Canine III & IV Lab Series (Petaluma, CA): September 25-28, 2024

Learning Objectives

1.  Palpate on live dogs the major muscles, boney landmarks, joints, ligaments, and other anatomica structures important for rehabilitation.
2.  Recognize differences in acute and chronic inflammation and the proper signs of each in clinical patients.
3.  Understand the basic regulatory issues involved with canine rehabilitation.
4.  Demonstrate proper understanding of the general guidelines when using physical agents as modalities.
5.  Apply superficial heat safely and competently as part of a laboratory experience.
6.  Apply cryotherapy safely and competently as part of a laboratory experience.
7.  Describe the typical parameters used in therapeutic ultrasound in small animal practice and demonstrate safe technique in preparing and applying ultrasound on dogs.
8.  Understand the basic principles of electrical stimulation including parameters, electrodes, motor stimulation, sensory stimulation, and edema reduction and demonstrate proper technique on dogs.
9.  Understand the basic principles of laser therapy in veterinary practice and demonstrate proper technique during treatment.
10.  Perform techniques of massage in small animal practice including its benefits, effects and general considerations.
11.  Demonstrate various exercise techniques on dogs in safe and proficient manner.
12.  Prescribe and provide therapeutic exercise programs for dogs to improve range of motion, strength, balance, endurance, and improved function.
13.  Understand the principles of proprioception and demonstrate useful proprioceptive exercises during canine rehabilitation.
14.  Proficiently demonstrate the use of various outcome measures used for the assessment of rehabilitation programs in dogs.
15.  Develop basic skills in understanding joint function and demonstrate proper technique with goniometry on dogs.
16.  Describe the use of aquatic therapy in rehabilitation and demonstrate proficiency in basic aquatic therapy with dogs.
17.  Demonstrate an understanding of how to safely progress a dog in a rehabilitation program.
18.  Develop a basic understanding of joint mobilizations along with normal and abnormal end feels in dogs.
19.  Understand the normal and abnormal characteristics of canine gait and be able to describe each joint relative to different parts of a gait cycle.
20.  Competently perform selected orthopedic/neurological evaluation/assessment techniques on live dogs with and without pathology.