ABSTRACT: When considering physical rehabilitation (physiotherapy) for exotic and zoo animals, it is necessary to recognise painful behaviours in these patients prior to initiation of therapy. Once a creative treatment plan has been formulated, operant conditioning may be utilised in executing the various therapies. This article attempts to document therapies that have been used on various species that do not fall under the category of those normally receiving physiotherapy.

Author

Mary Ellen Goldberg BS, LVT, CVT, SRA, CCRA, CVPP

Mary Ellen Goldberg is a graduate of Harcum College and the University of Pennsylvania in 1976. She worked at Virginia Commonwealth University in the Division of Animal Resources and for Research Scientists advising on their choices for anaesthesia and pain management on their protocols. She was a member of VCU’s IACUC for 10 years. She has been the instructor of Anesthesia and Pain Management at VetMedTeam, LLC since 2003. She has been the Executive Secretary for the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management (IVAPM) since 2008. She is a Certified Veterinary Pain Practitioner through IVAPM. Mary Ellen is also a Surgical Research Anesthetist certified through the Academy of Surgical Research. She is on the Exam Chair for APRVT (Academy of Physical Rehabilitation Veterinary Technicians).

She is Exam Chair for the Academy of Laboratory Animal Veterinary Technicians and Nurses. Currently she is a staff member at the Canine Rehabilitation Institute, as a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Veterinary Nurse. (CCRVN). Mary Ellen was chosen as NAVTA’s Veterinary Technician of the Year 2017. Mary Ellen has written several books, and contributed to numerous chapters regarding anaesthesia, pain management and rehabilitation. She speaks at national meetings on these topics and gives private CE to organisational groups. She has worked in various aspects of veterinary medicine from small animal and equine to mixed practice, coccidiosis research for a pharmaceutical company zoo animal medicine and laboratory animal medicine since 1976.

Email: mewhitester@gmail.com

Keywords: physiotherapy; pain; distress; physical rehabilitation modalities; learning

To cite this article: Veterinary Nursing Journal • VOL 34 (02) • February 2019 pp33-47

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