What is Massage Therapy, and why is it good for your dog?

How does it work?

Massage therapy is a non-invasive form of rehabilitation with the goals of improving an animal’s mobility and comfort and providing pain relief for muscular injury. Canine massage therapy is commonly used for dogs with orthopaedic issues, sporting dogs that have athletic injuries, and senior dogs that have reduced mobility due to the natural aging process.

How can it help my pet?

Pain Management: Massage therapy is effective in alleviating pain. It can help to reduce inflammation, providing relief from painful conditions.

Accelerating Healing: Massage increases blood flow and oxygenation, which can help to speed up the healing process.

Enhancing Mobility: Chronic musculoskeletal conditions often result in reduced mobility, impacting the animal’s quality of life. Regular massage therapy can help to improve joint flexibility and muscle function, allowing your pet to move with increased comfort and ease.

Improving Mental Wellbeing: Most animals enjoy massage sessions, often relaxing to the point of falling asleep! The calming effect of this modality can help to improve an anxious animal’s mental state.

What does a typical session look like?

When you first bring your pet to All Creatures, we will assess your pet’s gait and posture, take some baseline measurements and perform a superficial palpation to determine if any skeletal or muscular abnormalities can be felt underneath the skin’s surface. If your pet was referred by your vet, any provided medical history records or notes forwarded by the referring vet will be reviewed. If no records are available, we will ask you about previous injuries or past surgical procedures. We will also ask you about your expectations and goals for your pet’s rehab, and come up with a plan that suits your pet’s needs, your goals and availability. Depending on time constraints and the complexity of your pet’s condition, or if your pet is reactive, we may not be able to squeeze any substantial treatment into the initial consultation, in which case, your pet will require a follow-up visit.

If, during assessment, massage therapy is determined to be the best modality for your pet, the massage itself will take approximately 30-45 minutes, but this may take a little longer for reactive or anxious patients. Massage therapy does not require anaesthetic, sedation or restraint devices, and we always work at your pet’s pace. Your pet will be placed on a standing table or a cushioned therapy mat on the floor, depending on the dog’s abilities and size. We may also integrate other modalities, such as photobiomodulation or heat therapy. In some cases, a shorter massage may be part of a warm-up or cool-down procedure when combined with other modalities, such as exercise therapy or work on our underwater treadmill. As every patient is assessed on a case-by-case basis, and a personalised treatment programme designed following assessment, we often combine a number of modalities.

Following the treatment session, we will provide feedback, talk about any issues we noticed during the session, including painful areas and areas with limited motion. We will then discuss the future treatment plan and may make recommendations for exercises and simple massage techniques that can be performed at home. We will also liaise with your vet, if appropriate.

How can I find out more?

To learn more about massage therapy and the range of other modalities we use, or to book a consultation, get in touch and we can have a chat about your dog’s needs!

Here at All Creatures, we are passionate about improving your best friend’s quality of life. With your help, we can make a difference for animals in pain, so we’d love to hear from you!