|
World-wide, chiropractic for animals is already a strongly established form of chiropractic and is growing rapidly. Many animal owners have found dramatic proof of the efficacy of this healing art which helps the body restore itself to proper health without the use of drugs or surgery. In the UK, the main animals that are presented for treatment are horses, dogs and cats.
Animals may require treatment after a trauma, following injuries sustained during athletic competitions, through playing together or through conformation of the animal. More here.
The Faculty’s objectives are to:
-
improve the quality, the art and the skill of chiropractic by setting high standards and helping to maintain them;
-
raise the status and enhance the prestige of chiropractic amongst other health professionals, the public and patients;
-
promote Postgraduate Education among its members.
A prime role of the Faculty is to provide a single focus for chiropractors who need information about specialist training courses in animal chiropractic.
Chiropractic treatment of animals - education of practitioners
No part of UK chiropractic undergraduate education deals with animals and, under the UK Chiropractors Act 1994, the regulation of chiropractic, by definition, is restricted to humans as animals are not mentioned. However, some registered chiropractors perform chiropractic adjustments on animals.
From a legal perspective, treating animals using chiropractic techniques is governed by the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966. The chiropractor is working as a ‘paraprofessional’ and has to obtain the permission of the animal’s Veterinary Surgeon before treatment commences.
Although the General Chiropractic Council (GCC) does not govern the work undertaken on animals, they oversee the behaviour of chiropractors. Thus, any complaint raised against a chiropractor for their work on animals would be directed to the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), but the GCC could still hear a complaint against a chiropractor for unprofessional conduct regardless of the result of any RCVS hearing. This would cover treating an animal without due regard for the Veterinary Surgeons Act or without Professional Indemnity Insurance for treating animals.
The College of Chiropractors recognises those chiropractors who have particular clinical experience and qualifications in this field via its Animal Faculty. In common with the College’s other clinical faculties, Membership and Fellowship of the Animal Faculty requires achievement of relevant M-level qualifications, or M-level credit-equivalents: Faculty Membership requires a PGDip (120 M-level credits) and Fellowship requires an MSc (180 M-level credits).
M-level study
Master of Chiropractic Science (Animal Chiropractic)
This programme, previously offered by RMIT, Australia, is no longer available to new/commencing students.
MSc in Animal Manipulation / MSc in Animal Manipulation (Small Animals)
These MSc programmes offered by the McTimoney College of Chiropractic are currently the only externally validated courses that train students in animal manipulation. The courses are designed either for students who already have training in a hands-on therapy, for those with a BSc degree in Equine or Animal Science or for those who are a member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. The courses are taught over two years and lead to the award of an MSc Animal Manipulation or MSc Animal Manipulation (Small Animals) from the University of Wales.
Other post-qualification study in animal manipulation
The international academy of veterinary chiropractic (IAVC), based in Germany, offers a basic course (~210 hours) and an advanced course (~140 hours) in animal chiropractic. The basic course can be undertaken in English in Loughborough. The College of Chiropractors offers no judgement on the quality of these courses but it should be noted that they are not validated at M-level and so their completion does not provide direct access to the College of Chiropractors Animal Faculty.
In the USA, there is a modular course open to chiropractors and veterinary surgeons which is run by the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association.
|