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Canine Hydrotherapist Career Profile

Do you want to work as a canine hydrotherapist?

READ: This page helps you to read about the career and the info you need to decide on whether this is indeed the career you want to follow.

RESEARCH: ​Learn about the skills required and minimum subjects to enter this career, as well as the places where you can study further after school.

PREPARE: If you want to plan and prepare for the career, then join the OZT Community! Members have access to tools, while chatting with other students and experts from around the world. Prepare to be amazed!

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UPDATED: 1 May 2023

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What is a canine hydrotherapist?

A canine hydrotherapist is a professional who specialises in providing hydrotherapy treatment to dogs. Hydrotherapy involves the use of water for therapeutic purposes, such as rehabilitation, fitness, and overall wellness. Canine hydrotherapists typically work with dogs recovering from surgery, suffering from joint conditions like arthritis, or those needing conditioning for athletic performance.

Dogs OZT 2

Alternative Names

The career can also be known as:

  • Aqua Therapist

Career Categories

The Canine Hydrotherapist career can be found in the following career categories:

  • Health
  • Business

What does a Canine Hydrotherapist do?

Groups of animals a Canine Hydrotherapist works with

Dogs List Icon OZT
Dogs

What is the level of Interaction with the Animals?

What does a Canine Hydrotherapist focus on?

The primary focus of canine hydrotherapists is to use a pool or a specially designed water treadmill to help dogs recover from injuries.

What are the daily tasks of a Canine Hydrotherapist?

  • Discuss brief with owners
  • Work out best routine and techniques to assist the dog
  • Prepare and maintain the water treadmill
  • Allow dog to go through the necessary exercises, while taking notes on progress
  • Discuss progress with owners
  • Design and maintain a business profile (marketing etc.)
  • Administration and filing

The working Environment of a Canine Hydrotherapist

Where does a Canine Hydrotherapist work?

Environment –

The majority of their time would be spent working indoors, with the use of a hydrotherapy pool and water treadmill.

Places of Employment –

Most dog hydrotherapists are self employed, but some, especially those just starting out in the career, might work for established hydrotherapy businesses, animal hospitals or even government.

What is the average annual salary of a Canine Hydrotherapist?

As most canine hydrotherapists are self employed, their income is based on obtaining contracts. On average the income per year is around $35,000. This will differ from country to country.

Can Canine Hydrotherapists be promoted?

Promotion within existing businesses is possible, especially where the business has added training sessions as a part of their portfolio. Another form of promotion is of course starting one’s own business. These are some of the possible promotable positions:

Intern > Qualified Hydrotherapist > Manager > Industry Trainer

What difficulties can a Canine Hydrotherapist face?

The most difficult part is always working with scared and hurting dogs, that can react and bite. They may also work long hours and over weekends and holidays.

​Future growth and Possibilities

The industry has shown some positive growth, and will do so in the future. Possible avenues of business could be to specialize in treating service dogs (those working in law enforcement and the military).

Availability of Jobs

Average

Which Skills are required by a Canine Hydrotherapist?

The skills required for a career as a canine hydrotherapist can be divided into two very important groups. The first is the group containing life skills, which are the core skills that are necessary or desirable for full participation in everyday life. The second group is career skills, or the specific skills required to allow a person to enter and operate effectively within a specific career. Some or maybe even all of the life skills can assist in strengthening the career skills, and they might even be the same for specific careers.

Life Skills

  • Self-awareness
  • Empathy
  • Critical thinking
  • Creative thinking
  • Decision making
  • Problem Solving
  • Effective communication
  • Interpersonal relationship
Life Skills
40%

Career Skills

  • ​Good business knowledge
  • Good animal care and handling skills
  • Basic customer service skills
  • Good health and physical fitness
  • Excellent computer literacy
Career Skills
60%

Which Subjects must I have at School to prepare for this career?

The subjects you choose at school are important as they lay the foundation for further studies at college or university. While still at school, it’s also important to learn more about the animals you will work with, as well as gain some experience.

OZT has a list of various tertiary institutions where you can study further, after school. Each of these institutions also have their own Group page on OZT where you will find the exact subjects they require of you to have passed in school. Keep these requirements in mind, and discuss it with your school, guidance counselor and parents to ensure that you are prepared!

What will I need to Study to become a Canine Hydrotherapist?

Minimum Requirements

​The minimum qualification to enter this career is currently a High School certificate. The reason for this is due to the fact that most canine hydrotherapists complete specifically tailored courses, instead of pursuing studies through college or university. This should not stop those who would like to study further, towards a good college diploma.

Study Focus

Major –

If you do want to study further, then it would be good to look at courses in biology, animal physiotherapy.

Short Courses –

They are a must, as most positions will require completing courses in animal first aid, pool water management, hydrotherapy theory and techniques,  canine anatomy and physiology.

Study Duration

The duration of College Diplomas can be up to 3 years. Short Courses are usually between a few weeks and a year.

FREE Career Path Plan

If this is your dream career that you want to pursue, then it’s important to plan the way forward.

Why is planning important?

​To ensure that you understand the requirements for your career, and that you are always prepared for the next step on the road towards your dream. A preparation path is like a road map to where you want to be.

Possible Paths:

Here’s a possible career preparation path for a high school student interested in becoming a canine hydrotherapist:

Attend Career Guidance Sessions:

Attend sessions specifically focused on careers in animal care and therapy to gain insights into the various options available within this field.

Research all of the possible careers:

Conduct thorough research into the role of a canine hydrotherapist, including responsibilities, required skills, and potential career paths.

Explore Educational Paths:

Investigate educational programmes related to animal science, veterinary medicine, physical therapy, or other relevant fields.

Align high school subjects with the educational path:

Focus on science-related subjects such as biology and chemistry to build a strong foundation for future studies in animal care and therapy.

Obtain a High School Diploma or Equivalent:

Successfully complete high school education to obtain a diploma or equivalent qualification.

Learn about animals that will work with:

Gain knowledge about different dog breeds, their behaviour, anatomy, and common health issues, which will be beneficial in working with dogs as a hydrotherapist.

Align post-school path with either entering a career/job directly, studying further, or starting a business:

Decide whether to pursue further education, enter the workforce directly, or explore entrepreneurial opportunities in canine hydrotherapy.

Gain experience through volunteering, internship, mentorship, etc.:

Seek opportunities to volunteer at animal shelters, veterinary clinics, or rehabilitation centres to gain practical experience working with dogs.

Pursue Extracurricular Activities:

Participate in extracurricular activities related to animal care, such as joining a local 4-H club, volunteering at animal rescue organisations, or participating in dog training classes.

Join Professional Associations:

Join professional associations or organisations related to animal rehabilitation and therapy to stay updated on industry trends and network with professionals in the field.

Gain Specialised Skills:

Pursue specialised training in canine hydrotherapy through certification programmes or workshops offered by reputable institutions.

Network with Professionals:

Attend industry events, workshops, and conferences to network with established professionals in the field of animal rehabilitation and hydrotherapy.

Enter the job market, finish tertiary studies, or launch a business:

Decide whether to seek employment opportunities at veterinary clinics, rehabilitation centres or start a private practice offering canine hydrotherapy services.

Stay Updated and Pursue Continuing Education:

Continuously update knowledge and skills by attending continuing education courses, workshops, and seminars to stay current with advancements in canine hydrotherapy techniques and practices.

Possible Combined Career Paths

It is possible to sometimes combine two or more related careers. This normally happens when you study and practice a specific main career, but the knowledge and experience gained also help you to have a paying hobby or secondary income career.

Possible Alternatives (there are a lot more):

Stepping Stone Career

Being a canine hydrotherapist can also be used as a stepping stone career. A stepping stone career is one which is used to help you get to another career, normally because the other career is too difficult to reach (sometimes due to things like high fees etc).

You can begin as an intern after basic short courses and expert guidance (maybe working under a mentor). The money made can then be used to pay for studies towards a promotion or another career, and the experience helps in gaining knowledge. One paying to help get to the other.

Some of the possible paths:

Training and apprenticeship

Even though it is important to study to get into some of the animal careers, most of the skills you will need as a canine hydrotherapist will be acquired through practice. This means that you will learn how to perform some of the daily tasks by actually doing it a few times and learning the steps.

In some cases entry level positions require training sessions even before you are allowed to actually perform your job duties. These sessions are offered by the place of employment, after you have successfully applied.

Apprenticeship is also possible where you need to learn skills from a more senior hydrotherapist or expert.

Join the Canine Hydrotherapists Group in the Community to learn more and even interact with the educational institutions that will help you secure your dream career!

Average level of education of all the people who enter the career

High School Certificate 0%
Diploma or Short Courses 0%
Degree or Higher Studies 0%

Licenses, Certificate, Registration and Professional Associations

Certain animal careers require some form of legal certification to prove that you can indeed do the work, and work with the necessary equipment.

Although not required by law, certifications may help workers establish their credentials and enhance their skills.

Learn more about requirements by joining the OZT Community.

Professional Associations

Where can I study further?

All of the above information will help you understand more about the Career, including the fact that there are different paths to take to reach it. But if you are almost done with High School (Grades 11 or 12), you also need to start thinking about further studies, and WHERE you will study.

See the List of Universities, Colleges and Online Training Academies who offer courses towards hydrotherapy.

How do I start to prepare for this Career?

If you do decide on following this career, then OZT can assist you in figuring out a path to prepare, as well as help you to gain further knowledge about the career and the animals you will be working with. We do this by offering you FREE career development tools. There are almost a dozen free tools, but these are the three primary ones:

CAREER PATH PLAN

Use the career path plan above on this profile as an example to follow, or to work out your own path.

COST; Free

ACCESS: Open to visitors and Members 

SHORT COURSES

Access easy-to-use short courses to make your career preparation easier! The basic information in each course is free, but the rewards can only be unlocked as an OZT member!

COST; Free

ACCESS: Open to visitors and Members 

STUDY GUIDE

Get a supercharged study guide that fits into the career path plan! Now that's really upping your preparation game! Join us for free to gain access!

COST; Free

ACCESS: Members Only

But, if you are still uncertain about choosing this specific career, and even where to start, then have a look at our special series of WHAT NEXT courses (link below). They take you through all of the questions you might have on how to choose the right career, what to do while at and after school, and even how to start your own business.

Join our OZT community and Canine Hydrotherapist Group

Join us as a special member and learn more about becoming a canine hydrotherapist.

Members of the Platform have special access to:

  • Info on the best places where you can study (colleges, universities and online)
  • Expertly designed advice to prepare you for the career, and links to places where you can gain valuable experience. For some career experience is necessary, otherwise you wont get the job!
  • Top notch info on each of the different species you will work with
  • Make friends around the world and share knowledge
  • Compete and win points, badges, games, prizes and certificates. Be the best of the best, while you learn and prepare!

If you have decided on being a Canine Hydrotherapist, please click on the JOIN GROUP button. Members will be directed to the Group, while non-members will be assisted to register first.

If this career is NOT the career for you, then you may return to the MAIN CAREER menu, and search for something different.

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