Veterinary medicine has always been defined by the practitioners willing to push its boundaries. For much of the profession’s history, the clinical toolkit looked essentially the same everywhere: diagnostics, pharmacology and surgery. That’s still the foundation of modern practice, and it should be. But the veterinarians seeing the most dramatic improvements in chronic pain cases, post-surgical recovery and mobility medicine are increasingly the ones who’ve added skilled hands-on work to that foundation. Medical massage in a veterinary context isn’t what most people picture when they hear the word. It’s not relaxation therapy or spa work dressed up in clinical language. When applied correctly by a trained veterinary professional, it’s a precise, anatomy-driven intervention that addresses musculoskeletal dysfunction, modulates the nervous system, reduces pain and supports functional recovery in ways that no pharmaceutical alone can replicate.
The demand is coming from clients. Pet owners today are better informed than ever, they’re asking about integrative options, and they’re choosing practices that can offer them. Practitioners who’ve added medical massage to their clinical repertoire consistently report stronger client relationships, improved outcomes in complex cases and a more fulfilling practice because they have more tools available when the standard approach isn’t enough.
Colorado is genuinely one of the best states in the country to pursue this kind of training. Between a world-class science-based program headquartered in Fort Collins and several well-regarded state-approved schools operating across the Front Range, Colorado veterinary professionals have access to some of the strongest massage education in the profession without leaving the state. The programs below represent the best of what’s available here, ranging from the gold standard for licensed veterinarians to strong options for vet technicians and support staff looking to add massage to their role on the clinical team.
1. CuraCore VET — Osteopathic Medical Massage for Small Animals (Fort Collins, CO)
CuraCore’s Osteopathic Medical Massage for Small Animals course stands apart from every other massage program available to veterinary professionals because of where it draws its techniques from. Rather than general wellness massage or generic bodywork traditions, CuraCore’s vet medical massage curriculum adapts techniques primarily from osteopathic manual therapy and Swedish massage, grounding the entire course in anatomy, physiology and evidence-based practice rather than relaxation or spa frameworks. This is a clinical modality taught at a clinical level, which is a meaningful distinction in a field where the quality of massage education varies enormously.
The course covers the anatomy, physiology and research basis of osteopathic myofascial release, balanced ligamentous tension and massage in a hybrid online and onsite format, with students examining myofascial interrelationships by building structures in clay on canine skeletons, practicing myofascial palpation and movement evaluation, and implementing hands-on treatment at the in-person session. That clay-building exercise is a genuinely unusual pedagogical approach that reflects the program’s commitment to anatomical depth over surface-level technique instruction.
The program totals 37.5 CE hours, split between 13.5 hours online and 24 hours in person, and is both RACE and NYSED approved. The course is designed and directed by Narda G. Robinson, DO, DVM, MS, CRPM, FAAMA, whose dual credentials as an osteopathic physician and veterinarian make her uniquely qualified to translate osteopathic manual medicine principles into veterinary clinical application. Dr. Robinson launched Colorado State University’s first integrative medicine service in 1998 and for eight years directed CSU’s Center for Comparative and Integrative Pain Medicine, giving her decades of Colorado-rooted clinical and academic experience that informs everything she teaches. In-person sessions are held in Fort Collins and also in Sidney, British Columbia through CuraCore Canada for practitioners who want options on both sides of the border.
The testimonials from practicing veterinarians who’ve completed the course are worth noting. Dr. Molly Shepard, DVM, DACVAA, CCRP described the experience as feeling like an apprenticeship, calling it “real-world relevant, rich with experiential lessons” and noting that Robinson’s anatomical and multimodal therapeutic insights are “unmatched in the world of vet integrative medicine.” Dr. Amanda Rizner, DVM, cVMA, CRPM called it “a wonderful course that provides an excellent blend of didactic teaching through online modules paired with in-person coursework.”
Standout features:
- Techniques adapted from osteopathic manual medicine, not general wellness massage
- Unique clay-building anatomy lab on canine skeletons to reinforce myofascial relationships
- 5 total CE hours; RACE and NYSED approved
- Directed by Narda G. Robinson, DO, DVM, founder of CSU’s integrative medicine service
- In-person intensive held in Fort Collins, CO
- Open to veterinary technicians and students at a 35% discount
- Integrates directly with CuraCore’s acupuncture, rehabilitation and photomedicine programs for practitioners building a full integrative curriculum
2. Canine Rehabilitation Institute — CCRT with Manual Therapy (Colorado Locations)
The Canine Rehabilitation Institute doesn’t market itself as a massage-specific program, but manual therapy is a core component of its Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist curriculum and it’s among the most rigorous hands-on training available to Colorado veterinary professionals. The CCRT certification covers foundational knowledge of anatomy, physical therapy techniques, diagnostic and treatment proficiency, care planning and evaluation of progression across three modules, with students completing a 40-hour internship at an existing rehabilitation practice as the final requirement before certification is awarded.
Course material includes anatomy and physiology, conditions commonly referred for rehabilitation, physical therapy assessment techniques, manual therapy, physical modalities and therapeutic exercise and neurological rehabilitation, with each class restricted to a maximum of 28 students to provide direct supervision and intensive one-on-one training. CRI holds courses at Colorado locations in addition to its home base in Springfield, Missouri, making it genuinely accessible to Front Range practitioners who want manual therapy skills embedded within a broader rehabilitation credential rather than as a standalone certification.
Standout features:
- Manual therapy is a core curriculum component alongside full rehabilitation training
- Maximum 28 students per class for direct supervision and hands-on training
- Courses held at Colorado locations in addition to Missouri
- 40-hour internship at an approved rehabilitation practice required for certification
- RACE-approved across all modules
- Graduates may audit any core module as a refresher for only the cost of updated materials
3. Colorado School of Animal Massage — Practitioner Certification (Lafayette, CO)
The Colorado School of Animal Massage is one of the state’s most accessible entry points into therapeutic animal massage, and it’s built specifically with the veterinary team in mind. CSAM’s curriculum is founded on data-supported veterinary science and hands-on training in massage technique, with training programs that emphasize a close association between massage therapists and the veterinary team, with all professionals working together to achieve health and healing for animal patients. That team-integration focus is what separates CSAM from more general wellness-oriented massage schools.
Certification courses cover anatomy, physiology, kinesiology and basic veterinary science in addition to focused, supervised hands-on massage practice, with a multi-modal learning model that combines hands-on training with self-paced online coursework to meet the needs of different students. Instructors include veterinarians, veterinary technicians and animal massage therapists, and the curriculum is designed to equip students to integrate seamlessly into the veterinary healthcare team. The school is regulated by the Colorado Department of Private Occupational Schools, and graduates of the basic certification earn the Certified Small Animal Massage Therapist designation, which meets state requirements to practice professionally in Colorado.
For licensed veterinarians, CSAM is a practical resource in two directions: as a place to refer clients who want to learn massage techniques for their own animals, and as a training ground for vet techs or support staff who will perform massage as part of the clinic’s integrative offerings under veterinary supervision.
Standout features:
- Colorado state-regulated program with Department of Private Occupational Schools approval
- Curriculum developed and taught by veterinarians, vet techs and certified massage therapists
- Multi-modal learning combining hands-on labs with self-paced online coursework
- Designed explicitly for integration into the veterinary team rather than independent practice
- Graduates earn Certified Small Animal Massage Therapist (CSMT) designation
- Located in Lafayette, CO, convenient to the Denver metro and Boulder corridor
4. Rocky Mountain School of Animal Acupressure and Massage — Canine and Equine Massage Certification (Sedalia, CO)
RMSAAM sits in the foothills just south of Denver at Happy Dog Ranch Foundation in Sedalia, and it’s one of the most established animal massage schools in the Rocky Mountain region. The school is approved and regulated by the Colorado Department of Higher Education, approved by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork as a CE provider and recognized as an IAAMB preferred educational provider, giving its certifications strong standing across multiple professional organizations.
RMSAAM offers both small and large animal acupressure and massage certification programs through correspondence and on-site formats, with on-site students participating in canine and equine labs, engaging lectures and supervised practice sessions in small classes designed for direct one-on-one feedback from qualified instructors. The school’s location at an active ranch facility means students work with real animals in a genuine working environment rather than a clinical simulation, which gives the hands-on experience a practical authenticity that classroom-only labs can’t replicate. Beyond core massage, RMSAAM offers continuing education in craniosacral therapy, fascia release, kinesiology taping, trigger point work and equine anatomy, making it a strong resource for practitioners who want to continue building their skill set after initial certification.
Standout features:
- Regulated by the Colorado Department of Higher Education
- Approved by NCBTMB as a continuing education provider
- On-site labs held at an active ranch in Sedalia with live canine and equine patients
- Small class sizes for direct instructor feedback and hands-on supervision
- Covers both small animal and large animal tracks
- Continuing education offerings include fascia release, craniosacral therapy, K-taping and trigger point work
- Correspondence option available for practitioners who can’t commit to full on-site attendance
5. NWSAM at RMSAAM Colorado Collaborative — Advanced and Continuing Education (Sedalia, CO)
The Northwest School of Animal Massage is one of the most respected animal massage institutions in the country, and Colorado practitioners can access its advanced curriculum without traveling to the Pacific Northwest through its collaborative partnership with RMSAAM at the Sedalia campus. NWSAM courses hosted at RMSAAM offer similar state-of-the-art facilities to the Vashon Island campus, making high-quality advanced training available to Colorado practitioners in a familiar Front Range setting.
The NWSAM curriculum goes meaningfully beyond foundational massage. NWSAM is the exclusive provider of training in Manual Ligament Therapy, a modality designed to improve communication between soft tissue structures, and offers certification in both Canine MLT and Equine MLT alongside its core massage certifications in Foundation Massage, Performance Massage and Rehabilitation Massage. The Equine Manual Ligament Therapy course, offered in conjunction with RMSAAM at Sedalia, is based on osteopathic techniques developed by Arik Gohl and adapted for horses by Lola Michelin, and works to reduce hypertonicity in muscles and restore balance and stability of joints while improving patterns of movement. For Colorado practitioners who’ve completed a foundational massage certification and want to add something more specialized, the NWSAM collaborative at RMSAAM is one of the more interesting continuing education options in the state.
Standout features:
- Advanced NWSAM curriculum available in Colorado through the RMSAAM partnership
- Exclusive provider of Manual Ligament Therapy training for both canine and equine patients
- MLT techniques derived from osteopathic manual medicine principles
- Blended learning format combining online preparation with hands-on intensive lab days
- Hosted at RMSAAM’s working ranch campus in Sedalia, south of Denver
- Strong option for practitioners who’ve completed foundational certification and want specialized CE
6. Lang Institute for Canine Massage — Professional Canine Massage Program (Loveland, CO)
The Lang Institute has been operating out of Loveland, Colorado since 1999 and holds a quiet distinction among Colorado canine massage programs: at 688 hours, it’s one of the most comprehensive canine massage curricula available anywhere in the country. The program was developed with board-certified practicing veterinarians, PhDs, education specialists and a Master Certified Massage Therapist, and covers canine anatomy, physiology, pathology, massage techniques, structure and movement, nutrition, disease, breeds and breed behavior, hygiene and business strategies across a home study program and a four-day intensive hands-on practicum.
Faculty includes Dr. Joni Freshmen, a board-certified specialist in veterinary internal medicine who has worked at the Denver Zoo, Auburn University and Colorado State University and who serves as the program’s expert on canine anatomy, physiology, pathology and nutrition. The distinction between canine massage and medical canine massage is addressed directly in the curriculum: while the techniques are the same, medical canine massage operates from a veterinarian’s treatment plan that specifies a clinical goal, a treatment timeline and a reevaluation protocol, and the program prepares students to work within that framework as part of the veterinary team.
Graduates receive free repeat attendance at hands-on practicums for continuing education, which is an unusually generous ongoing support policy for a program at this price point.
Standout features:
- 688-hour curriculum, one of the most comprehensive canine massage programs in the country
- Developed with board-certified veterinarians including a CSU and Denver Zoo faculty member
- Curriculum explicitly addresses medical canine massage within a vet-directed treatment plan
- Colorado state-approved and regulated by the Department of Higher Education
- NCBTMB-approved as a continuing education provider
- Free repeat practicum attendance for graduates as ongoing CE
- Located in Loveland, CO, convenient to Northern Colorado practices
Building the Right Team for Your Colorado Practice
Veterinary rehabilitation uses targeted physical therapies including massage, therapeutic exercise, heat, cold, TENS, ultrasound, laser and hydrotherapy to improve a pet’s mobility and reduce pain, and academic training in manual therapy is now available through multiple credentialed institutions recognized across the profession. Colorado is unusually well-positioned in this space, with a nationally recognized science-based program for licensed veterinarians operating right here in Fort Collins alongside several strong state-regulated schools producing skilled practitioners ready to work alongside you on the clinical team. Whether you’re looking to add massage to your own clinical skill set or build a team that can offer it as a service, the right program is within reach.
