Can Dogs Benefit from Massage Therapy?

6/20/2017

Ever wonder if your dog could benefit from a massage? The likely answer is "yes". Similar to human benefits, massage therapy can have relaxing, healing and therapeutic effects on your dog.

Benefits of Massage for Your Dog:

Reduces muscle and joint pain
Improves muscle tone
Increases flexibility
Reduces anxiety
Promotes healing by increasing blood flow

Boosts immune system function
Aids in removing toxins and waste products from your dog's muscles and tissues
Reduces the risk of injury

Signs that Your Dog Could Be in Need of a Massage:

Difficulty jumping into bed or into the car
Weakness in the legs
Visible muscle spasms
Acting anxious
Avoiding turning head to one side

Lethargic
Not wanting to go for a walk or exercise
Favoring one or more legs
Uncharacteristically grumpy
Growling or biting when you pick them up or touch them in a certain area

Warning:

It is important to have your dog examined by a veterinarian before having him or her massaged to rule out more serious causes of disease and discomfort. Ask your veterinarian if your dog is a candidate for massage therapy before scheduled a massage. Since there are specific ways to correctly massage a dog and contraindications to massage (circumstances where massage could make the condition worse), it is important to utilize a certificated canine massage therapist or receive the proper training yourself before massaging your dog.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT BEING CERTIFIED IN CANINE MASSAGE

12 Comments

LAUREN QUINN

2/25/2018 09:41:47 pm

Hi!
I have been a massage therapist for over 30 years… More and more people ask me to work on their dogs – – and I do!
I have been told I should get certified in it yet I do not feel this is necessary as work with animals is extremely intuitive in nature… I already have three decades of experience… possible to please comment on this for me?
Thank you for your honesty!
Lauren

Paris Henry

5/11/2019 11:34:15 am

Lauren, I am a licensed massage therapist for 16 years and I have also considered becoming trained for canine and equine massage.
I think it is necessary to to receive formal training even though I have been doing bodywork for years because the first priority should be safety and quality for our clients and the anatomy and physiology of dogs and horses is different than that of humans as well as their sense and perception.
Animals don't understand that what we're doing is to ease their pain as humans do so they will react differently to unfamiliar situations or any discomfort or fright and we need to know how to effectively meet those reactions. Of course, intuition is important in our work but having a holistically sound knowledge and understanding of a different species is paramount so that, even though intentions are good, the chance of unintentional harm due to ignorance is lowered.

Kimberly L Herring

2/13/2023 01:45:27 am

Beautifully written.

Mary Lyons

2/21/2020 02:53:16 pm

Have you ever worked on a dog with a bead tilt from old dog vestibular syndrome. If so were the results encouraging to help with the head tilt?

Dr. Angel

2/21/2020 03:47:45 pm

I have had success using ANMR technique with those dogs. Here is a list where you can find a practitioner in your area: https://www.holisticanimalstudies.org/body-alignment.html

Julie stevens

10/6/2018 11:39:30 pm

I would like more information on Canine massage

10/7/2018 09:05:20 am

Hi Julie, Click on this link to learn more: https://www.holisticanimalstudies.org/canine-massage-certification.html

If you have any questions I can be reached at dr.angeliquebarbara@gmail.com

Noreen A. Studnicka formerly Caryville

8/12/2021 06:57:36 pm

any info re dog massage

Josie Morales

10/24/2018 08:56:04 pm

I am taking the Mblex soon (for the 3rd time) to massage humans, but alternately, very interested in Canine massage. As stated, its intuitive by nature so makes more of a connection where it matters.
Please kindly provide further info.

Thanks.

Dr. Barbara

10/25/2018 08:29:40 am

Hi Josie,

I feel that all bodywork techniques have an intuitive component to them. What we cover in our canine massage certification course is mainly science though so you know the anatomy of the dog, how to evaluate them and how to perform the specific techniques. If you have any questions about the course, please feel free to email at dr.angeliquebarbara@gmail.com. Adding canine massage to your practice would be very rewarding.

Walter link

12/17/2020 05:45:08 am

Nicee post

Danbury Roofing link

8/23/2022 11:48:54 pm

Love thhis