Introduction

Spinal pain is a common presenting complaint in canine patients. There are over 40 different diseases that affect the spine in dogs, a number of which cause similar symptoms. Accurate diagnosis can, therefore, be challenging. This course will explore some of the more common spinal conditions that you may encounter in small animal practice, discussing epidemiology, pathophysiology and diagnosis. Management strategies for each of these conditions will also be discussed.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this course you will be able to:

• describe the functional anatomy of the canine spine
• describe the epidemiology of common orthopaedic conditions of the canine spine
• discuss the pathophysiology of common orthopaedic conditions of the canine spine
• summarise the surgical and conservative treatment options for orthopaedic disorders of the canine spine
• design an appropriate intervention for a canine patient with spinal dysfunction based on a case scenario

Target audience

This course is aimed at Physiotherapy and Physical Therapy clinicians, students and assistants. Other interested professionals such as athletic trainers, occupational therapists, nurses or medical doctors interested in this subject are also invited to participate.

Practicalities

• Availability - this course is online and can be completed on your own schedule.
• Hours of Learning - No deadlines are applied to this course and it can be started and completed in your own time according to your personal schedule. We expect the required elements to take around 3-3.5 hours depending on your schedule and learning style. Additionally there are many optional resources provided and if you choose to review these the course could take longer to complete.
• Types of Activities - This course includes instructional and/or practical videos, reading activities, AI supported learning activities, reflection, evaluation forms, a quiz and additional resources.
• Certificates - At the end of the course, when you have completed all of the required elements, you will be able to download a certificate of completion and 2.9 Plus points will be added to your personalised learning dashboard.

Instructor financial and non-financial disclosures

Ansi van der Walt: No relevant relationships disclosed by instructor.

Accessibility and Non-Discrimination Policy

Physiopedia Plus is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible learning environment for all participants. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, national origin, religion, sex, disability, military status, sexual orientation or age in any aspect of our continuing education services. We are dedicated to ensuring that all learners can fully participate in our programmes. Participants who require accommodations or have special needs are encouraged to contact us with details so that we can make all reasonable efforts to meet these requirements.