Why Canine Massage?
The Benefits of Canine Massage
ü Reduces pain and discomfort from stiffness,
inflammation, and muscle spasm
ü Improves muscle tone, spinal and body alignment, flexibility, and range
of motion
ü Increases energy, concentration and alertness
ü Reduces anxiety
and stress, and eases emotional trauma
ü Promotes blood and lymph circulation
ü Enhances performance of working dogs and canine athletes
ü Heightens immune system function
ü Aids healing from surgery and injury and reduces recovery time from anesthesia
ü Builds trust, self-confidence
and sociability
ü Promotes longevity and slows the degenerative process
ü Can identify potentially problematic growths, swelling and areas of muscle tension*
* Canine massage is not a comprehensive
diagnostic tool and should not be considered a substitute for the care of a qualified veterinary professional. Always consult your
veterinarian before seeking massage therapy for your pet.
“Massage for a dog? Really?”
Yes, really. Forget
any visions you may have of extravagant spa indulgences for the pampered pooches of socialites with too much money and time on their
hands. And put aside the notion that canine massage is just a glorified name for petting. Canine massage as practiced by a qualified
professional is grounded in real science—anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, canine psychology, to name just a few—and has some very
practical and no-nonsense applications when it comes to your dog’s physical and psychological health.
Because massage looks
and feels like pampering, many of us tend to automatically discount its value as a serious form of healthcare. Surely, nothing that
feels that good can be all that good for you. But the truth is that the skilled manipulation of the soft tissues of the body can have
a significant positive impact on virtually all of a dog’s biological systems.
Most of us know that massage helps relieve muscle
tension, but it can also be a powerful tool for realigning the spine and body. The techniques of massage aid the circulation of all
the fluids throughout the body. Improved circulation to the joints and muscles helps flush waste products from the tissues, reducing
pain and stiffness, and improving flexibility and range of motion. Other not insignificant benefits of increased blood flow in particular
are lower blood pressure, improved cardio-vascular health, and reduced healing time. Not surprisingly, the recuperative and rehabilitative
effects of massage therapy make it a tremendous boon to canine athletes, working dogs, geriatrics, and dogs recovering injury or surgery.
And here’s a novel concept: one of the reasons that massage is so good for the recipient just may be because it feels good.
Recent studies suggest that massage stimulates the release of beneficial neurotransmitters and reduces the production of stress hormones.
The net result is decreased anxiety and an enhanced sense of well-being overall.
There is also an important social and emotional
dimension for a dog receiving a massage. Dogs are social animals and from a very early age, physical contact figures importantly in
their development. Consistent massage can go a long way toward building a dog’s self-confidence, sociability, feelings of trust and
belonging, and general comfort level—great benefits for any dog, but of enormous value for animals who have suffered abuse, neglect,
or other emotional traumas.
