Canine Massage Therapy: Many Benefits Beyond Relaxation.

Lola Michelin

Want your dog to look this content? Canine massage therapy is beneficial for many reasons.

People mistakenly assume that massage therapy for dogs is an indulgence, but there are so many health and behavioral benefits. I spoke with Lola Michelin, the Director of Education from the Northwest School of Animal Massage, to learn more about this amazing therapy.

Victoria Schade: How is canine massage different from regular petting?

Lori Michelin: I compare animal massage to good dental hygiene. You take responsibility for keeping your teeth clean and flossed, but it is still important to work with a professional hygienist from time to time to make sure you’re getting all the important spots. That helps you avoid having to actually visit the dentist too often, but when a problem arises, it is good to know they are there.

It is the same for your pets…I encourage all of my clients to massage their pets on a regular basis and even teach them some basic skills during our sessions. But depending on your pet’s health and activity level, regular visits from a professional massage therapist will attend to all of their needs and help to avoid injury and illness. A professional is well-trained to be able to see changes in your pet’s health early too, so you can have more options for caring for them.

Of course, a veterinarian is an important member of your pet’s health care team, but we want to do all that we can to ensure that our pets only need to visit for regular check-ups and care, rather than for major concerns. Another way to look at it is how you schedule your own massages…sure it is nice to have a friend or partner rub your back and shoulders, but it just isn’t the same as spending a relaxing hour under the skilled hands of a professional massage practitioner. So go ahead, pet your pets every chance you get, and treat them to the real deal at least once a month for better health and well-being.

Schade: Does every dog appreciate massage?

Michelin: Appreciate, not necessarily…but benefit from, most definitely.

Just like people, some dogs are more shy or uncertain about having someone else touching them. But I find that 3-5 sessions are all that is needed to change the mind of even the most stubborn pooch.

And it isn’t just dogs that benefit from massage; In my practice, I massage horses, people, cats, giraffes, primates and birds. They all receive massage a little differently, but I always notice an improvement in their well-being. And massage isn’t always about relaxation; We massage athletic animals to help performance, injured animals to speed healing and animals with behavioral challenges to support their training. Most pets recognize very quickly that massage feels great both during and after a session and relax more and more with each visit.

But expect to give your pet some time to build a relationship with their new therapist and don’t expect them to just lay down and fall asleep. Animals are kinesthetic learners, meaning they learn best by doing and moving…so sometimes their therapist will actually encourage them to move around or play during the session to help them learn better ways of moving and living.

Schade: What are some of the benefits of canine massage?

Michelin: Circulatory support, immune system support, respiratory support and digestive support are among my favorite benefits that regular massage provides my own pets. Massage can also be tailored to address specific muscle tension, break up poor postural habits, relieve boredom, address aggression or shyness and, of course, keep older pets comfortable and flexible as they age.

There are many more benefits as well…it lowers blood pressure and can help with inflammatory conditions such as arthritis. Best of all, time spent massaging your pets will increase the bond between you and them.

Schade: Would you describe an easy stroke that people at home can try on their dog?

Michelin: You are probably already doing more basic forms of massage than you realize.

For instance, run the flat palm of your hand along the animal’s spine from head to tail. This is called effleurage, a basic stroke that helps to calm nerves, smooth the coat by drawing oils out of the skin, and distribute blood and lymph for better circulation. Ten minutes of this type of purposeful “petting” at least three times each week will do a great deal to support your pet’s overall health and bring a glow to their coat.

Schade: When should people seek professional canine massage?

Michelin: Maintenance massage is valuable for any pet and should be done at least once per month. Twice a month is the ideal for a healthy, active pet.

If your pet is older or has specific concerns, you may want to consider more often, even weekly visits or learn some massage yourself to do in between professional visits. All animals benefit from massage, from puppies and kittens to senior pets. So seek out a relationship with a professional sooner rather than later. But it is never too late to start, so if you haven’t tried it yet, the best time is now.

Particularly good times to think about scheduling a massage would be whenever you have a new pet in the home, before your pet undergoes any medical procedures (such as dentals or spay/neuter surgery) or anytime you are going to increase their activity.

Underweight and overweight pets benefit from massage as well. About the only time your pet should not get a massage is if they have an active fever or infection or if they have a skin condition that is contagious or highly irritable. Massage is great for pets with cancer as well, but usually it is best to avoid massage for about 24 hours after any radiation or chemotherapy treatment.

Why is animal massage important?

Massage

Why is animal massage important?

Massage is a noninvasive and general therapy, which can relieve pain and help in the treatment of several conditions as well as prevent their return. Any form of touch that provides comforts and promotes health and wellness can be defined as massage. Through massage the tissue can either be relaxed or stimulated to cause excitability. There are several reasons to try massage for your animal. The show of resistance or the lack of willingness to move in a particular manner could be a sign of muscular discomfort. Stiff or painful muscles can cause undesirable behavior. Through the proper use of massage techniques, muscle tenderness and spasms can be released. Noticeable changes can be made through the combination of Swedish and sports massage techniques such as cross fiber fractions and effleurage. A general body massage allows the practitioner to touch the entire body and then focus in on problem areas. During this massage, changes can be made to the muscle tissue. The primary care taker of the animal is given “homework” which is designed to help continue the benefits of the massage. A series of general massages can show lasting and positive changes. In addition to the general massage there are pre-event and post-event massages which are shorter in duration and do not make any major changes to the tissue which may cause a change in gate. These are given to warm the muscles prior to a class or race. They also reduce the warm up time. They can also relax or stimulate the animal. Post-event cools the animal down and lowers the respiration rate.

Benefits of massage

• increases circulation

• releases tension

• relaxes muscles

• increases range of motion

• stimulates both mentally and physically

• aids in the removal of metabolic wastes

• provides a form of exercise

• reduces swelling

• Works to break down adhesions and can prevent them from forming

• reduces arthritis pain

• reduces pain from hip displacia as well as other joint problems

When an animal is enjoying a massage and is receiving the benefits, they will show signs of relaxation such as yawning. They will lower their heads and begin to lick and chew. Their soft eyes let both the practitioner and the owner know that they are enjoying it. Following a massage the animal should be asked to walk for a few minutes as well as drink some water. Then they should be allowed to have a rest period. Massage for your animals can not only be a great treat it can be a great asset to their performance and there health and wellness.

What is Animal Massage?

Taking care of animals is a hobby that relieves stress and makes us feel good even just by looking at our pet. However, during times when they are sick, we tend to worry a lot as most of us consider them as a part of our family. Nowadays, massage therapy has been made available for animals due to the development of therapeutic massages for our beloved companions.

Animal massage is a type of hands-on technique that is obviously used on animals to promote overall health and well being. This type of natural treatment is also conducted on animals with medical conditions such as soft tissue damages as an alternative to modern health care. However, most of these are designed for relaxation, conditioning, and energizing our pets.

The idea behind the technique is the use massage therapy on the human body for many centuries. Therapeutic massages of any type have been proven to be effective in enhancing, treating, and aiding the body and mind’s recovery through manual manipulation. For these reasons, animal massage has been created in order to apply the principles and practices to living creatures that are experiencing abnormalities in their health.

Basically, even the simplest form of touch to a pet can mean a lot to the receiver as it does stimulate the physical and mental health. Most of the techniques used in this type of massage therapy were developed for improving the functions and condition of the animal’s body in order to perform at its top level. The massage strokes and methods used during a massage treatment sessions are quite similar to those used on human beings. However, you should be careful when conducting a massage on your pet as they can’t communicate verbally as does human clients. So this would give you a hard time guessing what’s being felt by the massage recipient. Bodywork sessions usually start in soft touches that gradually increase in pressure as the animal gets accustomed to the physical contact and body manipulation.

The alternative medical care is done in a gentle approach in order not to scare the animal client by hurting them when the application of massage strokes and techniques reaches their pain threshold.

Animal massage is popular today due to its efficacy, safety, and easy-to-perform techniques with lots of great benefits to the health of any beloved creature in need of medical attention. In addition to that, it is also due to the fast growing numbers of people who are interested in taking good care of their pets. Unlike before where there are only a few individuals who would take care of animals, today there are so many people who are into rearing all sorts of living things from dogs to horses. Aside from the health benefits and therapeutic gains in addressing medical conditions, massage therapy for pets is also used for other purposes such as in conditioning them for an event the animals would participate in the future. Post therapy programs are also used to keep the lovable creature healthy and in good shape.

Animal Massage Therapy

Massage is now recognized for it’s remarkable healthful benefits to pets, as it has been known to people.
For any animal, massage is more than just petting. It is a total body experience that heightens an animals senses. The use of deliberate hand strokes combined with gentle pressure for an intentional and focused healing touch. Massage is an effective way to expel toxins from muscles and tissue and keeping the bodily fluids on the move. A refreshing and vitalizing massage aids the animals immune system to help maintain the necessary balance to protect against infection and disease. As your pet relaxes during a massage, tight and sore muscles loosen, aches, pains, anxiety are reduced and stress is minimized

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