The International Diploma in Animal Osteopathy (Int'l DipAO) is intended for veterinary, musculoskeletal, and animal care professionals interested in learning osteopathic treatment for equines and canines. Members of the osteopathic profession looking to expand their practice to include animal osteopathy are welcome to apply and receive academic credits for their previous studies.
Rachel Pechek will be your course instructor and is available for questions and support via LCAO eLearning platform or email.
Instructor support
Lifetime access (as in forever!)
Video lectures
Downloadable course material
Certificate of Completion
Rachel Pechek will be your course instructor and is available for questions and support via LCAO eLearning platform or email.
Instructor support
Lifetime access (as in forever!)
Video lectures
Downloadable course material
Certificate of Completion
Deepen your understanding of systemic and functional anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics of equines and canines.
Define the osteopathic philosophy and principles as applied to animal care.
Understand the osteopathic approach to health and disease based on structure-function models.
Learn observation, assessment & palpation skills.
Be able to perform effective treatment using appropriate osteopathic techniques.
Understand your role as an osteopath within animal health care.
Recognize indications and contraindications to osteopathic treatment.
Recognize indications and contraindications to osteopathic treatment.
Learn to communicate with pet owners and carers.
Have you considered expanding your current practice to include osteopathic care for animals?
As a veterinarian doctor, you are eligible for direct acceptance in the PG Diploma in Equine Osteopathy,
an accelerated program leading to qualification as an Equine Osteopath.
To learn more, please download the program prospectus below.
Have you considered expanding your current practice to include osteopathic care for animals?
As a veterinary doctor, you are eligible for direct acceptance in the PG Diploma in Canine Osteopathy,
an accelerated program leading to qualification as a Canine Osteopath.
To learn more, please download the program prospectus below.
I’m loving the neurophysiology lectures. In fact the 3D modules used to show the nerves as they come down the limbs and the path of the cranial nn in the skull are Great Visuals for an osteopath. The description of a nerve action potential/conduction is explained better in this course than it was in my college.
Listen to Connie's experience learning Equine and Canine Osteopathy at LCAO during Masterclass 2023 in Skien, Norway.
Listen to Yiahnee's experience learning Canine Osteopathy at LCAO during Masterclass 2023 in Skien, Norway.
Listen to Kendra's experience learning Equine and Canine Osteopathy at LCAO during Masterclass 2023 in Skien, Norway.
Listen to Bethany's experience learning Equine Osteopathy at LCAO during Masterclass 2023 in Skien, Norway.
Listen to Debora experience learning Canine Osteopathy at LCAO during Masterclass 2023 in Skien, Norway.
"In our treatment, there is something we call ‘intent'. This is where we apply the techniques intending to enable healing. We imagine ourselves inside the tissues being treated and then bring about positive change."
- Prof. Stuart McGregor, DO, Animal Osteopath, UK
"One of the main principles in osteopathic medicine is that treatment should restore health to the local tissues. This involves the restoration of blood supply, nerve supply, and lymphatic drainage. Where any of these are absent, the tissues can only be in poor health."
- Prof. Stuart McGregor, DO, Animal Osteopath, UK
"Osteopathic techniques are safe and non-controversial in their nature and actually work better on animals than they do on humans. This is entirely down to the better biomechanics of the pronograde four-legged posture. Animals do not collapse in their structure in the same way as humans. It is therefore much easier to correct the structure of an animal than it is of a human."
- Prof. Stuart McGregor, DO, Animal Osteopath, UK
The International Diploma in Animal Osteopathy (Int'l DipAO) is intended for veterinary, musculoskeletal, and animal care professionals interested in learning osteopathic treatment for equines and canines. Members of the osteopathic profession looking to expand their practice to include animal osteopathy are welcome to apply and receive academic credits for their previous studies.
The program delivers a solid foundation in osteopathic thought and the treatment for horses and dogs. The studies are offered in a self-paced, online learning format, allowing flexibility in earning your osteopathic qualification.
Program graduates are awarded the qualification of Animal Osteopath and may practice osteopathic manual therapy worldwide on equine and canine patients using the professional designation Int'l DipAO.
Upon completion of the program, you will gain the knowledge and skills to deliver safe, rational, and effective osteopathic treatment to horses and dogs, though treatment principles can be applied to other animals as well.
To enhance your educational experience, we offer free access to Ivalalearn.com, an interactive, 3D anatomy-learning platform to each LCAO student.
Preclinical studies / Core knowledge
Online format / 915 hrs.
Clinical studies / fifteen learning units led by Prof.McGregor
Thesis / Osteopathic Research
Online format / 1100 hrs.
Both modules are delivered at LCAO´s eLearning platform, powered by Moodle software. Online studies are entirely self-paced: there is no set due date to finish it. Moreover, LCAO students and graduates retain lifetime access to all online courses and future updates.
MASTERCLASS Hands-on Clinical Training / Elective
The MasterClass seminar is an optional step on your journey in animal osteopathy. Over the course of nine consecutive days, you will learn advanced modalities such as cranial osteopathy, short lever and functional techniques as applied to horses and dogs. Through individual tutoring sessions and open discussions, students are encouraged to develop treatment styles relevant to the specialization of their practice.
Deepen your understanding of systemic and functional anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics of equines and canines.
Define the osteopathic philosophy and principles as applied to animal care.
Understand the osteopathic approach to health and disease based on structure-function models.
Learn observation, assessment & palpation skills.
Be able to perform effective treatment using appropriate osteopathic techniques.
Recognize indications and contraindications to osteopathic treatment.
Recognize indications and contraindications to osteopathic treatment.
"Stuart’s expertise and passion for the subject of animal osteopathy is indisputable and his ability to impart his knowledge to the dedicated learner is second to none. I have been using his techniques to treat animals with great success for 16 years and have built a highly successful practice."
"I'm really enjoying the content and the way you present the information in the video lectures. Everything is very logically explained, making it easier to learn and making me look forward to downtime throughout the day where I can sit and go through a lesson. Obviously, there are lessons where I need to go back and review things a few times to truly grasp certain concepts, but the combination of the notes, videos, textbooks, and extra resources makes that possible."
"I have received excellent service and assistance in my studies here! The course content is thorough and high-quality delivery. The practical treatment videos are extremely useful, and the lectures are very well taught. I recommend LCAO courses to anyone wishing to expand their career or start a brand new one. As a lifelong equestrian, this industry is growing and growing every year, so now really is the time to jump in."
"I am absolutely loving the depth, detail, and flow of this course. The site is user-friendly. The content is fantastic, with recorded lessons helping to clarify and explain everything in more detail. I am halfway through the preclinical units and am pretty much obsessed with every spare moment dedicated to logging in and absorbing more knowledge!! I am very much looking forward to the clinical elements and the Masterclass."
"I’m doing some indirect work currently, and these are some horses I was asked to try to help. Yes, the method you have shown has done wonders helping me analyze with much more organization. This school has been awesome! Thank you for your time."
"I am a new student. Just logged in after receiving access to the studies.
I browsed around the modules and courses and could not be happier with joining in. Thank you and wish me best fortune with the courses!"
“Easy to use learning platform and excellent treatment videos. Prof.McGregor is a fantastic teacher and mentor. The really good program.”
“I have just completed the preclinical module for the Canine stream of the Diploma in Animal Osteopathy program. The content of each course is deep, thorough and engaging. Each module takes you on an investigative journey that inspires and educates. I very much look forward to the Equine segment.”
“ An intimate knowledge of anatomy, physiology and musculoskeletal pathology is essential. Once learned, we don’t forget it because we keep it in mind every time we touch a dog or pick up a horse’s foot.“
- Prof. Stuart McGregor, DO, Animal Osteopath, UK
Firstly, the program will thoroughly review the Systemic Anatomy and Physiology of all body systems. Following that, you will be introduced to the Functional Anatomy course which will cover the structures of axial and appendicular skeletons, biomechanics of canine locomotion, and the functions of muscles, joints, and spinal segments. This will provide you with a better understanding of their relationship to movements.
In the third course, which is centered on canine pathology and diseases, you will delve into over 100 health conditions, including infectious and systemic diseases, as well as tumors. The course will discuss the causes, symptoms, diagnoses, and treatments available for each of these conditions. To obtain additional information about the program, please download the Program Outline provided below.
Deepen your understanding of systemic and functional anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics of equines and canines.
Deepen your understanding of systemic and functional anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics of equines and canines.
Define the osteopathic philosophy and principles as applied to animal care.
Understand the osteopathic approach to health and disease based on structure-function models.
Learn observation, assessment & palpation skills.
Be able to perform effective treatment using appropriate osteopathic techniques.
Understand your role as an osteopath within animal health care.
Recognize indications and contraindications to osteopathic treatment.
Recognize indications and contraindications to osteopathic treatment.
Learn to communicate with pet owners and carers.
I am a physiotherapist and a kennel owner who took the Canine Health Science Essentials course in order to renew my professional certification. I was worried that I would be bored with the material because of my anatomy background, and I teach dog anatomy as well. That was not the case! I loved the course. I thought it was well organized and had wonderful video resources. I thought that the staff from LCAO was very responsive and helpful. I think this course was better than many continuing education courses that I take for my PT license renewal. I was so impressed with LCAO that I am now thinking of doing their diploma certification in canine osteopathy. I would highly recommend LCAO and the CHSE course.
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