Important information before booking:

We ask that all attendees are trained/qualified Veterinary Physiotherapists of level 6 or above e.g. BSc, PGDip, MSc. This course is designed to enhance the knowledge of Veterinary Physiotherapist in specialist areas of practice, rather than teach physiotherapist expertise.

At the end of the course a CPD certificate will be provided, to evidence attendance for insurance companies. This course has been designed to exceed minimum requirements from major insurance companies.

Course information:
Specialist zoo and exotics physiotherapists, authors and CPD providers Shackleton Veterinary Physiotherapy (alongside a team of zoo industry specialists) are running an exciting new exotics treatment course for vet physios. Developed to meet and exceed CPD requirements for insurance regulations for exotics treatment, this course will provide vet physios with the knowledge and practical skills to treat exotic animals including rabbits, reptiles and commonly kept exotic mammals ethically and effectively.

In partnership with Askham Bryan Wildlife and Conservation Park, this course will be held at the brand-new, top-class facilities at Askham Bryan University Centre near York. Housing over 100 different species of animals in specialised habitat areas (including a tropical house, exotic mammal room, nocturnal room, farm park, and zoo enclosures), this facility is ideal for allowing attendees to experience working with a large variety of exotic species.

There will also be a further advanced two-day workshop, for those who have completed this course and want to develop their skills and knowledge further. Dates and more information to be announced soon.

The need for exotics treatment CPD

Physiotherapy is continuing to evolve and develop in the veterinary field and becoming an increasing part of animal treatment plans. There are a diverse range of animals that a therapist could encounter and having an insight to their history, anatomy, management, and behaviour is vital for vet physios to work ethically and effectively.

There is currently no formal routes or teaching for therapists, utilising our backgrounds as zoo consultants having worked with industry leading zoo collections worldwide and having treated a variety of species, (including great apes, megafauna, reptiles and many others), providing educational workshops for zookeepers and vets, and having written the first book chapter on the ethical treatment of exotic species. We want to enhance our industry and highlight the possible contraindications of normal treatment approaches for differing taxonomic groups, and equipment therapists with the confidence, skills and knowledge to navigate different species, management systems and environments, safely and ethically