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.
Take a look inside your online learning classes at LCAO.
"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 / 890 hrs.
Clinical studies / fifteen learning units led by Prof.McGregor
Thesis / Osteopathic Research
Online format / 900 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.
Stuart McGregor has given me all the tools I needed to go out and effectively assess and treat animals. The long lever articulation and mobilisation techniques taught by Stuart allow for animals to receive effective treatment. Animals respond fantastically to this form of treatment as it can be done in less time and is less invasive, making it an effective form of treatment for animals. The long lever technique is the basis of most of my treatments today!
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.
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!
“ 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
You will begin with learning the systemic anatomy and physiology of all body systems. In the course on functional anatomy, you will examine structures of axial and appendicular skeletons, biomechanics of canine locomotion, functions of muscles, joints and spinal segments as they relate to movements. The third CHSE course reviews over a hundred health conditions: infectious diseases, systemic diseases and neoplasia (tumors), including their causes, diagnoses, signs, symptoms, and available treatments. To read more, please download the Program Outline 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.
.png)
.png)