Animal physiotherapists help animals that have undergone medical and surgical treatment to recover through a process of rehabilitation. 

Animal physiotherapists provide specialist treatments for animals that help in reducing pain, increasing the range of movement in limbs and joints and lessening the impact or effects of certain injuries, aiding in their recovery or improving their quality of life.

As an animal physiotherapist you'll cover the treatment of domestic pets, farm animals and exotic pets, though horses, dogs and cats are the most common. Typical procedures include:

• assessment

• massage

• ultrasound

• electrotherapy

• exercise

• owner education and advice.

Taken from prospects / NCS 2024

You may specialise in one area of animal physiotherapy, such as:

• hydrotherapy

• small animal physiotherapy

• large animal physiotherapy

• horse and rider.

Most animal physiotherapists are self-employed and decide for themselves whether they want to work across the full spectrum or specialise. Your professional qualification will prepare you equally for work with small or large animals, but you may have to undertake further courses in order to perform specialised procedures.

Taken from Prospects 2024

You can get into this job through:

• a university course

• an apprenticeship

• specialist courses run by private training organisations

University route 

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.

The most common routes into the profession are:

• completing an undergraduate degree in human physiotherapy, followed by postgraduate training in animal/veterinary physiotherapy

• completing an undergraduate degree in veterinary nursing, followed by postgraduate training in animal/veterinary physiotherapy

• completing an undergraduate degree in veterinary physiotherapy, currently offered by Harper Adams University and Moreton Morrell College, part of Warwickshire College.

The postgraduate training offered is typically either at MSc or PGDip level.

Apprenticeship route 

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.

Taken from prospects / NCS 2024 

Work experience is essential, not only for securing your first job, but also often for being accepted onto the relevant study programmes. When checking the programme make sure you know if they require you to have prior work experience and how much they're looking for.

For more information on gaining work placement check out our work placement hub :

Opportunities for in-house animal physiotherapists appear rarely, so many animal physiotherapists choose to be self-employed. If you are thinking about starting your own business, consider taking up a business course to learn about the administrative, legislative and accounting aspects of running a business.

Professional body membership is also essential if you are looking for an in-house opportunity, as these will often be advertised through their websites and newsletters.

Forming and maintaining positive links with your local veterinary surgeries is essential, as animals need be referred by a veterinary surgeon. Veterinary practices are also more likely to pay for your services directly to support their in-patients, if they have a good relationship with you.

Opportunities don't often arise on national job sites, but they usually will on the industry-specific ones:

• Vetclick

• Vet Times Jobs

• VetRecord Careers