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Animal Therapy Schools and Careers Guide

How is animal therapy practiced?

There may not be any treatment available, with the exception of pain control, in cases of terminal cancer or arthritis in an elderly pet. Or, the traditional western techniques, such as surgery in a very old dog, may be too invasive. As anyone with a pet companion can attest, animals enjoy and respond to being touched. A few gentle strokes can quiet a barking dog or set a cat purring. This elementary application of massage therapy for people translates well for use on horses, dogs and cats.

Some treatments are taught in veterinary colleges. Others can be utilized by therapists already trained in these techniques for people. Possible modalities that can be used on animals include the following:

• Acupressure
• Acupuncture
• Animal Communication
• Aromatherapy
• Behavioral Therapy
• Chiropractic
• Dentistry
• Equine Therapy
• Farrier Science
• Flower Essence Therapy
• Gem Elixirs
• Holistic Veterinary Medicine
• Homeopathy
• Integrative Manual Therapy: Physical Therapy and Physio Therapy
• Massage Therapy
• Nutritional Therapy
• Radionics/Vibrational Therapy
• Reiki
• Shamanism
• Sound Healing and Harmonic Medicine
• Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Team and Touch

Where can I get training?

Arizona

Southwest Institute of Healing Arts - Tempe

Massachusetts

Bancroft School of Massage Therapy - Worcester

North Carolina

Center for Massage & Natural Health® - Asheville (Weaverville)

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