In recent years, there has been a growing interest in alternative and holistic therapies. This interest has naturally trickled to our beloved pets. There are veterinary practices solely dedicated to holistic medicine as well as practices offering acupuncture and chiropractic treatments.
Massage has existed for millenia as a tool to provide health and healing. Its only natural that we apply this knowledge to our canine companions. Touch elicits changes within the body. Through the process of using different techniques and varying pressure, the power of touch can relax muscles, increase flexibility of the joints, and contribute to the dog's emotional well-being. Other benefits include physiological changes and improvements such as:
-
increased removal of metabolic waste products,
-
increased blood flow throughout the muscles,
-
increases fluid discharge from lungs and other spots in the body,
-
increases delivery of nutrients to muscles,
-
increases the ability to maintain a healthier state.
You may be asking yourself what type of massage do I do? When you go to a spa for a massage, you can decide if you want Swedish, Deep Tissue, Loma Lindi, etc. Since its more difficult for your dog to choose, I use a combination of techniques based on the size and specific issues your dog is currently experiencing.
Massage manipulates soft tissue so it is an excellent modality to treat pain and discomfort. Pain can occur suddenly, or over the course of time. Pain may be caused by:
-
temperature extremes,
-
continual or excessive stimulation,
-
too much flexion/extension of a muscle group,
-
prolonged contraction of muscles,
-
inadequate blood flow to an area or organ,
-
injured ligaments and tendons.
During the massage, I may find spots that might be painful, tight, tense, or tender, even though your dog has not shown any obvious signs of discomfort. This is most likely because dogs tend to not show pain and tension to their pack – it can be seen as a sign of weakness. Any dog can acquire soft tissue injury – well-conditioned or not. Issues that may contribute to a dog injuring itself could be its conformation, weather, overworking, or a freak accident. Your dog may injure itself one day, and you may not notice for months. This is not because you are not paying attention. When injured, a dog will compensate with its body by changing its gait, or how much pressure each leg takes. It may take months, but eventually, your dog will develop impingement and other problem areas in the body as part of this compensation! Massage can work out these issues and keep the body functioning properly.
As a practitioner, my concern is the well being of your dog. Throughout the massage, I monitor the dog's reaction to where and how I am touching. During an appointment, I have a time line that I try to adhere to, but if your dog decides that she or he is done or does not want an area treated, there is not much I can do. For your dog to get maximum benefit from the massage, it is important that I respect the limitations of the individual animal.
|