Higher Certificate in Canine Health & Well-being
This veterinary approved and externally accredited online course is written and designed by a qualified registered veterinary nurse and clinicial animal behaviourist. It has been designed for pet professionals, fulfilling Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements. However, it is suitable for pet owners too.
Written with the benefit of practical veterinary experience and informed by current veterinary best practice standards.
Learning outcomes:
- Develop an understanding of the welfare issues that can impact on the dog as a result of ill health.
- Acquire the skills to carry out a safe and accurate canine health check and physical examination.
- Learn to recognise a range of common canine ailments, conditions and signs of ill health.
- Gain an understanding of how to control and prevent the spread of infection.
- Learn the correct procedures for carrying out basic treatments and administering medication prescribed by a veterinary surgeon.
This course includes:
- 9 modules
- Bitesize lessons
- Access on all devices
- Lifetime access
- Video demonstrations
- Downloads
- No assessments, just quizzes
- Accredited certificate of completion
- CPD transcript
- Tutorial & technical support
Who this course is for:
- Pet professionals
- Dog trainers
- Dog carers / sitters
- Kennel workers
- Dog groomers
- Dog walkers
- Dog wardens / community officers
- Rescue centre workers
- Dedicated dog owners
Before you enrol:
This course includes videos with English subtitles. We design our courses to work with the way you learn — not against it. Whether you are neurodivergent, have a sensory or physical difference, or simply prefer flexible ways to study, the features below are here to support you.
- Reading Ruler: Highlights one line at a time to help maintain focus. Toggle it on/off from the toolbar at the top of each lesson.
- Table of Contents: Longer topics display a Contents button in the toolbar for quick navigation between sections.
- Dark Mode: Reduces eye strain in low-light environments. Toggle it from the sidebar panel (top-right icons).
- Reading Time: Each topic shows an estimated reading time in the toolbar so you can plan your study sessions.
- Auto-Generated Subtitles: Available on all of our videos (approximately 95% accurate). Enable them using the CC button in the video player.
- Video Transcripts: Text versions of video content with timestamps, allowing you to follow along or revisit specific sections.
- Adjustable Playback: Video quality adjusts automatically based on your connection. Use the gear icon for manual control, or adjust playback speed to suit your pace.
- Feature Boxes: Key information is presented in visually distinct boxes, helping break down content and improve focus for neurodivergent learners or those with reading difficulties.
- Colour Contrast: Our course materials use high-contrast colour schemes to aid readability, particularly for learners with colour blindness or visual impairments.
- Downloadable Resources: Slides and supporting materials accompany webinars, enabling you to take notes and refer back at your own pace.
About the instructor:
Course curriculum:
-
Module 1: An Introduction to Canine Welfare
- Welcome
- Virtual Lecture - Aims & Objectives
- The Animal Welfare Act
- Understanding How Illness and Pain Impacts on Welfare
- Virtual Lecture - How Illness Affects Welfare
- Performing a Health Check Examination with Video Demonstration
- Checking Vital Signs: Temperature, Pulse and Respiration
- Virtual Lecture - Health Check
- Suggested Tasks
- Module 1: Self-Assessment Quiz
-
Module 2: Understanding Disease and Infections
- Contagious and Non-Contagious Diseases
- Disease Transmission
- Factors that make a dog susceptible to disease
- Virtual Lecture - Respiratory Infections
- Controlling and Treating Disease
- Zoonotic Diseases
- Common Signs of Disease: Vomiting and Diarrhoea
- Virtual Lecture - Vomiting & Diarrhoea
- Suggested Tasks
- Module 2: Self-Assessment Quiz
-
Module 3: Common Ailments and Administering Medication
- Eyes: Injuries and Conditions
- General Care of the Eye
- Ears: Injuries and Conditions
- Ears: Treatment and Prevention
- Virtual Lecture - Eyes & Ears
- Caring for the Mouth and Teeth
- Virtual Lecture - Dental Disease
- Administering Medication
- Suggested Tasks
- Module 3: Self-Assessment Quiz
- Module 3: Ears Self-Assessment Quiz
-
Module 4: Conditions Affecting the Skin
- Causes and Symptoms of Skin Conditions
- Ectoparasites: Fleas
- Other Common Ectoparasites and Skin Treatments
- Virtual Lecture - Skin Conditions & Ectoparasites
- Abnormal Growths and Lumps
- Virtual Lecture - Lumps & Bumps
- Anal sac glands (Scent glands)
- Suggested Tasks
- Module 4: Self-Assessment Quiz
-
Module 5: Endoparasites and How They Affect The Dog
- Categories of Endoparasites
- Roundworm: Toxocara Canis
- Roundworm: Lungworm
- Tapeworm: Dipylidium Caninum
- Tapeworm: Echinococcus Granulosus
- Treatment for Endoparasitic Worms
- Virtual Lecture - Endoparasites
- Suggested Tasks
- Module 5: Self-Assessment Quiz
Student reviews:
- Students gained confidence monitoring their dogs' health and applying proper care techniques.
- Reviewers appreciated the well-organised content with videos, quizzes, and varied learning methods.
- Students felt the course successfully balanced scientific detail with accessible, easy-to-follow explanations.
- Learners valued the practical scenarios and support that inspired them to pursue further courses.
Based on 15 published student reviews across all star ratings for this course.
In-depth and practical
This course will provide you with in-depth, hands-on knowledge. You will feel more confident in your ability to rate and monitor a dog's well-being, and apply the proper care. The modules are very well organised and meet all types of learning preferences, offering a combination of written material, videos, quizzes, opportunities to research further and think from a very practical point of view. I'm very satisfied with what I learnt.
Very easy to follow and stress free learning
Really enjoyed this course - it was very easy to follow which made learning the content a stress free experience- would recommend
This course has helped a lot I would recommend
This course has helped in many ways and has intrigued me to do many other things .
This course has also helped me to understand a lot more on dogs.
Excellent, informative course
This was a very informative course which balanced providing enough scientific detail whilst making it accessible to those who are not in the scientific field.
The course has helped me to consider a holistic approach to a dog's needs - physical, mental, behavioural and emotional.
I would wholeheartedly recommend this course.
I enjoyed the additional videos which made the course more stimulating.
Canine health and wellbeing
Loved the course learnt a lot. Well explained and shown how to do things. Highly recommend
Canine Health and Well-Being
A wealth of truly interesting and useful learning, presented in easily-digested lessons, with lots of opportunity to look further into areas of particular interest by using the web links provided and going from there. An ideal course for anyone wanting to be a better-informed dog owner or carer.
Your dog will thank you for taking this course!
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