What is a CCRP?
What is a CCRP?
Hello, I’m Charlotte, a Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) at CK Vets.
Recently, I also became a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner (CCRP).
Through the University of Tennessee (UT), I spent sixteen months completing a comprehensive program specifically to develop skills required to properly develop and implement physical rehabilitation treatment plans for our furry friends.
The CCRP Program
The program started with two online courses on normal physiology, how various tissues heal differently and what injury and subsequent immobilization can do to the body. The focus then shifted to how physical therapy and a solid exercise plan can help our pet heal faster and better I travelled to Phoenix, Arizona for a week of hands-on workshops where I put everything I learned in the online course to work on real patients. I had the opportunity to use various modalities that are commonly seen in rehabilitation such as laser therapy, therapeutic ultrasound and underwater treadmills.
Back home, I completed a third online course. I elected to take a special course focused on osteoarthritis (OA) that gave me added skills in developing plans for both prevention of joint degeneration as well as treatments for patients suffering from OA.
Furthermore, I spent forty hours at another rehabilitation facility working under previous CCRP graduates to hone my skills even further. It was a wonderful opportunity to put all my skills
together and see how others are running rehabilitation programs in the community.
During this time I was also working with patients at CK Vets to complete case-studies for the CCRP program. This involved seeing five patients with different conditions at least ten times over the
course of six weeks. I submitted a detailed report to a review committee at UT.
Finally, I travelled to Knoxville, Tennessee where I spent two days at UT presenting one of my case studies, completed a practical exam followed by a written examination encompassing all that I
had learned over the previous sixteen months.
So what does this mean to you?
It means I can provide your beloved pet with additional and alternate care when they are having physical difficulties. Whether they are recovering from an orthopedic surgery, such as a knee
repair, have developed a neurologic condition, as can been seen with disc disease, or are starting to slow down due to age related conditions such as arthritis.
But it doesn’t stop there! I can assist patients with obesity to lose weight through nutrition and exercises. I can help athletic pets develop core strength and speed skills. I can assist medical conditions such as diabetes, hip dysplasia and degenerative myelopathy to maintain muscle mass and remain mobile longer. And when the time comes, I can assist our aging patients and their families with comfort measures, such as massage and stretching, during their final stages.
I work closely with patients and their families to develop a physical program that fits their individual needs. We take the family’s responsibilities into account when we develop an in-clinic plan as well as a Home Exercise Plan to ensure the best possible outcome for your pets.
On a personal note, my patients (well their families) can tell you I’m a big believer in obstacle courses to work all parts of the body where appropriate. I’m also a big fan of them for people and enjoy working hard as a pass time too…
Charlotte Hogan, RVT, CCRP