“I just wanted to say thank you so much for the amazing education you guys provided."
–Kristin Kirkby, DVM,
Gainesville, Florida
Canine Sports Medicine
Upcoming Dates

» January 13–15, 2009
Canine Sports Medicine, Palm Beach County Convention Center, West Palm Beach, Florida, $995.


» Save $80 with a 2-Course Package!
Save $80 when you register for Canine Sports Medicine together with The Canine Rehabilitation Therapist or the Canine Rehabilitation Assistant. Go to the Online Registration page and select a 2-Course Package when you register.

Faculty: M. Christine Zink, DVM, PhD, DACVP

Prerequisites: This 3-day course is open to Veterinarians, Physical Therapists, Veterinary Technicians, Physical Therapist Assistants, and Occupational Therapists who have successfully completed Introduction to Canine Rehabilitation.* Veterinarians, and Veterinary Technicians who attend the course with their Veterinarians, do not need to complete the Introduction course before taking Canine Athletics.

Course Description: Canine Sports Medicine provides students with a fundamental understanding of structure and locomotion as they relate to performance, and an introduction to canine sporting events. Sports injuries in canine athletes are covered in depth including their causes, prevention and rehabilitation. The role that psychology can play in the rehabilitation of the canine athlete is also discussed. Participants get hands-on experience with dogs on site.

Course Fee: $995

Topics Covered Include:

  • Canine sporting events: the organizations that oversee them and the breeds that participate
  • Anatomical structures and locomotion as they relate to canine performance;
  • Gait assessment and retraining
  • Lameness evaluation
  • Canine sports injuries: causes, prevention and targeted rehabilitation
  • Conditioning for the canine athlete
  • Erogenic drugs (ethical and unethical)
  • Nutrition and supplements for the canine athlete
  • Canine sports psychology and how it can effect rehabilitation

Course Syllabus: View the course syllabus listing the subjects covered each day.

At the end of the third day, students are given an open-book, take-home final exam that they have 30 days to complete. Collaboration with fellow classmates is encouraged.

Veterinarians and Physical Therapists are required to submit a case report within six months of completing the three courses required for certification. Veterinary Technicians and Physical Therapy Assistants must complete a final project involving outcome measurement in the same time period. Examples will be provided.

* Occupational Therapists take final exams, but are not required to submit a case study or final project. They are not currently eligible to be certified by CRI in canine rehabilitation therapy, but receive certificates of attendance for all courses completed successfully.