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Are you an aspiring veterinarian or have a deep love for animals? There are online courses for all skill levels that show you how to implement practical techniques to care for and train your pets.
We’ve done the legwork for you by researching options to bring you a list of online veterinary courses to fit your needs, budget and busy lifestyle.
Quick Look: Best Veterinary Courses
Take a look at the best online veterinary courses:
- Dog Training — Natural Remedies for Health and Dog Training by Udemy
- Dog Fleas and Ticks Natural Home Remedies Prevention and Treatment by Udemy
- Dog Emotion and Cognition by Duke University
- Introduction to Pet Acupressure Therapy by Udemy
- Animal Behavior and Welfare by the University of Edinburgh
- Energy Healing for Horses by Udemy
- Edivet: Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Veterinarian? by the University of Edinburgh
- Mentorship at Work for Veterinarians by Udemy
- COVID-19 and Veterinary Medicine by Udemy
What Makes a Veterinary Course Great?
Not all online veterinary courses are the same. Here’s what to look for when exploring and narrowing down your options to find the best fit.
Interactive
The best veterinary courses provide interactive instruction from subject-matter experts. Read reviews from past and current students to learn more about the facilitator’s teaching style and if they implement simulations and assignments throughout the course.
Provides Valuable Insights
Whether you’re interested in becoming a veterinarian or enhancing your knowledge for your own personal reference, you want a course that goes beyond the basics. The instructor should provide valuable insights from his or her experiences to help you become a better practitioner or apply your newfound knowledge most effectively.
Affordable
You want a class that doesn’t break the bank but provides value. Strapped for cash? Start with a free course and level up to paid options as your budget permits.
Our Top Picks
Below, you will find our top picks from Coursera and Udemy. They’re listed by skill level — beginners, intermediate students and advanced students — and include a description and pricing information to help you make an informed decision.
Veterinary Courses for Beginners
These courses are ideal for beginners with little to no knowledge of veterinary medicine.
Dog Training – Natural Remedies for Health & Dog Training
All Levels • 27 videos • 1.6 hours
1. Dog Training — Natural Remedies for Health and Dog Training by Udemy
Who it’s for: Beginners
Price: On sale
Why spend a fortune on veterinary bills when you can employ natural remedies to treat illnesses and improve your dog’s overall health? This introductory course will show you the ropes.
You’ll also learn fundamental dog training techniques to minimize aggression, incessant barking, separation anxiety and other unpleasant behaviors exhibited by your furry friend.
Dog Training – Natural Remedies for Health and Dog Training is instructed by dog and puppy expert Sharon Bolt and entails the following segments:
- The Power of Herbs – Top 10 Herbs for Dogs
- Homeopathic Remedies for Dogs
- Aromatherapy Remedies for Dogs
- Bach Flowers for Dogs
- Additional Goodies for Dogs
- Natural First Aid Kit for Dogs
- Finding a Local Homeopathic/Holistic Vet Near You
- Resources
- Bonus Section
- Thank You and Questions
Register today for full lifetime access to 27 lectures condensed into 1.5 hours of on-demand video, 2 articles and 3 downloadable resources. You will also receive a certificate of completion when you reach the finish line.
DOG Fleas & Ticks NATURAL HOME REMEDIES Prevention+Treatment
All Levels • 18 videos • 2.5 hours
2. Dog Fleas and Ticks Natural Home Remedies Prevention and Treatment by Udemy
Who it’s for: Beginners
Price: On sale
Dog Fleas and Ticks Natural Home Remedies Prevention and Treatment is another highly rated course from Udemy. It explores a medley of solutions to protect your dog and home from fleas and ticks.
Animal advocate and educator Marco Adda provides 2.5 hours of video instruction to bring you up to speed. Here’s a look at the course syllabus:
- Consideration and Lemon
- Apple Vinegar and Lavender and Citronella Essential Oils
- Cedarwood – Another Wonderful Essential Oil
- Coconut Oil
- Tea Tree Oil vs. Lemon Eucalyptus
- House Safety: Rosemary
- Indoor/Outdoor “Powders” – Baking Soda
- Indoor/Outdoor – Other Wonderful “Powders”
- Leaning Ticks
- Ticks Whys and Timing
- Tick Removal
- Learning Fleas
- Flea Removal and Trick Tap
- Dosages and Formulas
- Share Your Knowledge
- Bonus Lecture
Take advantage of the promotional pricing on this course by enrolling today. You will get instant access to 2.5 hours of on-demand video and 4 downloadable resources.
3. Dog Emotion and Cognition by Duke University
Who it’s for: Beginners
Price: Free
Offered by Duke University, Dog Emotion and Cognition dives into the emerging world of dog psychology. Associate Professor Brian Hare sheds light on how dogs perceive humans and how to leverage this knowledge to forge stronger relationships with your furry companion.
The course consists of 7 modules:
- The Paradox of a Best Friend that Evolved from Our Worst Enemy
- How Biology Studies Cognitive Evolution
- Dogs Are Cognitively Remarkable
- Evolutionary Accidents and Survival of the Friendliest
- Problems That Dogs Can and Cannot Solve
- Finding Your Dog’s Genius
- Final Exam
Each module features video lectures and supplementary readings to facilitate your comprehension of the material. You will also take a series of quizzes to identify areas where you are well-versed or should revisit before moving on to subsequent lessons.
Expect to spend 12 hours working through the course material.
Enrollment is free.
Consider these intermediate courses if you’re interested in pet acupressure, energy healing or learning more about animal behavior.
Introduction To Pet Acupressure Therapy
Beginner • 6 videos • 0.6 hours
Who it’s for: Intermediate students
Price: On sale
Introduction to Pet Acupressure Therapy is a sizzling hot new course offering from Udemy. It is brought to you by Jessica Dreyfuss, a holistic veterinarian, and features in-depth instruction that demonstrates how acupressure therapy is used to treat allergies, anxiety, arthritis, cancer, gastrointestinal disorders, seizures and other health conditions in pets.
She divides the class into the following sections:
- Welcome to the Holistic Veterinary Institute
- Introduction Video
- Introduction to Acupressure Therapy for Pets Course
- Introduction to the Anatomical Overview of the Pet Body
- Learn Meridians and Powerful Acupressure Points for Your Pet
- Acupressure Schedule and Treatment Sheet for Your Pet
When you register today, you will unlock 6 lectures and 7 downloadable resources. You will also get a certificate of completion when you finish the course.
5. Animal Behavior and Welfare by The University of Edinburgh
Who it’s for: Intermediate students
Price: Free
The University of Edinburgh brings you this intermediate course on animal welfare. It pulls back the curtain on the issue by addressing the ethical and scientific implications and touches on the unique challenges associated with assessing the emotions of animals.
Animal Behavior and Welfare includes these modules:
- Introduction to the Course
- What is Animal Welfare and Why Does it Matter?
- What We Can Measure, We Can Manage
- The Truth About Dogs and Cats
- Down on the Farm
- Lions, Tigers and Bears, Oh My!
- Optional Module: Welfare Conundrums
You will spend 10 hours viewing video lectures, reading supplementary material and taking quizzes.
There’s no cost to enroll.
Energy Healing for Horses
All Levels • 43 videos • 2.7 hours
6. Energy Healing for Horses by Udemy
Who it’s for: Intermediate students
Price: On sale
If you’re a horse lover and enthusiast, this highly-rated course is perfect for you. It features 2.5 hours of on-demand video and 12 downloadable resources that will teach you how to heal and build a stronger bond with horses.
Energy Healing for Horses is categorized into 10 segments:
- Horses and Energy
- Connecting with Universal Energy
- Introduction to Energy Chakras
- The Horse Chakra System
- The Horse Healing Session
- Distance (Remote) Healing
- Healing Session Examples
- Our Horses and Us
- Special Thanks and Further Reading
Instructor Debbie Bell is an animal, human and equine reiki practitioner.
Advanced Veterinary Courses
Veterinary students and practicing veterinarians may find these courses useful.
7. Edivet: Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Veterinarian? by the University of Edinburgh
Who it’s for: Advanced students
Price: Free
Also presented by the University of Edinburgh, this course is a good fit for aspiring veterinarians. It provides you with an overview of what to expect during your first year of veterinary school.
Edivet: Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Veterinarian? delves into several vital topics through these segments:
- Course Information
- Basic Animal Care
- An Introduction to Body Systems Anatomy
- Veterinary Professional Skills
- An Introduction to Clinical Skills
- The Past, Present and Future of Veterinary Medicine
You can access the video lectures, readings and quizzes as there is no registration fee.
Mentorship At Work For Veterinarians
All Levels • 33 videos • 2 hours
8. Mentorship at Work for Veterinarians by Udemy
Who it’s for: Advanced students
Price: On sale
Mentorship at Work for Veterinarians caters to both new and seasoned practicing veterinarians, technicians and clinic staff. It shares insights from veterinarians with varying backgrounds to help you become a better mentor to those you manage.
Here’s what you can expect to learn in the course:
- Mentoring Needs of Veterinarians
- The Mentorship Conversation
- Creating a Mentorship Environment – Providing the Basics Needs and Shelter
- Creating a Mentorship Environment – Acquiring Knowledge and Developing Skills
- Launching Your Program
The steeply discounted enrollment fee grants you instant access to 33 lectures jam-packed into 2 hours on-demand video and 10 downloadable resources. Plus, you can enroll with confidence knowing the course comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee if it doesn’t quite fit your needs.
COVID-19 and Veterinary Medicine
All Levels • 14 videos • 0.8 hours
9. COVID-19 and Veterinary Medicine by Udemy
Who it’s for: Advanced students
Price: Free
COVID-19 and Veterinary Medicine is a free course that shares simple ways to keep customers, pets and staff members safe.
It spans 44 minutes and includes 14 video lectures on the following topics:
- Origins of SARS-CoV-2
- Pets and SARS-Co-V-2 transmission
- Pets and the COVID-19 Patient
- Transmission and PPE
- Cleaning and Disinfecting
- Social Distancing
- Essential Veterinary Services
- Other Services
- Telemedicine
- Pharmacy Dispensing
The class is led by medical writer Emma Nichols, Ph.D.
Get Started with a Veterinary Course
When you’re ready to move forward, take a look at our top recommendations. They will expand your knowledge of veterinary medicine through interactive instruction from subject-matter experts. Plus, you can choose from affordable or free courses that won’t stretch your wallet and that you can accomplish in record time.
