Being a clinical canine massage therapist, this is a question I often get asked! Firstly, I would like to tell you a little bit about what canine massage is and isn’t. When thinking about massage, what is the first image that pops into your head? Does it involve a pamper session with soft music playing in the background whilst you are surrounded with candles and being massaged with aromatherapy oils? If so, you are not alone! This scenario is great for us humans, however, this is exactly what Clinical Canine Massage ISN’T. So……

What is Clinical Canine Massage?

Clinical canine massage therapy is an effective, non-invasive and drug free therapy that rehabilitates soft tissue injuries, such as strains, and helps to support orthopaedic conditions, such as arthritis and  hip/elbow dysplasia. It is suitable for all breeds of dog at any age, from puppies through to seniors.

Each treatment is tailored to your dog and utilises 4 disciplines of massage, encompassing over 50 techniques:

• Swedish massage
• Deep tissue massage
• Remedial sport massage
• Myofascial release

I am also trained in the Lenton Method^TM, which is exclusively taught at the Canine Massage Therapy Centre, and is a 3-tiered approach for the in-depth assessment and treatment of dogs with muscular and myofascial issues, and for chronic pain management.

Canine Massage is a results driven therapy and improvements in your dog will usually be seen within 1-3 treatments.

I am a mobile therapist, so all treatments take place within the comfort of your own home, where your dog will feel most comfortable.

Every dog is different and will have different needs in terms of their medical conditions and how they respond to massage, therefore, each and every treatment that I provide is tailored to your dog in terms of the techniques that I use and their individual needs during the treatment – if they need breaks during the treatment, this is absolutely fine! Your dog’s wellbeing and comfort is always my top priority.

A dogs body weight is 45% muscle (up to 55% in the Greyhound), and their anatomy comprises around 700 muscles which pull on approximately 320 bones (depending on tail length), in order to generate movement. When considering their anatomy and the lives that our dogs lead, it is no wonder that they respond so well to canine massage therapy!

The Benefits of Clinical Canine Massage for Your Dog

There are many, many benefits of canine massage, including anatomical, physiological and psychological benefits. Just some of the results that you can expect to see in your dog include:

• Pain management for orthopaedic conditions e.g. arthritis, hip/elbow dysplasia
• Reduced or resolved lameness
• Reduced or resolved stiffness
• Improved gait and posture
• Improved temperament
• Enjoying walks again
• Ability to go on longer walks
• Return to normal daily activities e.g. jumping on/off the sofa and going up/down stairs
• Reduced anxiety
• Improved performance in sporting dogs

And much more……..

Clinical Canine Massage is backed by Science!

The first ever large-scale study of the effectiveness of clinical canine massage therapy, specifically the Lenton Method^TM, for the treatment of pain was published in the Vet Record in 2021. This study involved 527 dogs of differing breeds and ages, many of which had chronic or degenerative orthopaedic conditions. The results revealed that a whopping 95% of these dogs responded positively to canine massage, so you don’t need to just take my word for it – canine massage has been scientifically proven to improve the quality of life for dogs!

This blog is dedicated to my late greyhound Rio, who at the age of 8 years was diagnosed with arthritis but was still able to live his life to the fullest, thanks to clinical canine massage therapy. He is also the reason why I trained to become a canine massage therapist, so I could help other dogs live happy, pain free lives.

Thank you Rio, you were the best boy and I miss you everyday.