Level 6 Diploma in Veterinary Physiotherapy with Small Animal Hydrotherapy Top Up for Veterinary Nurses Surgeons (RQF)

Level 6 Diploma in Veterinary Physiotherapy with Small Animal Hydrotherapy Top Up for Veterinary Nurses Surgeons (RQF)

This course at a glance

• Expand on your medical training and contribute to your professional development
• Gain an advanced, degree-level qualification
• Study advanced methods used by Veterinary Physiotherapists and Animal Hydrotherapists
• Benefit from 6 days of practical hydrotherapy training and 25 days of physiotherapy training at a choice of state-of-the-art centres
• Complete 800 hours of experience with animals at a veterinary practice
• Qualify as a recognised Veterinary Physiotherapist and Hydrotherapist

About your Course

The Level 6 Diploma in Veterinary Physiotherapy with small animal hydrotherapy (Top up for Veterinary nurses/Veterinary surgeons) is an advanced degree-level qualification designed specifically to suite veterinary professionals. This Ofqual regulated qualification will enable you to become a qualified Small Animal Physiotherapist and work with animal patients in and out of the water.

You will benefit from the higher-level hydrotherapy content which compliments the comprehensive physiotherapy content. During your study, you will explore topics such as:

• Advanced neuro physiotherapy
• Understanding pain
• Physiotherapy techniques
• Professional skill
• Exercise prescription
• Rehabilitation.

This qualification includes the following practical placements:

• 6 days of practical experience in hydrotherapy and aquatic treadmill training with Woozelbears – a well-established canine hydrotherapy company. You can select from the following locations: UK: Oxfordshire, Aberdeen, Chepstow, Newcastle. USA: Houston
• 25 days of intensive hands-on training and assessments with a team of experienced Physiotherapists at the state-of-the-art clinic at The Canine Fitness Centre in Hampshire
• 800 clinical practice hours. Please note, you will be responsible for arranging to complete these hours at the veterinary physiotherapy clinic of your choosing

Getting Started

learndirect is the UK’s leading online course provider. Our online courses and qualifications give you the flexibility to engage with your studies whenever suits you best.

The benefit of online learning means that you can plan your studies around your existing commitments. So, you’re able to progress with your learning in a way that works for you, without the stressful balancing act. With no classes to attend or a timetable to stick to, you’re in control of the pace and place of your learning.

What’s more, we have dedicated and experienced online tutors to support you throughout your qualification. As well as all the material being readily available as soon as you enrol so you’re able to start right away.

You will have access to the course for three and a half years after which, you can purchase extensions should you need to.

Modules

Units: Level 3 Diploma in Small Animal Hydrotherapy (Top up for Veterinary Surgeons and Veterinary Nurses)

Unit 1: Introduction to Hydrotherapy

• Understand what hydrotherapy is
• Understand the properties of water
• Know the equipment used in hydrotherapy
• Understand the intended outcomes of hydrotherapy
• Understand the health and safety requirements in a hydrotherapy centre
• Understand legislation about hydrotherapy

Unit 2: Gait Analysis and Biomechanics

• Understand the terminology used in hydrotherapy
• Understand gait patterns
• Evaluate normal and abnormal postures
• Understand the process of muscle contraction

Unit 3: Hydrotherapy and Related Conditions

• Understand the terminology used in hydrotherapy
• Understand gait patterns
• Evaluate normal and abnormal postures
• Understand the process of muscle contraction

Unit 4: Introduction to Small Animal Massage

• Understand the terminology used in hydrotherapy
• Understand gait patterns
• Evaluate normal and abnormal postures
• Understand the process of muscle contraction

Unit 5: Maintenance of Equipment and Water Balance

• Understand the terminology used in hydrotherapy
• Understand gait patterns
• Evaluate normal and abnormal postures
• Understand the process of muscle contraction

Unit 6: Practical Administration of Hydrotherapy

• Understand the terminology used in hydrotherapy
• Understand gait patterns
• Evaluate normal and abnormal postures<.li>
• Understand the process of muscle contraction

Unit 7: Practical Advanced Aquatic Treadmill Techniques

• Understand the terminology used in hydrotherapy
• Understand gait patterns
• Evaluate normal and abnormal postures
• Understand the process of muscle contraction

Unit 8: Practical Aquatic Treadmill Therapy

• Understand the terminology used in hydrotherapy
• Understand gait patterns
• Evaluate normal and abnormal postures
• Understand the process of muscle contraction

Unit 9: Professional Practice Management

• Understand the terminology used in hydrotherapy
• Understand gait patterns
• Evaluate normal and abnormal postures
• Understand the process of muscle contraction

Unit 10: Small Animal Assessment for Hydrotherapy

• Understand the terminology used in hydrotherapy
• Understand gait patterns
• Evaluate normal and abnormal postures
• Understand the process of muscle contraction

Unit 11: Small Animal Behaviour

• Understand the terminology used in hydrotherapy
• Understand gait patterns
• Evaluate normal and abnormal postures
• Understand the process of muscle contraction

Unit 12: Tissue Healing Process

• Understand the terminology used in hydrotherapy
• Understand gait patterns
• Evaluate normal and abnormal postures
• Understand the process of muscle contraction

Units: Level 6 Veterinary Physiotherapy with small animal hydrotherapy (Top up for Veterinary nurses/Veterinary surgeons)

Part One

Unit 1: Advanced Pool and Treadmill Techniques

• Discover small animal hydrotherapy using advanced pool and treadmill techniques

Unit 2: Business Management in Small Animal Hydrotherapy

• Develop knowledge on how to establish a hydrotherapy company
• Learn how to manage a hydrotherapy business
• Explore branding and marketing

Unit 3: Canine Nutrition

• Discover the role of nutrients for canines and how they support bodily functions
• Study the structure and function of the canine digestive system
• Learn about the benefits of canine nutritional and diet

Unit 4: Conditions and Surgical Procedures in Small Animals

• Explore orthopaedic and neurological conditions that may benefit from hydrotherapy treatment
• Investigate how to manage small animals with these conditions

Unit 5: Feline Behaviour, Nutrition and Handling

• Understand feline behaviour and handling in a hydrotherapy setting

Unit 6: Higher Anatomy and Physiology

• Explore in detail the muscles and joints and their role within the skeletal system
• Learn the anatomical terminology used in referrals

Unit 7: Introduction to Canine Laser Therapy

• Study canine laser therapy and the different types of class IV laser equipment
• Explore the different types of wavelengths and their importance in laser therapy

Unit 8: Introduction to Small Animal Physiotherapy

• Discover the structure and function of the canine musculoskeletal system
• Study common orthopaedic conditions that are suitable for physiotherapy and the equipment required

Unit 9: Land-Based Exercise for Small Animals

• Learn the importance of clinical reasoning of land-based manual exercise
• Understand the risk and contraindications of land-based therapy
• Study the reasons for integration and transfer of land to water-based therapy

Unit 10: Pool and Treadmill Operations and Water Management

• Develop the knowledge to maintain hydrotherapy pools and treadmills effectively
• Understanding the potential risk and hazards of inadequate maintenance

Unit 11: Practical Skills in Small Animal Hydrotherapy

• Study range of practical skills required in small animal hydrotherapy
• Design and evaluate programmes for hydrotherapy and treadmill treatment plans

Unit 12: Professional Practice in a Hydrotherapy Centre

• Learn the duty of care with running a hydrotherapy centre
• Study the implications of health and disease and record-keeping in a hydrotherapy centre

Unit 13: Small Animal Massage Therapy

• Explore small animal massage and its impact on the anatomical structures of small animals
• Examine the different types of small animal massage techniques
• Understand the benefits for conditions experienced by small animals

Unit 14: Stress and Small Animal Hydrotherapy

• Understand how to recognise and reduce stress during hydrotherapy
• Learn the safe handling techniques to use on small animals

PART TWO

Unit 1: Advanced Gait Assessment

• Study conducting gait analysis and recognising normal and abnormal gait patterns
• Learn how to attribute these findings to a patient problem using clinical reasoning
• Learn how to recognise abnormalities in gait which may form because of compensations

Unit 2: Advanced Massage Techniques

• Develop palpation skills and apply these skills to manual techniques
• Learn skills to assess a patient before application, evaluate the response and the passive range of motion
• Learn stretching techniques and joint mobilisations

Unit 3: Advanced Canine Nutrition

• Analyse the content of commercial and home-cooked diets
• Study the effects of obesity, weight reduction and how to assist owners
• Study the nutritional requirements of a hospitalised patient
• Learn how diet and health can affect the performance of the canine athlete

Unit 4: Analysis of Sporting Activities

• Learn the common sports that dogs participate in within the UK
• Discover canine conditioning and learn which injuries affect dogs participating in various sports
• Understand the principles behind rehabilitating sporting dogs

Unit 5: Application of Electrophysical Agents

• Learn how to clinically reason which patients would benefit from electrophysical agents
• Demonstrate the safe application of these therapies and know the contraindications and precautions

Unit 6: Business Management for Small Animal Rehabilitation Practitioners

• Develop business skills with web platforms and social media
• Learn the VAT and the VAT registration process
• Learn how to increase business profits and methods of expansion
• Develop a knowledge of how to cope when running a business in the face of adversity

Unit 7: Customer Service for Small Animal Rehabilitation Practitioners

• Develop excellent customer service skills during a physiotherapy service
• Learn how to develop the right environment for patients and owners
• Learn how to maintain professionalism and handling with complaints

Unit 8: Hydrotherapy and Physiotherapy Programmes for the Canine Athlete

• Learn how to assess a canine athlete, create treatment goals based and then clinically reason treatment techniques
• Evaluate an athlete canine's response to treatment, prepare them to return to function, and how to prevent re-injury

Unit 9: Injury and Tissue Repair

• Study the effects of damage to the musculoskeletal system
• Study tissue response to injury, inflammation, regeneration, and repair

Unit 10: Lifelong Learning Skills and Understanding

• Understand how lifelong learning can provide benefits to the animal rehabilitation industry
• Develop methods of adopting lifelong learning and how to better succeed in a career and improve animal welfare

Unit 11: Mechanical Locomotion and Kinesiology

• Study the principles of biomechanics and how this relates to the functions of the MSK
• Study the biomechanics of locomotion, described by kinetics and kinematics and application
• Learn kinesiology in methods of rehabilitation and conditioning

Unit 12: Multidisciplinary Teamworking

• Understand how a Multidisciplinary Teamwork (MDT) approach can benefit professionals and clients in vet and sport medicine
• Understand the different roles in veterinary care and sport medicine

Unit 13: Practical Application of Strength and Conditioning Exercises

• Understand the use and the benefits of strength and conditioning exercises
• Learn what level to start and develop an exercise program based on the patient’s response
• Understand the contraindications for strength and conditioning exercises

Unit 14: Principles of Electrophysical Agents

• Explore the physical principles behind electrical therapies
• Learn about thermal therapies, therapeutic ultrasound, electrical stimulation including NMES and TENS, pulsed magnetic field therapy and shockwave therapy

Unit 15: Principles of Strength Training and Cardiovascular Conditioning

• Study how the musculoskeletal system responds to strength and conditioning, at the cellular and a gross level
• Discover different types of strength and conditioning training can have different effects on body tissues
• Learn about the respiratory system, cardiovascular system, and haematological and biochemical systems

Unit 16: Rehabilitation of the Geriatric Patient

• Explore how the ageing process affects the cells, organs, and musculoskeletal system
• Investigate how diet and exercise can affect the ageing process
• Understand which neurological and orthopaedic conditions commonly affect the geriatric patient
• Learn how to assess, clinically reason treatment techniques for and how to adapt an exercise programme

Unit 17: Research Methodology

• Explore methodology based on research questions
• Understand what methods to use for different research questions and how to apply such methods in practice

Unit 18: Small Animal Welfare

• Learn how to assess the welfare needs of small animals particularly, dogs, cats, and rabbit
• Discover how to monitor the health needs and care of dogs, cats, and rabbits
• Understand the impact of stress and animal behaviour on animal welfare

Unit 19: Tissue Response to Exercise and Training

• Study the changes in specific tissues following a period of immobilisation following injury
• Understand how to remobilisation during rehabilitation
• Discover the effects on tissue of specific conditions and their rehabilitation
• Learn how to examine tissue response to both strength and endurance training

PART 3

Unit 1: Advanced Anatomy and Physiology

• Study the anatomical structures contained within the cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, and urinary systems
• Learn the impact of physiotherapy on the body

Unit 2: Advanced Canine and Feline Behaviour

• Study the behavioural implications which may arise because of pain
• Understand how a patient’s behaviour may change in response to fear
• Learn how to deal with aggressive canine and feline patients
• Discover how to use behavioural modification and training techniques to make the session a positive experience for the patient

Unit 3: Advanced Neuro Physiotherapy

• Gain a greater understanding of the anatomy of the central and peripheral nervous systems
• Study spinal reflexes and the information they give about a patient’s neurological function
• Learn how to perform a neurological exam on an animal patient

Unit 4: Clinical Practice

• 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

Unit 5: Clinical Reasoning

• Study the clinical reasoning in the rehabilitation setting and how clinical reasoning errors occur

Unit 6: Hydrotherapy and Physiotherapy Programmes for Rehabilitation of the Injured Patient

• Explore the common injuries to which patients are referred for rehabilitation
• Learn how to create treatment goals for patient rehabilitation
• Develop a hydrotherapy/ physiotherapy treatment plan for rehabilitation
• Learn how to evaluate the response to a treatment plan for rehabilitation

Unit 7: Pathology

• Discover the anatomical structure of the cell and the function of the components which make up the cell
• Understand the causes of cellular damage and how different types of injury affect the cell in different ways

Unit 8: Physiotherapy Exercise Prescription

• Learn how to ensure the home environment is suitable for the patient
• Learn how the stage of the healing affects the exercises prescribed
• Learn how to develop an exercise prescription for a specific patient

Unit 9: Physiotherapy Techniques

• Discover the physiotherapy techniques that can be used for rehabilitation
• Study the techniques and equipment that can be used to enhance patient strength, range, and balance

Unit 10: Principles and Practise of Rehabilitation

• Learn the principles and goals of rehabilitation
• Study how differences in morphology can impact the rehabilitation of small animal patients
• Explore the different rehabilitation settings in which therapies can take place

Unit 11: Professional Practice Including Communication and Conduct

• Learn how to promote good practice in the veterinary hydrotherapy and veterinary physiotherapy setting
• Study how to effectively use communication and codes of conduct relating to the industry

Unit 12: Professional Practice for Veterinary Physiotherapists

• Examine the ethics and legislation surrounding professional rehabilitation practice
• Learn about the professional membership for Physiotherapists

Unit 13: Professional Project

• Conduct a supervised project, and develop an understanding of how to formulate, conduct, analyse and present a project

Unit 14: Professional Skills for Veterinary Physiotherapists

• Learn how to implement competent, compassionate, and safe animal handling
• Study the health and safety precautions to deliver a safe service in physiotherapy
• Understand the professional behaviour requirements for a Veterinary Physiotherapist
• Learn how to keep professional records as a Physiotherapist and the importance of doing so

Unit 15: Rehabilitation of the Juvenile Patient 

• Study the development of the skeleton and the skeletal differences which may exist amongst juvenile patients,
• Study conditions young patients are referred for rehabilitation for and understand the ways to adapt to their needs

Unit 16: Small Animal Ethics and Legislation

• Explore the ethics relating to small animals with a focus on dogs, cats, and rabbits
• Explore different ethical viewpoints in small animal legislation

Unit 17: Treatment Case Study

• Construct a 2500–3000-word case study about a particular patient and their treatment session

Unit 18: Understanding Pain

• Understand the physiological mechanisms surrounding pain and the complexity of managing chronic pain
• Study how patient behaviour may be affected by pain
• Learn the pharmaceuticals commonly prescribed by veterinary surgeons to treat pain

Entry Requirements

Learners will need to show evidence of a Vet or Vet Nurse qualification before enrolling. If already a qualified Hydrotherapist, learners will also be able to omit the 12 hydrotherapy units within this course. Please also note, the minimum age for enrolment is 18.

Minimum Age restriction

18

Average completion timeframe

You have 3 years to complete your course.

Assessment 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

This course includes a 6 day hydrotherapy placement at our centre, as well as 25 days on a physiotherapy placement at our Canine Fitness centre, PLUS 800 hours of clinical experience with a Physiotherapist that learners will they need to find themselves.

If placement or practical required, when?

Learners can complete the practical training once payment thresholds are met and the relevant parts of the theory are complete. The placement is then booked on a 1:1 basis (bespoke to each learners’ abilities).

Additional requirements

Learners can become a member of the Register of Animal Musculoskeletal Practitioners (RAMP) following completion of this course.

Certification Timeframe

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

Course Fees

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 24 months.

When studying the Level 6 Diploma in Veterinary Physiotherapy with small animal hydrotherapy (Top up for Veterinary nurses/Veterinary surgeons) 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 tutor.

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.

AIM Qualifications Assessment Group

After completion of your qualification, you will be awarded the AIM Qualifications Assessment Group Level 6 Diploma in Veterinary Physiotherapy with small animal hydrotherapy (Top up for Veterinary nurses/Veterinary surgeons). This is the equivalent of a bachelor's degree with honours, graduate certificates, and graduate diplomas.

To achieve the Level 6 Diploma in Veterinary Physiotherapy with small animal hydrotherapy (Top up for Veterinary nurses/Veterinary surgeons), you must achieve a total of 502 credits across 63 units.

AIM Qualifications and Assessment Group is a leading Awarding (AO) and End-Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO) offering award-winning qualifications and nominated end-point assessment services.

AIM has over thirty years of experience in developing high-quality qualifications that meet the needs of employers and learners. They approve the colleges, training providers, and other education centres that deliver their qualifications and work closely with them to ensure high-quality delivery.

AIM is also regulated by the public regulator governing qualifications in England – Ofqual.

This qualification is designed for those who want to build on their current qualifications and qualify as a Veterinary Physiotherapist. This qualification will enable you to seek employment in a specialist role within a wider practice setting. Alternatively, this qualification will also ensure that you are equipped with the professional skills needed to work as a self-employed veterinary physiotherapist.

Following completion of this qualification, you will be eligible to join membership organisations such as the:

• Register of Animal Musculoskeletal Practitioners (RAMP)
• Canine Hydrotherapy Association (CHA)
• International Association of Animal Therapists (IAAT)