Prior to any treatment taking place you will need to obtain a signed Veterinary Consent Form . A consent form is not only a legal requirement under the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 and Exemption Order 2015 but also informs me of any diagnosis, medication and contra-indications to massage. There will also need to be a 2 week period after your dog has had any vaccinations, flea/tick spot on treatments or given a blood donation.
Benefits of Clinical Canine Massage
The benefits of canine massage include:
- Increased range of movement.
- Reduced pain.
- Reduced stress, anxiety and tension.
- Improved posture and gait.
- Improved skin and coat (texture and appearance).
- Quicker recovery from injury/surgery.
- Relief from the symptoms that come with orthopaedic conditions such as arthritis, luxating patella, spondylosis and hip/elbow dysplasia.
- Relief from the symptoms as a result of neurological conditions such as Myelopathy, Intervertabral Disc Disease, Lumbosacral Stenosis/Cauda Equina Syndrome and Fibrocartilaginous Embolism.
- Increase in activity levels.
- Better mood (dogs can show aggression when in pain).
- Improved performance (show/sporting/working dogs).
- Resolves or improves lameness.
- Helps with age related disorders.
- Releases trigger points and spasm.
- Removes knots and adhesions within tissues that reduce movement.
- Provides relief from chronic muscular issues often overlooked.
During the Appointment
Your first appointment will last around 90 minutes and will include a comprehensive consultation. I will discuss aspects of your dogs daily life, sometimes simple changes to the things that your dog does on a daily basis can make the greatest of improvements. I will complete a gait analysis to see if there is anything noticeable about the way that your dog moves and also physically palpate your dog which enables me to identify any possible areas of concern. This will be followed with a full body massage.
Further Sessions
These generally last 60 minutes sometimes less. I will document any improvements or changes that you have seen, palpate for any changes that I can feel, reassess your dogs gait and then complete another full body massage.
I cover the area of the Wyre Forest and its surrounds. Treatments are done at your home address. There may be a small charge for travel outside of this area.
After the Appointment
You will be given individual advice about how your dog may react to massage at the end of the appointment. Some dogs go through what is known as ‘The Healing Crisis’ or ‘Herxheimer Reaction’ (humans can experience this too).
Massage can assist and speed up the body’s own natural healing process. As the body heals, it eliminates waste products. Speeding up this process means that the body is trying to eliminate them at a faster rate than normal resulting in a healing crisis. This process is perfectly normal, not all dogs will experience these symptoms.
Symptoms will resolve quickly and should not last any longer than 24 – 48hours.
• Increased drinking/Urination
• Lameness or an increase in joint or muscle pain
• Lethargy, quietness or lots of sleeping
• Increased energy, wanting to play or be active
• Restlessness or insomnia
• Runny nose
• Stomach upset or nausea
• Increase in appetite
• Fever or cold/flu like symptoms
I will provide you with feedback and explain how to get the most out of your dogs treatment, I will also provide a report for your vet.