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:
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temperature extremes,
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continual or excessive stimulation,
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too much flexion/extension of a muscle group,
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prolonged contraction of muscles,
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inadequate blood flow to an area or organ,
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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.
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