You will have at your disposal a complete compendium of materials in multimedia format that will facilitate your learning”

The pioneering species in these fields were farm animals (chickens, cows, sheep, pigs, and others), which were initially used as therapeutic aids for people with psychiatric pathologies. Thus, therapeutic farms were born in Europe and the United Kingdom, with the aim of allowing these people to develop skills in caring for another living being, have the possibility of socializing and enjoy new recreational environments. 

Later, the work of zoo trainers and caretakers gave way to the first approaches using less conventional species in a controlled environment, such as marine mammals living under human care. Such animals regularly interact with people so they have developed skills that can be used in therapeutic environments for the treatment of physical, neurological and psychoemotional pathologies. 

This program offers specialized knowledge of non-conventional animals that regularly participate in Assisted Interventions, characteristics and recommendations in terms of their care, work methodologies with respect to both birds and users, pathologies for which these animals are suited and the basic parameters that ensure their well-being. Likewise, future perspectives in this area will be considered and examined. 

Throughout these weeks of students will develop transversal competences at a theoretical and practical level, specifically in the therapy conducted with different types of patients and in the handling of animals used in AAI. They will have the ability to develop Assisted Therapy methodologies based on specific patient objectives or a systematic methodology that guarantees learning. 

All this, in a 100% online updating program, which will allow students to increase their professional knowledge and grow as veterinarians, while balancing their studies with the rest of their activities. Thus, professionals will be able to grow and position themselves in the field without leaving aside any aspect of their life.

Invest in knowledge and differentiate yourself from the competition by taking this complete academic program”

This Postgraduate certificate in Non-Conventional Animal-Assisted Interventions contains the most complete and up-to-date educational program on the market. The most important features of the program include:

• Practical cases presented by experts in Animal-Assisted Therapies
• The graphic, schematic, and eminently practical contents with which they are created, provide scientific and practical information on the disciplines that are essential for professional practice
• Breakthroughs in Animal-Assisted Therapies
• Practical exercises where self-assessment can be used to improve learning
• Special emphasis on innovative methodologies in Animal-Assisted Therapies
• Theoretical lessons, questions to the expert, debate forums on controversial topics, and individual reflection assignments
• Content that is accessible from any fixed or portable device with an Internet connection

This 100% online Postgraduate certificate will allow you to balance your studies with your work while increasing your knowledge in the field”

The program’s teaching staff includes professionals from the field of Veterinary Medicine, who bring their experience to this training program, as well as renowned specialists from leading communities and prestigious universities. 

The multimedia content, developed with the latest educational technology, will provide the professional with situated and contextual learning, i.e., a simulated environment that will provide an immersive training program designed to train in real situations. 

This program is designed around Problem-Based Learning, whereby the professional must try to solve the different professional practice situations that arise during the program. For this purpose, the professional will be assisted by an innovative, interactive video system created by renowned and extensively experienced experts in Animal-Assisted Therapies. 

This program is the opportunity you were waiting for to take your career to the next level and become a prestigious veterinarian in a booming sector"

Veterinarians must continue learning to adapt to new developments in the field"

The content structure has been designed by the best professionals in the Dermatology in Small Animals sector, with extensive experience and recognized prestige in the profession, backed by the volume of cases reviewed, studied, and diagnosed, and with extensive knowledge of new technologies applied to veterinary medicine. This ensures that after completing the program, veterinarians will be fully qualified to work in Animal-Assisted Interventions from a multidisciplinary approach that favors both humans and animals. 

This Postgraduate certificate contains the most complete and up-to-date program on the market”

Module 1. Non-Conventional Animal-Assisted Interventions

1.1. Unconventional Animals

1.1.1. Unconventional Animals
1.1.2. Types of Unconventional Animals

1.1.2.1. Marine Mammals
1.1.2.2. Farm Animals
1.1.2.3. Others

1.1.3. Intervention Contexts and Scope

1.1.3.1. Physical and Neuronal
1.1.3.2. Psychomotor
1.1.3.3. Emotional
1.1.3.4. Cognitive

1.2. Unconventional Animals: Marine Mammals

1.2.2. Organization and Ethology

1.2.2.1. Cetaceans (Dolphins)
1.2.2.2. Pinnipeds (Sea Lions and Seals)

1.2.3. Dolphin Therapy (DAT) and Otarian-Assisted Therapy (OAT)

1.3. Unconventional Animals: Farm Animals

1.3.1. Organization and Ethology

1.3.1.1. Bovine: Cattle and Sheep
1.3.1.2. Birds: Hens and Poultry
1.3.1.3. Rodents and Rabbits

1.3.2. Farm Schools and Therapeutic Environments

1.4. Parameters for Human-Animal Interaction in Non-Conventional Animal-Assisted Interventions

1.4.1. Animal Requirements: Health Status and Zoonosis
1.4.2. Education and Preparation

1.4.2.1. Professionals and Therapists
1.4.2.2. Trainers
1.4.2.3. Users
1.4.2.4. Environment and Tools

1.4.3. Scope and Limitations

1.5. Non-Conventional Animal Training for Assisted Interventions

1.5.1. Habitat Considerations vs. Natural Environment
1.5.2. Veterinary Behavior and Therapeutic Uses
1.5.3. Training Techniques

1.5.3.1. Positive Reinforcement (Primary and Secondary Reinforcement)
1.5.3.2. Timing and Bridging
1.5.3.3. Least Reinforcing Scenario (LRS)
1.5.3.4. Time Out
1.5.3.5. Systematic Desensitization

1.6. Theories on the Effectiveness of Non-Conventional Animal-Assisted Interventions

1.6.1. Mechanisms of action

1.6.1.1. Stress Buffering Value
1.6.1.2. Wampold's Contextual Model

1.6.2. Mechanisms of Change in Dolphin Therapy

1.6.2.1. Cavitational Hypothesis
1.6.2.2. Resonance Hypothesis

1.6.3. Positive Healing Bond Hypothesis

1.7. Non-Conventional Animal-Assisted Interventions for Physical and Neurological Disabilities

1.7.1. Dolphin Therapy and Otarid-Assisted Therapy (OAT) in People with Brain Damage
1.7.2. Dolphin Therapy and OAT in Children and Adults with Autism Spectrum Diagnosis
1.7.3. Farm Animals in Older Adults Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease

1.8. Non-Conventional Animal-Assisted Interventions in Emotional and Psychological Disturbances

1.8.1. Therapeutic Farm in People Diagnosed with Mental Illness
1.8.2. Impact of Otolaryngeal-Assisted Therapy on Caregiver Overload
1.8.3. Dolphin Therapy in People with Mood and Affect Disorders

1.9. Ethical Considerations and Animal Well-Being Indicators

1.9.1. Perspectives in Europe and Spain
1.9.2. Measurement Tools and Parameters
1.9.3. Environmental Enrichment

1.9.3.1. Human-Animal Interaction as an Enrichment Tool
1.9.3.2. Visitor Effect Incidence

1.10. Current Status and Future Recommendations in Non-Conventional Animal-Assisted Interventions

1.10.1. The Importance of the Work Done by Keepers and Trainers with Zoo Animals in Assisted Interventions
1.10.2. Work Parameters in Field Practice: Trials and Single Cases
1.10.3. Reflections on the Impact of Interventions on the Well-Being of Unconventional Animals

An academic experience that will lay the foundation for your professional growth”