About Emily

Instructor Bio:

I am a qualified Animal Physiotherapist & Registered Veterinary Nurse. I have been working with animals since I was 16 where I started as a kennel assistant at a rescue kennels. I then trained in my local practice to become an RVN. I have worked at different practices including the RSPCA Birmingham animal hospital where I gained a lot of experience and even worked on the ITV show Give a pet a home! I shortly went back to private practice and Became a Deputy head nurse where I found my passion for rehabilitation by using class IV laser therapy. Whilst working in this practice I researched the different types of Lasers and set up clinics for primarily Geriatric patients. I became very passionate about rehabilitation and in particular the difference Laser therapy was making to many of my clients and with my own working cocker spaniels. I then decided to pursue a Diploma in Animal Physiotherapy with the college of Animal Physiotherapists. I started to work for Companion Animal health as a product specialist in primarily Laser therapy but also other rehabilitation products and regenerative medicine. I still work for Companion as I have a real passion for teaching practitioner’s how to use Laser successfully but I also bought my own Laser and set up Worcestershire Animal Therapy where I offer a mobile Physiotherapy and Laser service. I also Do some work for Bromsgrove Canine Hydro and Physio where I enjoy seeing many different cases. From time to time I also still Locum in emergency Vet clinics and I teach Animal First Aid. In my spare time I’m also a member of the IAAT Committee to help push the Musculoskeletal industry and I’m fully registered as a RAMP member. I also have a certificate in Feline Medicine and would like to educate further in rehabilitation for feline’s.

Emily Ashdown

RVN, DIP Vet Phys, ISFMCERT, MIAAT, MRAMP, MBN.

About the Course

Practical Physiotherapy for Small Animal Practice

This CPD accredited course will provide an introduction and working model to small animal physiotherapy in vet practice, suitable for both nurses and vets who are looking to learn techniques to support your patients healing and rehabilitation.


This course will discuss the key skills and different types of physiotherapy which can be applied in veterinary practice, including standard techniques such as effleurage and petrissage and a more advanced therapeutic range of exercise programs including the use of machines such as PEMF, Ultrasound and Laser to enhance and support your patients recovery, whilst improving proprioception and balance post injury and surgery.

You will learn effective techniques such as gait analysis and assessment of the patient and be able to further advise clients in taking a more proactive approach to their pets’ recovery at home.

We will also look at what an RVN can legally do in practice to support patients, including setting up and running a successful Osteoarthritis clinic and developing nursing plans for post operative patients which focus on optimizing patient healing from a more holistic view point. 

You will look at the different pathways that you can take if you wish to take your learning further and qualify as an animal physiotherapist. 

So whether you are interested in providing additional supportive nursing for your patients or you would like to have a basic introduction and look at qualifying as an animal physiotherapist, this course will provide a fantastic insight using practical examples throughout and taught by an experienced RVN and fully qualified and registered animal physiotherapist. 

Course curriculum

  • 01

    Introduction to Emily and the Course

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  • 02

    Downloadable content

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    • Physio Workbook and Downloadable Content
  • 03

    Module 1: What is Animal Physiotherapy?

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    • Module 1 Introduction video

      FREE PREVIEW

    • Module Introduction

    • Aims & Objectives.

    • Unit 1: What is Animal Physiotherapy?

    • Unit 2: Legal Protection for Animal Physiotherapists.

    • Unit 3: Registers for Musculoskeletal Practitioners.

    • Unit 4: The Future of Animal Physiotherapy.

    • Unit 5: What are we Trying to Achieve?

    • Unit 6: Types of Physiotherapy.

    • Module 1 Quiz.

    • Have we met our Objectives?

    • Module 1 end video
  • 04

    Module 2: What does an Animal Physiotherapist do?

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    • Module 2 Introduction video

      FREE PREVIEW

    • Introduction to Module 2

    • Unit 1: Anatomy slides

    • Unit 2: Patient Assessment including Gait Analysis, Stretching, Proprioception & Balance

    • Unit 3: Basic Massage, Improving Proprioception, Balance and a range of Therapeutic Exercise Programmes

    • Unit 4: Machines used in Animal Physiotherapy – Ultrasound, PEMF,LASER and more Including Hydrotherapy

    • Unit 5: Practical Demonstration. Slide 21 followed by video

    • Gait Analysis Video

    • Stretching and improving proprioception etc

    • Stretching and improving proprioception video 2

    • Range of motion

    • Massage techniques

    • End of Module 2

    • Module 2 Quiz.

    • Module 2 end video
  • 05

    Exercise Programmes

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    • Wobble cushion

    • Cavaletti Poles

    • Sit to stand exercises

    • Weight shift exercise
  • 06

    Module 3: What can a RVN do in Practice? How to Qualify as an Animal Physiotherapist?

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  • 07

    End Of Course, Thank you for Attending.

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    • Animal Physio video end video

Aims and Objectives

Practical Physiotherapy for Small Animal Practice Online Accredited CPD Course

Module 1: What is Physiotherapy and Professional legalities

Key learning Aims and Objectives
•To provide a critical overview of Animal Physiotherapy
•Top explain how the industry started and where it is now.
•To understand the legal protection of an Animal Physiotherapist.
•To learn and identify the registers for Musculoskeletal Practitioners
•To identify the different types of Physiotherapy- Rehabilitation, Sports and Maintenance.

Module 2: What does a Physiotherapist do?

Key Learning Aims and Objectives
•To allow delegates to evaluate the Anatomy and Assessment of the patient.
•To provide delegates with a range of skills to Analyse a patients Gait.
•To learn Physiotherapy techniques for Stretching, Improving Proprioception and balance.
•To learn Basic Massage Techniques and the use of Effleurage and Petrissage.
•To understand a more advanced therapeutic range of exercise programs including the use of machines such as PEMF, Ultrasound and Laser to enhance and support the patient’s recovery.

Module 2: How can an RVN apply Physiotherapy in practice and how to qualify as an Animal Physiotherapist

Key Learning Aims and Objectives
•To allow delegates to evaluate and prepare post-operative care and developing a treatment plan for these patients.
•Guidance on implementing a successful Osteoarthritis Clinic.
•To identify when to involve qualified Physiotherapists within treatment plans.
•Advice on further education to qualify as a Physiotherapist and relevant Associations.

Social proof: reviews

Rachel Evers

“I really liked this course as it explained lots of the avenues to go down and contained good information. ”

“I really liked this course as it explained lots of the avenues to go down and contained good information. ”

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Karen Holding

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed completing this course and learned a lot from it. It’s certainly made my mind up that I want to follow a path in animal Physiotherapy. Thank you for a very informative and enjoyable course.”

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed completing this course and learned a lot from it. It’s certainly made my mind up that I want to follow a path in animal Physiotherapy. Thank you for a very informative and enjoyable course.”

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Pricing options

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