If there is one thing I know, it’s that Vetrehabbers love learning. While this busy life of ours rarely offers the opportunity for us to read, I know I continue to get excited every time I can add a new textbook to my library! I can’t help myself, and I love setting up projects for myself that allow me to dive deeply into the concepts and principles shared in the books I gain 😊.
In fact – Meg will often set challenges or goals for the Onlinepethealth team. When I achieve one of her crazy goals, my usual ‘reward’ is a new textbook of my choice – that’s how much I love them!
Many of the books I’ve listed below are already in my library. Those that aren’t, are on my wish list! I don’t believe the below list of books is at all complete when it comes to what should be in our libraries, but I hope to continue adding to this list of recommended books for Vetrehabbers in the coming years.
*links to Amazon are included for your convenience with each textbook. These are affiliate links in which we earn a small percentage from sales.
Anatomy textbooks
Color Atlas of Veterinary Anatomy, Volume 3, The Dog and Cat
If you are looking for a book that presents a unique photographic record of dissections showing the topographical anatomy of the dog and cat: this is the atlas for you! The Color Atlas of the Dog and Cat takes a complete look at virtually every aspect of veterinary anatomy.
Miller’s Anatomy of the Dog, John Hermanson, Alexander de Lahunta, Howard Evans
Featuring unparalleled full-color illustrations and detailed descriptions, Miller and Evan’s Anatomy of the Dog, 5th Edition makes it easy to master the intricate details of canine morphology. Content has been updated throughout the text to reflect the latest knowledge regarding the development, structure, and function of the canine body.
ABC of the Horse Atlas, Pauli Gronberg
ABC of the Horse Atlas is a comprehensive handbook of the anatomy of the equine locomotor system of the horse. This uniquely illustrated guide provides an excellent tool for those involved in veterinary medicine, equine physiotherapy and training of horses. The extensive and clear anatomical plates cover the skeleton, ligaments and muscles and include terminology in English and Latin.
ABC of the Horse Biomechanics, Pauli Gronberg
This book is a unique information package for all those interested in equine massage, and for grooms and coaches who wish to educate themselves further in the field of muscle health and injury prevention.
Essentials of Clinical Anatomy of the Equine Locomotor System, Jean-Marie Denoix
Essentials of Clinical Anatomy of the Equine Locomotor System presents a photographic record of dissections showing the topographical anatomy of the locomotor system of the horse. Readers of this book will be able to see the position and relationships of the bones, joints, muscles, nerves and blood vessels that make up each region of the forelimb, vertebral column and hindlimb.
Color Atlas of Veterinary Anatomy, Volume 2, The Horse
The Color Atlas of Veterinary Anatomy volume 2 presents a photographic record of dissections showing the topographical anatomy of the horse. With this book you will be able to see the position and relationships of the bones, muscles, nerves, blood vessels and viscera that go to make up each region of the body and each organ system.
Equine textbooks
Fascial Anatomy of the Equine Forelimb 1st Edition, Carla Lusi, Helen Davies
Lusi and Davies have provided an excellent reference resource for students and graduates alike. The number of well-defined, relevant and clear images allow quick understanding for anyone interested in the fascial anatomy of the horse. This small book is perfect to have in your bag, allowing the student or clinician to find all the information they need on-site.
Equine Myofascial Kinetic Lines, Rikke Schultz, Tove Due, Vibeke Elbrond
This book gives a thorough description of the newest fascia research, detailed anatomy of the Equine Myofascial Kinetic Lines, there function, symptoms and treatment. A fascinating and informative tool for the veterinarian to get the basic anatomical understanding in conjunction with a fast an effective treatment tool for the whole-horse approach.
Canine textbooks
A Clinicians Guide to Myofascial Pain in the Canine Patient, Michele Broadhurst
This manual is an essential resource for anyone who is interested in treating pain in their respective practices. This has been designed as a quick reference text for those practitioners that have a patient presenting with a myofascial pain syndrome and need to quickly recap what muscles can be causing it, where those trigger points are, how to treat it and what to do post treatment.
Canine Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy, Darryl Millis, David Levine
Bridging the gap between human physical therapy and veterinary medicine, Canine Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy, 2nd Edition provides vets, veterinary students, and human physical therapists with traditional and alternative physical therapy methods to effectively evaluate and treat dogs with various debilitating conditions. Coverage includes treatment protocols for many types of cutaneous, neurologic, and musculoskeletal injuries to facilitate a faster and more complete recovery.
Dogs in Motion (Hunde in Bewegung), Martin Fischer and Karin Lilje
This book explores the locomotion of dogs in a highly scientific yet easily accessible manner. An innovative illustrative style brings the dog anatomy to life and makes clear the way in which the skeleton, the muscles and locomotion fit together. Based on the results of the largest-scale study on the subject ever carried out, an experiment which involved over 300 dogs and 32 different breeds, the book delivers completely new insights into the motion sequences performed by dogs. The accompanying DVD (without sound-files) features over 400 movies, X-Ray movies and 3D animations and demonstrates both the variety and uniformity of dog locomotion with unparalleled precision and clarity.
Dogsteps: A New Look, 3rd Edition, Rachel Page Elliott
There is always a need for understandable information on how dogs move and how their conformation affects movement. Legendary breeder and world authority on canine movement Rachel Page Elliott has recognized this need and, through her expanded research, has produced this third edition of her popular book, Dogsteps, containing the most up-to-date scientific information.
Essential Facts of Physiotherapy in Dogs & Cats – Rehabilitation and Pain Management: A Reference Guide with DVD, Barbara Bockstahler, David Levine, Darryl Millis
A practical reference guide that covers all topics relevant to physiotherapy including goals of physiotherapy, physiology & pathology, pain, physiotherapeutic examination, methods of physiotherapy, and indications including frequent orthopedic and neurological problems and their physiotherapeutic management. Detailed treatment plans with technique, procedure and frequency are laid out in point form for all indications. This guide is ideal for practitioners, technicians and students. Also included is a 45 minute tutorial training video on DVD ,which explains in detail and slow motion every exercise and technique described in the book (physiotherapeutic examination, massage, exercise therapy, electrotherapy, extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT), underwater treadmill).
Combined books
Animal Physiotherapy: Assessment, Treatment and Rehabilitation of Animals, Catherine McGowan and Lesley Goff
A thoroughly updated edition of this essential reference guide for physiotherapists and physical therapists, looking to apply the proven benefits of physiotherapy to the treatment of companion and performance animals.
Laser Therapy in Veterinary Medicine: Photobiomodulation, Ronal Riegel and John Godhold
A complete guide to using therapeutic lasers to treat veterinary patients, focusing on practical information and clinical applications.
Other books you need to read
This hugely successful, one-of-a-kind title continues to center on the application of anatomy trains across a variety of clinical assessment and treatment approaches ― demonstrating how painful problems in one area of the body can be linked to a “silent area” away from the problem, and ultimately giving rise to new treatment strategies.
Practical exercises, enhanced with copious photographs and diagrams, show how to balance your front and back, left and right—yielding skills that simultaneously address the equivalent imbalances in your horse.
Successful Practitioners in Canine Rehabilitation & Physiotherapy, Laurie Edge Hughes
Are you a canine rehab practitioner or animal physiotherapist working hard to grow your business? This is a voyeuristic journey through the practices of thirty-three professionals in the field of canine physiotherapy and rehabilitation. The stories will serve to entertain, educate, inform, and inspire the reader and provide an historical record of the beginnings of this area of practice. If you are truly committed to becoming a successful rehabilitation practitioner, then you will find this book to be both enlightening and instrumental to your achieving that goal.
Additional recommendations
In the coming years, I hope to be able to continue to expand my own library, as well as my recommendations. What are the books that have been truly influential to you? Which books do you continue to refer to in clinical practice? Please let us know what your favorites and recommendations are in the comments below!
Dogs in motion is one of my favorites 💜
It’s such a brilliant book! Thank you for sharing that!