Animal Therapist Health Associate Professionals

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.

Recommended Books

1 book

Routledge Handbook of Animal Welfare

Andrew Knight, Clive Phi…

2022

Preview

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 …

Recommended Books

1 book

Environmental Enrichment

Arun Kumar Mishra, Rajes…

2021

Preview

Physical, behavioural and environmental signs of health and ill health in various animals.

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 …

Recommended Books

3 books

Routledge Handbook of Animal Welfare

Andrew Knight, Clive Phi…

2022

Preview

Animal Welfare Science

Tina Rich, Emily Patters…

2025

Bridging Research Disciplines to Advance Animal Welfare Science

Irene Camerlink

2021

Preview

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.

Recommended Books

1 book

Biosecurity for Livestock Diseases in Europe

Alistair Antonopoulos, J…

2025

Preview

The study of animal body parts, their structure and dynamic relationships, on a level as demanded by the specific occupation.

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.

The study of the mechanical, physical, bioelectrical and biochemical functioning of animals, their organs and their cells.

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 …

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, …

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 …

Handle unforeseen incidents concerning animals and circumstances which call for urgent action in an appropriate professional manner.

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Protect health and welfare of animals and their handlers.

Assess the animal's rehabilitation requirements in accordance with its current condition and according to referral from a veterinary surgeon, taking into account pre-existing health conditions e.g. diabetes, epilepsy and medication.

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 …

Ensure that animal therapy equipment is assembled and prepared for use, including personal protective equipment.

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, …

Recommended Books

1 book

Animal-assisted Interventions

Lori R. Kogan

2023

Preview

Animal nutrition, agronomy, rural economics, animal husbandry, hygiene and bio-security, ethology, protection and herd health management.

Spelling and meaning of commonly used terminology of veterinary terms.

Practise reasoning and apply simple or complex numerical concepts and calculations.

Observe and evaluate the behaviour of animals in order to work with them safely and recognise deviations from normal behaviour that signal compromised health and welfare.

Assess the nutrition status of animals, diagnose dietary imbalances and prescribe correction.

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.

Make simple calculations regarding the money that should be earned in relation to the number of hours worked.

Collaborate with veterinary and other animal related professionals through communication of animal details, case records and summary reports orally or via written or electronic transfer.

Respond to and communicate with customers in the most efficient and appropriate manner to enable them to access the desired products or services, or any other help they may require.

Direct, control or restrain some or part of an animal's, or a group of animals', movement.

Develop plans and strategies to deal with the animal in order to achieve established goals and optimal results.

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.

Make sure animal enclosures such as habitats, terrariums, cages or kennels are in the appropriate and hygienic condition. Clean the enclosure and provide new bedding material if called for.

Create and maintain clinical records for animals according to national regulatory requirements.

Make a choice from several alternative possibilities that promote the animal's well-being.

Plan, manage and evaluate the application of the five universally recognised animal welfare needs as appropriate to species, situation and own occupation.

Guide and support less knowledgeable or less experienced colleagues.

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.

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.

Make use of various types of communication channels such as verbal, handwritten, digital and telephonic communication with the purpose of constructing and sharing ideas or information.

Formulate treatment plans and provide hydrotherapy treatment.

Develop plans for long-term care for animals, including consideration of environmental factors. Advise animal owners on long-term care.

Gather information about the animal behaviour issues, interpret relevant information about the animal, assess the impact of external factors, and assess husbandry/management practices on the animal to develop a plan …

Implement training programmes for animals for basic training purposes or to meet specific objectives, following a developed training programme, and reviewing and recording progress against set objectives.

Design a massage treatment plan, provide advice and use appropriate massage techniques on animals.

Prescribe physical methods for therapy in animals, such as modification of exercise, massage, heat treatment, electrical and other wave based treatments.

Assist clients seeking veterinary treatment and during the provision of veterinary services. Aid clients with the care of their animals by demonstrating care techniques and use of veterinary products. Provide …

Ensure a safe and humane interaction with the animal avoiding factors that will negatively affect their behaviours. This includes the use of humane training aids/equipment, as well as explaining their …

Select animals for training using selection criteria including intended outcome of training, age, temperament, species and breed differences. Selection of animals for training includes basic training or training to meet …

Provide chiropractic treatment to animals, including designing a treatment plan and applying appropriate chiropractic techniques to animals.

Apply osteopathic techniques and advise on and formulate plans for osteopathic treatment of animals.

Adapt human physical therapy techniques to increase function and mobility of joints and muscles in animals. The goal of physical therapy for animals is to improve quality of life and …