Does massage work for every dog?
In clinical trials conducted by Winchester university 95% of dogs responded positively to canine clinical massage therapy.
However, there are some cases when it is not effective, this can be if the dog is not happy to be handled and it is difficult to complete the treatment. The effectiveness of the treatment can also be greatly reduced if the dog is allowed to continue to take part in activities that exacerbate the condition / injury.
What dogs could benefit from massage?
Massage benefits a huge range of musculoskeletal conditions e.g. arthritis, hip dysplasia, luxating patella etc. It can also be of benefit for elderly dogs, injured dogs, working dogs, performance dogs, nervous dogs, post-operative dogs.
What are the benefits of massage for dogs?
There are many benefits to massage for dogs. Key benefits include:
Physical Benefits:
- Pain relief: a reduction in pain associated with arthritis, hip dysplasia, and other musculoskeletal conditions.
- Reduced muscle tension: eases muscle tension and spasms helping to improve overall comfort and range of motion.
- Improved mobility and flexibility: helps to restore movement and reduce stiffness and soreness.
- Enhanced circulation: promotes oxygen and nutrient delivery to muscles and tissues by increase blood circulation.
- Faster recovery: assists in pre- and post-operative healing and rehabilitation.
- Improved posture and gait: helps correct imbalances and encourages even weight distribution.
- Reduced scar tissue: aids in the remodelling of scar tissue, improving flexibility and reducing discomfort.
Mental Benefits:
- Reduces stress and anxiety: provides relaxation and a sense of calm, reducing overall stress levels.
- Improved mental state: promotes wellbeing through reduction in pain, anxiety and by improving their quality of life in relation to being able to walk and play more comfortably.
- Strengthened bond with owner: owners have shared that their dog wants to play and interact with them more.
Does massage hurt the dog?
Anyone who has had massage will know that there can be some therapeutic discomfort when the therapist works on an area of injury and it is no different for a dog. I will be as gentle as possible but it is possible that your dog may experience slight discomfort in order to get the most out of the treatment and to help tissue to relax. Short answer, the treatment may give some discomfort but it is with the aim of easing any ongoing pain that your dog may have.
Will you muzzle my dog?
Yes, if I need to. I will discuss it with you prior to fitting the muzzle. If you aren’t happy with this then we can look at if I can massage another area safely, or we can stop the treatment.
Will you restrain my dog?
No, I won’t but I will encourage them to be still for the treatment by using my positioning to prevent them from wandering around. I might also ask you to help to hold them still for me. However, if a dog really wants get up and go I will let them do so as many times, after having a moment to reflect / process the treatment the dog will be happy for the treatment to continue.
What happens at the first session?
At the first session I will:
- Introduce myself to you and your dog. I’ll take it easy with the dog and let them explore the equipment that I have (vet bed for comfort, a timer, sometimes heat and ice bags, and if required a muzzle). I’ll be as calming and reassuring as possible.
- Run through how the session will work.
- Discuss your dogs lifestyle so that I can build up a picture of any activities of daily living that might be affecting the muscular / skeletal comfort of your dog (e.g. flooring, sports or repetitive movements).
- Need to see the original copy of the vet consent if I’ve not already seen it.
- If appropriate, ask you to walk the dog a little for me so that I can do a gait analysis to see if they are unbalanced in any way.
- Do a full palpation of the dog, top to tail, to look for any areas of discomfort.
- Treat all of the dog (not just one area of injury) with the most appropriate techniques for the issue.
- Discuss the treatment with you, we will talk about next steps and I’ll give you advice on home care.
- Following the session I will write up detailed notes.
What happens at subsequent sessions?
It is pretty much a repeat of the first session! There is less questioning about lifestyle but I will ask if you noticed any change with your dog. I’ll do the gait analysis again and I’ll palpate the dog to see if there are any new areas of concern / discomfort. I’ll then do a full treatment that I will discuss with you at the end and I will give you advice on the next steps and home care.
Will my dog need regular treatment?
Possibly! It very much depends on the injury/condition that your dog has. All guild therapists aim to treat your dog within 3 sessions. However, some dogs do require ongoing maintenance sessions, this is most likely to be the case with senior dogs, dogs with muscular skeletal conditions such as arthritis, spondylosis, hip/elbow dysplasia etc. and sporting dogs.
Dogs who’s activities of daily living are contributing to the their issues (e.g. slipping on flooring, ball chasing, jumping in an out of cars etc.) can have reoccurring issues if the activities don’t change. I’ll advise you on how to overcome adverse activities of daily living so that you are able to help prevent your dog from needing regular treatments.
Do I need to let you know if my dog is treated by a vet?
If your dog sees a vet prior to, or during a course of treatments I will definitely need to know about it and if appropriate I will contact your vet to ensure that they are still happy for me to continue to treat your dog. In some instances, on veterinary advice, I may postpone the session that I have booked with you.
Will you let our vet know what you have found?
Absolutely, yes! After the initial set of treatments (usually 3 sessions) I will write a letter to your vet that details my findings and the outcome of the treatment. Your vet is very welcome to contact me to discuss the treatment that your dog has received.
What qualifications have you got?
I attained a Diploma in Canine Myotherapy in 2020 (Distinction) and I’ve also completed the 2 yr Canine Clinical Massage Practitioner Programme. Every year I complete 30hrs (minimum) of ongoing professional development.
Are you a member of any professional Canine Massage organisation?
Yes, I’m a member of the Canine Massage Guild and I am committed ongoing development and training. Prior to the annual renewal of membership the guild ensures that I have completed a minimum of 30 hours of training.
Can massage be used for reactive dogs?
It is definitely worth a try because sometimes easing pain makes the dog less reactive! During the first session I will take things very slowly in order to earn the trust of your dog. It might mean that I don’t do much treatment at the first session and it is more a case of bonding with your dog so that they are more relaxed for subsequent sessions.
CANINE CLINICAL MASSAGE PRACTIONER 