Animal osteopath

An Animal Osteopath is a specialized practitioner who applies osteopathic principles and techniques to animals. This role focuses on diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal problems in animals, aiming to improve their health, mobility, and overall well-being. Animal osteopaths work with a variety of animals, including horses, dogs, cats, and sometimes livestock, using manual manipulation and other therapeutic techniques to address issues such as joint pain, muscle tension, and injuries.

Animal osteopaths typically perform the following tasks:

• Assessment: Conduct thorough physical examinations to diagnose musculoskeletal conditions in animals.
• Treatment: Perform osteopathic treatments using techniques such as manipulation, massage, and stretching to alleviate pain and improve mobility.
• Consultation: Provide consultations to pet owners, veterinarians, and other animal care professionals regarding treatment plans and preventive care.
• Rehabilitation: Develop and oversee rehabilitation programs tailored to individual animals’ needs.
• Education: Educate pet owners and caretakers on proper animal handling, exercise routines, and techniques to maintain musculoskeletal health.
• Record-Keeping: Maintain detailed records of treatments, progress, and any changes in the animal’s condition.
• Collaboration: Work closely with veterinarians and other animal healthcare providers to ensure a comprehensive approach to animal care.
• Research: Stay updated with the latest advancements in osteopathy and veterinary medicine through continuous education and research.

The following job titles also refer to animal osteopath:

veterinary osteopathic therapist
veterinary osteopath
animal ostepathic therapist
animal osteopaths

Animal Osteopaths work in various settings, including veterinary clinics, animal hospitals, equine centers, and private practices. They may also travel to clients’ homes or stables to provide treatment. The job can be physically demanding, requiring lifting, bending, and handling animals of all sizes and temperaments. Animal Osteopaths need to be comfortable working in different environments and potentially under challenging conditions, such as dealing with large or uncooperative animals. The role demands patience, physical stamina, and a deep understanding of animal behavior.

To become an Animal Osteopath, the following educational background and experience are typically required:

1. Education: A degree in veterinary medicine or animal science is often required, followed by specialized training in osteopathy. Some professionals may also have a background in human osteopathy before transitioning to animal care.
2. Certification: Completion of a recognized program in animal osteopathy is essential. Certification from reputable organizations, such as the International Association of Animal Therapists (IAAT) or the Society of Osteopaths in Animal Practice (SOAP), is highly recommended.
3. Training: Hands-on training through internships or apprenticeships under experienced animal osteopaths is crucial for gaining practical skills.
4. Experience: Prior experience working with animals, such as in veterinary practices, animal shelters, or farms, is beneficial. Experience in handling different types of animals and understanding their behavior is important.
5. Skills: Strong manual dexterity, excellent observational skills, and the ability to diagnose and treat musculoskeletal issues are essential. Good communication skills are also important for explaining treatment plans and educating clients.

Continuous professional development and staying updated with the latest research and techniques in both osteopathy and veterinary medicine are vital for success in this field. Membership in professional organizations provides access to resources, networking opportunities, and ongoing education.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Animal osteopath is a Skill level 4 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to animal osteopath.

animal chiropractor
animal physiotherapist
official veterinarian
animal behaviourist
specialised veterinarian

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of animal osteopath.

• Biosecurity related to animals: Awareness of hygiene and bio-security measures when working with animals, including causes, transmission and prevention of diseases and use of policies, materials and equipment.
• Signs of animal illness: Physical, behavioural and environmental signs of health and ill health in various animals.
• Animal welfare legislation: The legal boundaries, codes of professional conduct, national and EU regulatory frameworks and legal procedures of working with animals and living organisms, ensuring their welfare and health.
• Animal welfare: Universally recognized animal welfare needs as applied to species, situation and occupation. These are:
  • need for a suitable environment
  • need for a suitable diet
  • need to be able to exhibit normal behaviour patterns
  • need to be housed with, or apart, from other animals
  • need to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease.
• Physiology of animals: The study of the mechanical, physical, bioelectrical and biochemical functioning of animals, their organs and their cells.
• Environmental enrichment for animals: Types, methods and use of enrichment for animals to allow the expression of natural behaviour, including the provision of environmental stimuli, feeding activities, puzzles, items for manipulation, social and training activities.
• Anatomy of animals: The study of animal body parts, their structure and dynamic relationships, on a level as demanded by the specific occupation.
• Animal behaviour: The natural behavioural patterns of animals, i.e. how normal and abnormal behaviour might be expressed according to species, environment, human-animal interaction and occupation.

These skills are necessary for the role of animal osteopath.

• Use osteopathic techniques to improve health of animals: Apply osteopathic techniques and advise on and formulate plans for osteopathic treatment of animals.
• Manage animal biosecurity: Plan and use appropriate biosafety measures to prevent transmission of diseases and ensure effective overall biosecurity. Maintain and follow biosecurity procedures and infection control when working with animals, including recognising potential health issues and taking appropriate action, communicating site hygiene control measures and biosecurity procedures, as well as reporting to others.
• Assess the animal’s rehabilitation requirements: Assess the animal’s rehabilitation requirements in accordance with its current condition and according to a referral from a veterinary surgeon, taking into account pre-existing health conditions e.g. diabetes, epilepsy and medication.
• Protect health and safety when handling animals: Protect the health and welfare of animals and their handlers.
• Prepare animal therapy equipment: Ensure that animal therapy equipment is assembled and prepared for use, including personal protective equipment.
• Manage animal welfare: Plan, manage and evaluate the application of the five universally recognised animal welfare needs as appropriate to species, situation and own occupation.
• Apply safe work practices in a veterinary setting: Apply safe work practices in a veterinary setting in order to identify hazards and associated risks so as to prevent accidents or incidents. This includes injury from animals, zoonotic diseases, chemicals, equipment and work environments.
• Plan physical rehabilitation of animals: Develop a plan for the handling of animals undergoing physical rehabilitation treatment, considering: age, species, breed, temperament, surroundings, prior experiences, owner’s influence, current health status, clinical history, prescribed drugs and their effects, reason for referral for rehabilitation treatment, external influences including interaction with humans and other animals, and welfare requirements. Formulate a rehabilitation treatment plan, following referral from a veterinary surgeon.
• Manage animal hygiene: Plan and use appropriate hygiene measures to prevent transmission of diseases and ensure an effective overall hygiene. Maintain and follow hygiene procedures and regulations when working with animals, communicate site hygiene controls and protocols to others. Manage the safe disposal of waste according to destination and local regulations.
• Manage personal professional development: Take responsibility for lifelong learning and continuous professional development. Engage in learning to support and update professional competence. Identify priority areas for professional development based on reflection about own practice and through contact with peers and stakeholders.
• Handle veterinary emergencies: Handle unforeseen incidents concerning animals and circumstances which call for urgent action in an appropriate professional manner.
• Monitor the welfare of animals: Monitor animals’ physical condition and behaviour and report any concerns or unexpected changes, including signs of health or ill-health, appearance, condition of the animals’ accommodation, intake of food and water and environmental conditions.
• Advise on animal welfare: Prepare and provide information to individuals or groups of people on how to promote the health and well-being of animals, and how risks to animal health and welfare may be reduced. Provide recommendations for corrective actions.
• Deal with challenging people: Work safely and communicate effectively with individuals and groups of people who are in challenging circumstances. This would include recognition of signs of aggression, distress, threatening and how to address them to promote personal safety and that of others.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of animal osteopath. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Veterinary terminology: Spelling and meaning of commonly used terminology of veterinary terms.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of animal osteopath. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Take advantage of learning opportunities in veterinary science: Use different channels and learning styles such as journals, courses, and conferences to obtain new information, knowledge, skills, and know-how in relation to working with animals.
• Treat animals ethically: Carry out activities according to accepted principles of right and wrong, including transparency in work practices and conduct towards clients and their animals.
• Understand the animal’s situation: Categorise and verify information about the environment and its impact on the animal. Analyse the situation, such as what the animal may want or need.
• Provide mentorship: Guide and support less knowledgeable or less experienced colleagues.
• Calculate rates per hours: Make simple calculations regarding the money that should be earned in relation to the number of hours worked.
• Assess animal’s condition: Inspect the animal for any external signs of parasites, disease or injury. Use this information to determine own actions and report your findings to owners.
• Apply numeracy skills: Practise reasoning and apply simple or complex numerical concepts and calculations.
• Make decisions regarding the animal’s welfare: Make a choice from several alternative possibilities that promote the animal’s well-being.
• Interview animal owners on animals’ conditions: Ask questions appropriate to the setting and purpose, with the aim to elicit accurate information on the animal’s health condition, in order to facilitate a correct diagnosis.
• Develop an animal handling strategy: Develop plans and strategies for handling the animal in order to achieve established goals and optimal results.

2269 – Health professionals not elsewhere classified 

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 References

1. Animal osteopath – ESCO
2. Featured image: By Animatum – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0