

Unit 10: Effective Maintenance and Water Management in Hydrotherapy Facilities

• Learners will develop the knowledge to maintain hydrotherapy pools and treadmills effectively. And will uncover the potential risk and hazards of inadequate maintenance of hydrotherapy pools. 

Unit 11: Practical Skills and Programme Design in Small Animal Hydrotherapy

• Learners will study a range of practical skills required in small animal hydrotherapy. Learners will have the opportunity to design and evaluate plans and programmes for hydrotherapy and treadmill treatment plans. 

Unit 12: Management and Duty of Care in Hydrotherapy Centres

• This unit looks at what kind of duty of care is required to run a hydrotherapy centre. Learners will study the implications health and disease have in a hydrotherapy centre and the importance of accurate record keeping.

Unit 13: Comprehensive Small Animal Massage

• This unit explores what small animal massage entails and the impact on the anatomical structures of small animals. Learners will have the opportunity to examine the different types of small animal massage techniques and understand the benefits of certain conditions experienced by small animals.

Unit 14: Canine Body Language and Stress Management in Small Animal Hydrotherapy

• In this unit, learners will understand how to reduce stress during a hydrotherapy session and understand the safe handling techniques for small animals.

Part Two:

Unit 15: Gait Analysis and Clinical Reasoning

• This unit looks at conducting gait analysis and how to look for normal and abnormal gait patterns. Learners will be able to attribute these findings to a patient problem using clinical reasoning. The learner will also discover how to identify abnormalities in gait

Unit 16: Palpation, Massage, Stretching, and Joint Mobilisation Techniques

• This unit allows learners to develop their palpation skills to manual techniques. Learners will discover how to use palpation skills to assess a patient before an application massage. Plus, the student will learn how to evaluate the response to massage techniques, including passive range of motion. Learners will also develop their knowledge of stretching techniques and joint mobility.

Unit 17: Canine Nutrition and Health Optimisation

• This unit analyses the composition and calorific content of commercial and home-cooked diets. Learners will study the effects of obesity, methods for weight reduction and how to assist owners with this. Learners will also look at the nutritional requirements of a hospital patient and how diet and health can affect the performance of the canine athlete.

Unit 18: Canine Sports and Conditioning

• This unit looks at common sports that dogs participate in within the UK. Learners will investigate the importance of conditioning and learn which injuries affect dogs participating in various sports. Learners will also look at the principles behind rehabilitating sporting dogs.

Unit 19: Clinical Reasoning and Safe Application of Electrophysical Agents

• This unit aims to help students clinically identify which type of patients would benefit from the following electrophysical agents. These agents include thermal, therapeutic ultrasound, electrical stimulation and pulsed magnetic therapies. Students will learn the safe application of each agent and the contraindications and precautions to take when considering the application.

Unit 20: Business Development and Resilience

• Learners will have the opportunity to develop their business skills by developing their knowledge about web platforms and social media. Learners will understand VAT and the VAT registration process for small businesses, discover how to increase profits and understand methods for expansion. Learners will develop a knowledge of how to cope when running a business in the face of adversity.

Unit 21: Customer Service Excellence in Physiotherapy

• Learners will be able to use the skills they have learned to deliver excellent customer service during the application of their physiotherapy service. Students will uncover how to create the right environment for the patient and owner. Learn how to use excellent communication and how to maintain professionalism during complaints.

Unit 22: Canine Athlete Assessment and Treatment Planning

• This unit allows students to assess a canine athlete and create treatment goals based on these findings. Students will be able to clinically reason treatment techniques to form a treatment plan based on these findings. The learner will evaluate the sporting dog’s response to treatment, prepare them to return to function, and know-how best to prevent re-injury in these patients.

Unit 23: Effects of Injury and Physiotherapy Intervention to Aid Tissue Repair

• This unit looks at the effects of damage to the musculoskeletal system caused by injury at a cellular, tissue and gross level. The learner will study the tissue response to injury by the process of inflammation, regeneration, and repair. Students will discover how physiotherapy techniques can be applied to specific conditions to facilitate recovery.

Unit 24: Lifelong Learning and Professional Growth in Animal Rehabilitation

• This unit explores the importance of lifelong learning, the positive impact on an individual and the animal rehabilitation industry.

Unit 25: Biomechanical Principles in Rehabilitation and Conditioning

• This unit looks at the principles of biomechanics and how this relates to the functions of the MSK. Learners will study the biomechanics of locomotion, described by kinetics and kinematics, and look at the application of kinesiology in methods of rehabilitation and conditioning.

Unit 26: Multidisciplinary Teamwork in Veterinary Care and Sport Medicine

• Learners will understand how a Multidisciplinary Teamwork (MDT) approach can benefit professionals and clients in veterinary care and sports medicine. Learners will develop an understanding of the MDT approach and how this approach has changed human health care and will develop an understanding of the different roles in veterinary care and sports medicine will also be developed.

Unit 27: Strength and Conditioning in Animal Rehabilitation

• This unit investigates the benefits of strength and conditioning exercises and their use. Learners will look at animal exercises used for strength and conditioning, the benefits, and the application. Learners will understand at what level to start an exercise program and know how to develop the patient based on their response. They will understand the contraindications for strength and conditioning and the precautions they need to be aware of when undertaking these exercises.

Unit 28: Physical Principles and Patient Benefits of Electrical Therapies in Rehabilitation

• This unit studies the physical principles behind, patients benefit of, and indications for the following electrical therapies: thermal therapies, therapeutic ultrasound, electrical stimulation including NMES and TENS, pulsed magnetic field therapy and shockwave therapy.

Unit 29: Musculoskeletal and Systemic Responses to Strength Training and Conditioning

• This unit looks at the musculoskeletal at the cellular and gross levels. Students will discover how different system responds to strength, conditioning and how this training can affect the tissues. Including the respiratory system, cardiovascular system, and haematological and biochemical systems.

Unit 30: The Aging Process and Geriatric Patient Care

• This unit explores how the ageing process affects the cells, organs, musculoskeletal system, and other body systems. Learners will investigate how diet and exercise can affect the ageing process. The learner will understand which neurological and orthopaedic conditions commonly affect a geriatric patient, and how to assess, clinically reason treatment techniques for and adapting an exercise programme to suit them.

Unit 31: Practical Application of Research Methodology

• Learners will explore choices of methodology based on research questions. Learners will also understand what methods are most suitable for different research questions for application in practice.

Unit 32: Assessing and Monitoring Welfare in Small Animals

• Learners will discover how to assess the welfare needs of small animals, and in particular, dogs, cats, and rabbits. Learners will be able to monitor the health needs and care for dogs, cats, and rabbits. Furthermore, learners will understand the impact of stress and animal behaviour on animal welfare.

Unit 33: Tissue Changes and Rehabilitation Effects

• Learners will study the changes in specific tissues following a period of immobilisation following injury. Then discover the appropriate remobilisation during rehabilitation. Students will look at the effects of specific conditions by examining tissue response to strength and endurance training.

Part Three:

Unit 34: Cellular Anatomy, Injury, and Responses

• This unit covers the anatomical structures contained within the cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, and urinary systems. Students will discover the impact of physiotherapy on the body functions and the physiology of each area.

Unit 35: Individualised Exercise Prescription in Rehabilitation

• Learners will study the behavioural implications due to pain and understand how a patient’s behaviour may change in response to fear. The unit also looks at how to deal with aggressive canine and feline patients and how to use behavioural modification and training techniques to make the session a positive experience for the animal patient.

Unit 36: Physiotherapy Techniques and Equipment

• In this unit, learners will gain a greater understanding of the anatomy of the central and peripheral nervous systems. This unit looks at spinal reflexes and the information they give about a patient’s neurological function. Learners will study how to perform a neurological exam on an animal patient.
• Learners will undertake a minimum of 800 clinical practice hours across the duration of their training. This training will be supervised and will allow learners to observe and apply aspects of learning and practical skills required for the veterinary physiotherapy profession.
• This unit looks at clinical reasoning in the rehabilitation setting and how clinical reasoning errors occur.

Unit 37: Principles of Rehabilitation in Canine and Feline Patients

• Learners will have the opportunity to explore the common injuries for which patients are referred for rehabilitation and learn how to create treatment goals for patient rehabilitation. This unit teaches students how to develop and evaluate a hydrotherapy and physiotherapy treatment plan.
• This unit covers the anatomical structure of the cell and the function of the components which make up the cell. Learners will examine the causes of cellular damage and how different types of injury affect the cell.

Unit 38: Professional Practice in Veterinary Hydrotherapy and Physiotherapy

• Learners will study how to ensure the home environment is suitable for the patient. The unit will look at how the stage of the healing effects the exercises prescribed and how to develop an exercise prescription for a specific patient.
• This unit focuses on the different physiotherapy techniques used in rehabilitation. Learners will look at various techniques used in a physiotherapy session, how to use the equipment and how to enhance a patient’s strength, range, and balance.
• This unit looks at the principles and goals of rehabilitation. Learners will study how differences in morphology can impact the rehabilitation efforts of small animal patients. Learners will also consider the different rehabilitation settings in which therapies can take place.
• Learners will understand the professional practice in veterinary physiotherapy and small animal hydrotherapy setting. Learners will study how to effectively use communication and codes of conduct relating to the industry.

Unit 39: Ethics and Legislation in Professional Physiotherapy Practice

• Learners will examine the ethics and legislation surrounding professional rehabilitation practice. The unit will also look at professional membership for Physiotherapists.

Unit 40: Research Project

• Through conducting a supervised project, learners will develop skills to formulate, analyse and present a project.

Unit 41: Competent and Compassionate Animal Care in Veterinary Physiotherapy

• This unit focuses on implementing competent, compassionate, and safe animal handling, including the type of health and safety precautions are required to deliver a safeguarded service. Learners will understand the professional behaviour requirements for a Veterinary Physiotherapist and how to keep professional records.

Unit 42: Developmental Considerations for the Juvenile Patient

• This unit covers the skeletons development and the differences amongst juvenile patients, considering the exercise considerations for immature animals. Learners will look at the common conditions found in juvenile patients and how to refer them for rehabilitation.

Unit 43: Legislation and Ethics in Small Animal Care

• Learners will explore ethics relating to small animals with a focus on dogs, cats, and rabbits. Learners will explore different ethical viewpoints of sentience and apply these topics to small animal legislation.

Unit 44: Advanced Case Study

• The learner will construct a 2500–3000-word case study about a particular patient and their treatment session.

Unit 45: Pain Management in Veterinary Physiotherapy

• Learners will have the opportunity to understand the physiological mechanisms surrounding pain and the complexity of managing chronic pain. Learners will also look at how patient behaviour may be affected by pain and the pharmaceuticals commonly prescribed by veterinary surgeons to treat pain.

When studying the Level 3 Diploma in Small Animal Hydrotherapy and Level 6 Diploma in Veterinary Physiotherapy with Hydrotherapy you will be asked to show your knowledge and provide evidence of your studies.

Assessment will take the form of a range of in-depth theory assessments for each unit. Students will be assessed on their portfolio of evidence which includes practical assessments taken throughout the qualification.

Your written online assessments will be marked by a subject specialist tutor, with vast experience of delivery and Veterinary Therapies.

Part 1: Small Animal Hydrotherapy
You will be required to submit a portfolio of evidence and 5 days of practical training and assessments.

Part 2:
You will be required to submit a portfolio of evidence and complete 25 days of practical demonstration at The Canine Fitness Centre.

Part 3: Level 6
You will be required to submit a portfolio of evidence and complete a practical assessment. Learners must also complete 800 clinical practice hours at a veterinary physiotherapy clinic.

When are you assessed?
As you’re in control of how you learn, you’re also in charge of when you hand in your assignments. 
This enables you to take as long as you need to thoroughly understand the unit before completing any assignments.