Animal Physical Therapists

Since APTs have backgrounds in both physical therapy for humans and veterinary science, it’s a good idea to learn as much as possible about these areas by reading books and watching videos, conducting information interviews with and participating in job shadowing experiences with physical therapists and veterinarians, and engaging in other exploratory activities. You can then progress to engaging in these types of activities as they relate to animal physical therapy. Learn as much about animal behavior as possible. Owning and caring for a pet and/or working as an assistant at an animal shelter or for a veterinarian are excellent ways to build your knowledge. Participate in extracurricular activities such as 4-H (https://4-h.org) to learn about the care of animals. Finally, visit the Web sites of the following organizations for more information on animal physical therapy: Academy of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy, American Association of Rehabilitation Veterinarians, Canadian Physiotherapy Association, International Association for Physical Therapy in Animal Practice, and the  International Association of Veterinary Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy.