Greyhound Massage
Why give a dog a massage?
The answer to that depends on what kind of massage you are going to give them. If it is a relaxing massage then the answer would be because you love him and want him to relax. If it’s a therapeutic, remedial or sports massage then the answer is a little more complicated than that.
Massage is one of the oldest forms of healing known to man and has been used on humans for centuries. Hippocrates the founding father of medicine used friction and massage in the treatment of strains and dislocations. Galen acquired his knowledge of anatomy and physiology from his experience of healing Gladiators. When treating them he advocated massage for the treatment of injuries and certain diseases. All our top athletes use massage therapy today to keep them in top condition and allow then to perform to the high standards their sport demands of them. Massage is also the best way of relaxing the body and mind and brings a sense of well being to the recipient.
It is only natural that the benefits of massage are recognized and used on performance animals such as racing Greyhounds and horses. However it is not just high performance animals that can benefit from massage therapy. Animals that have succumbed to the effects of old age and suffer from arthritis and stiff painful joints, animals that have a condition such as hip or elbow dysplacia and animals who are recovering from operations such as a cruciate ligament repair or a broken limb. Massage therapy can benefit them all.
Massage primarily works on the muscles of the animal. The therapist is trained to feel any areas of muscular pain or spasm. When those areas are located the therapist will work on the area until the muscle is back to its normal condition. Having a muscle in spasm can be very painful and affect the animal’s ability to move freely. The animal’s behaviour may also change due to the fact that they are in pain. In cases such as hip dysplacia and injury, more pressure is put on the muscles of the limbs that are not effected. For example the muscles of the shoulders and chest work twice as hard when they are compensating for the fact that the hind limbs are in pain and therefore not being used properly. Regular massage will help stop those front muscles being damaged and causing the animal pain.
The same thing will apply with conditions such as arthritis. More pressure will be placed on the muscles and joints not affected by arthritis. Not only will the therapist keep all the muscles working properly but the range of stretches they do during the sessions will help teach the animal that they have a wider range of movement in the affected limb. This allows the animal to move more naturally and freely and prevents further damage being done to the other muscles.
The circulatory system of the animal is improved as a result of the flowing moves that make up a massage. This means that the blood will move around the body more freely carrying the essential nutrients and oxygen with it. The lymphatic system will also improve carrying the toxins and waste products out of the body. This can help speed up the recovery process after an operation. The skin and coat of the animal will improve due to the stimulation of the sebaceous glands. Also the disposition of the animal may improve due to the relaxing and healing effect hands on therapy can have. It can help animals build up trust in humans by having a positive experience with a stranger. The therapist may also be able to pick up on other problems your animal may have, therefore early veterinary treatment can be obtained and often treated before the problem becomes serious.
So what can be done to help your animal?
Watch how your animal moves. Ask your friend or partner to walk the dog away from you and towards you at a walk and then at a trot. Also watch it from the side and turning in tight circles in both directions. Look out for any stiffness or resistance. Learn how your dog moves and look out for any changes. Observe your dog as they are getting up from the floor or bed and jumping in and out of the boot of your car. Is it easy for them? Does your animal flinch away from you as you run your hands down over its body? All these things could be a sign that it is experiencing muscular or joint pain, and it is time to call in a therapist.
Always allow your animal to warm up and cool down before any exercise. You wouldn’t go to the gym and work with out warming up and cooling down. If you did it is likely that you would experience some pain and stiffness the next day. It’s the same when walking your dog. Give him at least 5 minutes of lead walking before he is allowed to run free. Then do the same before you get back home or to your car. This will help prevent muscular damage to the dog and help keep him pain free.
At this point I think it is important to mention that massage therapy is not a replacement for proper veterinary care. All therapists should gain written veterinary consent before any massage will be carried out. Your therapist should work closely with your vet to ensure your animal is receiving the best treatment.
When choosing a therapist check their qualifications before allowing them to proceed. Look into which massage school they have gone to and how many hours of case study they have done in order to gain their qualification. Make sure they are insured and if possible belong to a registered body such as the Association of Complementary Animal Therapies. That way you will know your therapist is properly qualified, governed and kept up to date with the latest information and techniques.
At the end of the day your animal’s health and wellbeing is most important to you. Give your animal the best chance of living a comfortable life by using all the professionals out there that are trained to help. The result will be a happy and content animal that will love you for a long time.
With thanks to Becca Dear (ICAT) for taking the time to write this page.
G4U 2016 - not to be reproduced without permission
Page Updated :: July 2016
Why give a dog a massage?
The answer to that depends on what kind of massage you are going to give them. If it is a relaxing massage then the answer would be because you love him and want him to relax. If it’s a therapeutic, remedial or sports massage then the answer is a little more complicated than that.
Massage is one of the oldest forms of healing known to man and has been used on humans for centuries. Hippocrates the founding father of medicine used friction and massage in the treatment of strains and dislocations. Galen acquired his knowledge of anatomy and physiology from his experience of healing Gladiators. When treating them he advocated massage for the treatment of injuries and certain diseases. All our top athletes use massage therapy today to keep them in top condition and allow then to perform to the high standards their sport demands of them. Massage is also the best way of relaxing the body and mind and brings a sense of well being to the recipient.
It is only natural that the benefits of massage are recognized and used on performance animals such as racing Greyhounds and horses. However it is not just high performance animals that can benefit from massage therapy. Animals that have succumbed to the effects of old age and suffer from arthritis and stiff painful joints, animals that have a condition such as hip or elbow dysplacia and animals who are recovering from operations such as a cruciate ligament repair or a broken limb. Massage therapy can benefit them all.
Massage primarily works on the muscles of the animal. The therapist is trained to feel any areas of muscular pain or spasm. When those areas are located the therapist will work on the area until the muscle is back to its normal condition. Having a muscle in spasm can be very painful and affect the animal’s ability to move freely. The animal’s behaviour may also change due to the fact that they are in pain. In cases such as hip dysplacia and injury, more pressure is put on the muscles of the limbs that are not effected. For example the muscles of the shoulders and chest work twice as hard when they are compensating for the fact that the hind limbs are in pain and therefore not being used properly. Regular massage will help stop those front muscles being damaged and causing the animal pain.
The same thing will apply with conditions such as arthritis. More pressure will be placed on the muscles and joints not affected by arthritis. Not only will the therapist keep all the muscles working properly but the range of stretches they do during the sessions will help teach the animal that they have a wider range of movement in the affected limb. This allows the animal to move more naturally and freely and prevents further damage being done to the other muscles.
The circulatory system of the animal is improved as a result of the flowing moves that make up a massage. This means that the blood will move around the body more freely carrying the essential nutrients and oxygen with it. The lymphatic system will also improve carrying the toxins and waste products out of the body. This can help speed up the recovery process after an operation. The skin and coat of the animal will improve due to the stimulation of the sebaceous glands. Also the disposition of the animal may improve due to the relaxing and healing effect hands on therapy can have. It can help animals build up trust in humans by having a positive experience with a stranger. The therapist may also be able to pick up on other problems your animal may have, therefore early veterinary treatment can be obtained and often treated before the problem becomes serious.
So what can be done to help your animal?
Watch how your animal moves. Ask your friend or partner to walk the dog away from you and towards you at a walk and then at a trot. Also watch it from the side and turning in tight circles in both directions. Look out for any stiffness or resistance. Learn how your dog moves and look out for any changes. Observe your dog as they are getting up from the floor or bed and jumping in and out of the boot of your car. Is it easy for them? Does your animal flinch away from you as you run your hands down over its body? All these things could be a sign that it is experiencing muscular or joint pain, and it is time to call in a therapist.
Always allow your animal to warm up and cool down before any exercise. You wouldn’t go to the gym and work with out warming up and cooling down. If you did it is likely that you would experience some pain and stiffness the next day. It’s the same when walking your dog. Give him at least 5 minutes of lead walking before he is allowed to run free. Then do the same before you get back home or to your car. This will help prevent muscular damage to the dog and help keep him pain free.
At this point I think it is important to mention that massage therapy is not a replacement for proper veterinary care. All therapists should gain written veterinary consent before any massage will be carried out. Your therapist should work closely with your vet to ensure your animal is receiving the best treatment.
When choosing a therapist check their qualifications before allowing them to proceed. Look into which massage school they have gone to and how many hours of case study they have done in order to gain their qualification. Make sure they are insured and if possible belong to a registered body such as the Association of Complementary Animal Therapies. That way you will know your therapist is properly qualified, governed and kept up to date with the latest information and techniques.
At the end of the day your animal’s health and wellbeing is most important to you. Give your animal the best chance of living a comfortable life by using all the professionals out there that are trained to help. The result will be a happy and content animal that will love you for a long time.
With thanks to Becca Dear (ICAT) for taking the time to write this page.
G4U 2016 - not to be reproduced without permission
Page Updated :: July 2016