Is my pet a candidate?
Your pet is almost always a candidate for sports massage. As long as they are in good health or your veterinarian approves massage therapy, it can be performed on your pet! Keep in mind, sports massage is not a replacement for veterinary medicine. If you feel as if your pet has a more serious condition happening, do not turn to massage therapy as a fix for it. Also, if I am performing a massage on your pet and I feel like they are reacting too strongly to my touch, I will immediately stop and refer you to contact your veterinarian. Sports massage is a necessity to an animal's health routine and will benefit them greatly.
What can massage be used for?
- Keeps high performance athletes in peak shape (sport horses, race horses, hunting dogs, etc.)
- Helps in the training of a new athlete, building muscle tissue and increasing mobility.
- Alleviates pain associated with arthritis, hip dysplasia, strained muscles and a variety of other conditions.
- Helps recover an animal after surgery.
- Temperament issues.
- A special treat to your pet.
- The possibilities are endless!
How do I know if my pet needs a massage?
Usually, animals are good at telling us what they want or need. Sometimes though, it isn't that easy. This is when we can look at body language to determine if your pet needs a massage. If your animal is showing a resistance to play, change in behavior or a change in their body positioning, this could be an easy sign. For horses, there are some obvious signs that would recommend a massage: Dislikes being groomed, lateral stiffness, reluctant to canter, high head, head shaking or tilting, bucking and uneven stride length.