Clinical Canine Massage is a completely natural therapy that uses specific, measured strokes to manipulate soft tissue. It promotes the body’s natural healing process & helps to resolve everyday mobility issues by relieving pain caused by muscle injuries & joint problems.

A dog’s muscular system contains approximately 700 muscles, accounting for up to 45% of its body weight. It is intrinsically linked with the skeletal system to create movement, with the contraction of the muscles pulling on the bones. Consequently, each of these muscles needs to function effectively to allow your dog to walk, run & play.

Muscular pain can be debilitating

Just like humans, dogs can accumulate muscular tension & suffer injuries caused through daily activities. Holding an injury in any one of these muscles can have a detrimental impact on their quality of life, by affecting both their mobility & their personality (mood). However, they cannot tell us where it hurts & they tend to hide the injury. Dogs by their nature are very resilient when in pain and obviously they can’t tell us what is going on.

Benefits of Clinical Massage

Canine Massage is a holistic therapy that treats the dog’s entire body, rather than focusing purely on the injured area. This ensures that all potential injuries are identified & any areas of overcompensation or referred pain are also treated.

Although massage works primarily on the skin & muscular system, all of the dog’s 11 physiological systems are inter-linked, so it can influence all the other bodily systems, providing numerous benefits. This is also why it is essential as a therapist, to have an in-depth knowledge of canine anatomy, so as not to cause the dog any bodily harm.

Improving Your Dog’s Quality of Life

The main benefits include, but are not limited to:

Non-invasive therapy
Natural method of pain relief
Improves mobility, by reducing lameness
Reduces stiffness associated with orthopaedic conditions
Improves muscle flexibility, reducing the risk of injury
Minimises the risk of overcompensation injuries
Alleviates age-related symptoms
Full body health check
And many more……

I typically recommend 3 sessions over the course of 3 weeks for optimum benefit. Canine Massage allows you to take responsibility for your dog’s health & welfare.

Contra-Indications

Canine Massage Therapy is suitable for most dogs, from all walks of life. However, please note that there are some circumstances where Massage Therapy would be detrimental to the dog’s health.

Canine Massage Therapy is not suitable for:

Puppies under the age of 3 months
Pregnant bitches
Dogs where the Vet has not approved treatment

It is also unsuitable for dogs suffering with:

Epilepsy
Bone cancer
Shock
Raised temperature
Open wounds
A break or fracture that has yet to heal

If you are uncertain as to whether Canine Massage is suitable for your dog, please contact me to discuss your dog’s condition.

Symptoms

So how do you know if your dog has an injury?

Well, in some cases I’m afraid you won’t know. I quite often see dogs for a health check or maintenance treatment where their owner believes the dog is healthy, but I will still find an injury. This is due to the fact that dogs are resilient by nature & hide their pain.

However, as the dog’s owner, you are most likely to notice any changes in your dog & there are signs that you can look out for.

More Obvious Indications of a Potential Muscular Injury

These include:

Lameness or limping
Stiffness
Carrying the leg or not fully weight-bearing
Difficulty going up or down stairs
Struggling to get in and out of the car
Unable to jump on or off the sofa
Slowing down
Reluctant to go on walks
Yelping

Have you ever described your dog as “Seems old before their time” or “Aged overnight“? This could be due to a potential muscular injury.

Some Lesser Known Indications

Reluctant to be touched or stroked
Twitching down the dog’s back
Quivering skin
Coat changes or hair flicks
Posture irregularities – roached top-line or swayback
Gait irregularities – crabbing or single-tracking
Performance-related issues, such as knocking poles

By being aware of these potential signs & observing your dog, you will hopefully notice if your dog has a potential muscular injury. Treating an injury early allows for a quicker resolution.

This dog’s wavy coat in the lumbar area was due to a muscular strain

Conditions

Muscular Injuries

Canine Massage Therapy can help resolve:

Strains

Strains
Spasms
Tightness
Trigger points or ‘knots’
Myofascial pain
Break down scar tissue

Orthopaedic Conditions

Canine Massage Therapy can help support dogs suffering from:

Arthritis

Arthritis
Hip or Elbow Dysplasia
Spondylosis
Luxating patella
Cruciate ligament damage

If your dog suffers from any of these conditions, find out how K9 Elements can help – contact Jenny today on 0800 756 3664.