Yes Canine Massage Therapy is a Bona Fide Thing!
Yes Canine Massage Therapy is a Bona Fide Thing! It certainly is. Canine massage therapy is not just a passing fad. The history of canine massage dates back to ancient times. Julius Caesar travelled with a personal massotherapist. This masseuse also worked on Caeser’s war dogs. Early Egyptian hieroglyphics even depicted “animal healers” using massage techniques. Centuries ago in India, healers studied the vital points on human and animal bodies which are located on nerves, nerve joints, bones, muscles, ligaments and inner organs.
The healers put pressure on these trigger points to cure or minimize various diseases including nerve disorders, arthritis and spinal pain. In 1970, the U.S. Equestrian Team formally utilized therapeutic massage in caring for their valuable animals and shortly thereafter, canine therapeutic massage started to grow in popularity as the public began to recognize its significant benefits to their dogs.
I have been in the company of dogs almost my entire life. For me, the canine is the greatest animal on Earth. Equal parts best friend and spirit guide, dogs enrich our lives in myriad ways while inspiring us to be better human beings. It was this lifelong love for the canine spirit that inspired me to go back to school to earn my CCMT (Certified Canine Massage Therapist) and start a business to help promote canine welfare and quality of life ( Dancing Dog Massage ).
In my experience, the number one misconception I come across is the notion that only elderly dogs really need massage therapy. Nothing could be further from the truth! It is certainly the case that massage therapy is excellent for older dogs since one important benefit is the reduction of discomfort from arthritis (painful inflammation and stiffness of
the joints).
However, canine massage therapy has so many other benefits, with improved blood circulation being the most important. As with humans, a dog’s muscles and fascia undergo microscopic damage that needs to be repaired through increased blood flow (blood delivers oxygen and important nutrients throughout the body).
Other key benefits include:
- Reduces stress and relaxes the body
- Increases the flexibility of soft tissue
- Aids in the elimination of bodily waste products and toxins
- Helps to maintain good posture and body balance
- Helps injured muscle heal faster
- Improves athletic performance
- Loosens and softens scar tissue
- Prevents atrophy in inactive muscles
- Releases endorphins
- Improves muscle tone and range of motion
The bottom line is that ALL dogs certainly benefit from improved blood circulation. It doesn’t matter if it’s a growing puppy or a pampered pooch. Whether it’s a Chihuahua or a Great Dane, their musculature is the same. Whether a dog is active or inactive, the benefits still apply.
Canine massage therapy helps to socialize a dog (especially puppies and rescues) to the positive aspects of human touch. Canine massage isn’t just for the old dog with stiffness and arthritis; it can be an important prophylactic therapy that promotes health and wellness while extending a dog’s quality of life. If you’ve ever had a massage, then you know firsthand how good you feel afterwards. Your dog deserves to feel the same way!
Consider the following articles and links of a similar topic:
- Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Dog Massage (But Were Afraid to Ask) – Video
- Pet Parents Admit to Spending a Lot of Money on their Fur Babies
- Always consider adopting from a shelter.
- Support and donate to the Humane Society International
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