Assistance animals require comprehensive healthcare throughout every stage of their lives, from puppyhood through to retirement. Maintaining their health and wellbeing involves considerably more than responding to illness or injury when it occurs. Preventative healthcare, early recognition of disease, appropriate rehabilitation, nutritional management, behavioural support and routine veterinary care all contribute to an assistance animal’s long-term welfare and ability to safely perform its occupational role.

No single professional possesses all the knowledge and skills required to address every aspect of an assistance animal’s health. Modern veterinary care is therefore increasingly collaborative, bringing together professionals with complementary expertise to provide comprehensive, evidence-based care. Depending on the animal’s needs, this team may include veterinarians, veterinary nurses, veterinary specialists, rehabilitation practitioners, behaviour professionals, nutritionists, professional groomers and other allied animal health professionals.

Occupational therapists are accustomed to working within multidisciplinary teams to support human health and participation. The same collaborative principles apply when working alongside professionals responsible for the health and welfare of an assistance animal. Just as a person’s occupational performance is optimised through coordinated interdisciplinary care, an assistance animal’s health, welfare and working capacity are best supported through effective communication and collaboration between appropriately qualified professionals.

Understanding the roles and responsibilities of each member of the veterinary healthcare team allows occupational therapists to recognise when referral is required, communicate observations effectively and contribute appropriately to shared decision-making. It also helps ensure that assistance animals receive timely assessment and treatment, reducing the risk that minor health concerns progress into more serious conditions that compromise welfare or occupational performance.

Importantly, occupational therapists are not expected to diagnose veterinary conditions, prescribe medications or provide veterinary treatment. Rather, they should develop sufficient veterinary literacy to recognise normal health, identify concerning changes, understand the functional implications of common veterinary conditions and know when referral is required. This knowledge enables occupational therapists to advocate effectively for both the handler and the assistance animal while remaining within their own professional scope of practice.

Ultimately, collaborative practice benefits everyone involved. The assistance animal receives timely, evidence-based healthcare, the handler receives coordinated support from appropriately qualified professionals, and the occupational therapist is able to make informed recommendations that consider both human participation and animal welfare. Throughout this credential, emphasis is placed on recognising the interconnected nature of human and animal health and the importance of collaborative, person-centred and animal-centred practice in supporting successful assistance animal partnerships.

One Health and One Welfare

The concepts of One Health and One Welfare recognise that the health and wellbeing of humans, animals and the environment are closely interconnected. These frameworks encourage professionals from different disciplines to work collaboratively, recognising that outcomes are often improved when complex issues are considered from multiple perspectives rather than in isolation.

One Health is an internationally recognised approach that acknowledges the interdependence of human, animal and environmental health. While historically associated with infectious disease control and public health, the concept has expanded to include broader issues such as environmental sustainability, food security, antimicrobial stewardship, disaster preparedness and the human–animal bond. Collaboration between medical, veterinary, public health and environmental professionals is fundamental to this approach.

One Welfare extends these principles further by recognising that animal welfare, human wellbeing and environmental factors are also intrinsically linked. Improvements in animal welfare often benefit human health and quality of life, while human wellbeing can directly influence the welfare of animals in their care. For assistance animal teams, the relationship is particularly reciprocal. A healthy, well-supported assistance animal is better able to perform occupational tasks that promote the handler’s independence, participation and quality of life. Conversely, a handler who has access to appropriate supports, education and healthcare is generally better able to provide high-quality care for their assistance animal.

This reciprocal relationship means that the welfare of one member of the partnership cannot be considered independently of the other. For example, a dog experiencing chronic pain may become less willing or physically able to perform trained tasks, reducing the handler’s functional independence. Similarly, a handler experiencing declining health, financial hardship or reduced support may find it more difficult to provide appropriate exercise, nutrition, preventative healthcare or veterinary treatment for their assistance animal.

Occupational therapists are uniquely positioned to appreciate these interconnected relationships because the profession adopts a holistic view of health, participation and environmental influences. When working with assistance animal teams, occupational therapists should consider not only the handler’s functional goals but also the health, welfare and occupational needs of the assistance animal. Decisions should aim to support both members of the partnership while recognising that optimal outcomes depend upon maintaining the health, wellbeing and participation of each.

The principles of One Health and One Welfare therefore provide an important foundation for collaborative practice throughout the remainder of this credential. They reinforce that supporting assistance animals is not solely the responsibility of veterinary professionals, nor is supporting handlers solely the responsibility of human healthcare professionals. Instead, successful assistance animal partnerships rely upon interdisciplinary collaboration, mutual respect and shared commitment to the wellbeing of both the handler and the animal.