Veterinary physiotherapist
Veterinary physiotherapists work with injured animals, or animals with movement problems, to help reduce pain and improve their health.
Also known as: Animal physiotherapist
- Starter salary£24,000 a year
- Experienced£38,000 a year
- Typical hours38 to 42 a week
What you'll do
As an animal physiotherapist, you could:
- learn about an animal's medical history from its owner, keeper or vet
- work with animals in recovery after operations or accidents
- plan exercise programmes
- use manual and electrotherapy methods to reduce pain and help movement
- write reports on an animal's rehabilitation progress
- use massage and hydrotherapy techniques
Working environment
You could work at a veterinary practice, in a therapy clinic, on a farm, at a wildlife park or at a zoo.
Your working environment may be physically demanding.
You may need to wear a uniform.
Skills and knowledge you'll need
You'll need:
- sensitivity and understanding
- to enjoy working with other people
- customer service skills
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- analytical thinking skills
- to be flexible and open to change
- excellent verbal communication skills
- knowledge of animal musculoskeletal conditions
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
How to become a veterinary physiotherapist
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- an apprenticeship
- specialist courses run by private training organisations
University
You'll usually need to study one of the following qualifications:
- a degree in veterinary physiotherapy
- a degree in human physiotherapy, approved by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
If you have completed a degree in human physiotherapy, or animal science, you could apply for a place on a postgraduate master's course in animal physiotherapy.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
- 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including biology for a degree
- a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study
Apprenticeship
You could start your career by doing a Physiotherapist Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship. You could then go on to complete a postgraduate award in veterinary physiotherapy.
This apprenticeship can take around 4 years to complete.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, preferably including biology, for a degree apprenticeship
Other routes
You could train in animal massage or animal hydrotherapy, if you do not have a degree but want to work in a related area.
You can get more details about training from the:
- Equine Sports Massage Association
- National Association of Registered Canine Hydrotherapists
- Canine Massage Therapy Centre
Career path and progression
With experience, you could become a senior physiotherapist, or a specialist physiotherapist for animal breathing conditions or problems affecting the nervous system.
You could also set up your own animal physiotherapy practice or move into research.
Professional and industry bodies
You can join the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Animal Therapy for professional development and training opportunities.
Guides for this industry
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