What to Expect at Your Dog's Massage Appointments

First Appointment:

At your dog's first massage appointment the caretaker will fill out a form for contact information, veterinary information and pet's medical history. The form will be discussed with the caretaker and questions asked about the dog's behavior and any conditions, as applicable.

The dog will be observed while it walks, in order to visually locate any obvious stiffness or problem areas.

Several minutes will be spent with the dog to let it sniff me and gain its trust.

Once everyone is calm, the massage is performed wherever the dog is most comfortable. It's not necessary for the dog to stay in the same location throughout the massage, as they will be followed to wherever they want to be.

It is preferred that the caretaker be present throughout the massage. This is to provide reassurance to the dog in case of anxiety, and so any observations may be verbalized or additional questions asked as the massage is performed.

The dog may need to take a quick break at some point during the massage. They may want to go get a favorite toy, a drink of water, or to go outside to relieve itself.

For up to a day after the massage, the dog may be more lethargic and sleepier than usual, and they may drink more water than usual. This is normal behavior. Massage helps release lactic acid from the muscles. Lactic acid is what causes us to feel achy and have muscle soreness after excessive exercise or if the muscles have been cramped or in a spasm for any length of time. As a result, after a massage, people and animals alike tend to sleep more and drink more water as a way to aid the body in flushing any toxins from our systems.

The first massage appointment takes approximately one hour.

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Subsequent Appointments:

Follow up appointments are recommended every two to four weeks, or can be as frequent as weekly,
depending on the nature of the condition or behavior being treated.

The caretaker will be asked if any changes in the dog's physical condition or behavior have been observed
since the previous massage. Any caretaker observations will be noted in the dog's file.

Since most of the paperwork is completed at the first appointment, subsequent appointments take
approximately 30 to 40 minutes, depending on the size of the dog
and the nature of the condition or behavior being treated.

Again, it is normal for the dog to drink more water and sleep more for the day after a massage.

After each massage, any findings and recommendations are recorded on a body chart
and in notes maintained in your dog's massage file.

Recommendations:

In the event any kind of lump, bump or abnormality is felt, especially one the caretaker is unaware of,
a recommendation of taking the dog to the vet for follow up will be made.

In cases where there are behavioral issues such as separation anxiety, shyness, excessive bullying
of other animals, etc., a recommendation of alternative therapies such as
Bach Flower Essences and Bach's Rescue Remedy alone
and in conjunction with massage may be made.

If your dog is recovering from a recent surgery or injury, massage is not recommended around
the site of the trauma. Gentle massage can be performed elsewhere on your pet's body, but
most likely a recommendation will be made for the use of Reiki, which is a form of energy healing,
in place of massage. Bach's Rescue Remedy, mentioned above, may also aid in the healing and
calming process.

Pet Massage and Alternative Therapies Do Not Take the Place of Proper Veterinary Care.