Just as life’s events create stress in our lives, our animal friends can also suffer from a build-up of physical and emotional tensions. This makes our pets more susceptible to injuries and illness no matter how well we care for them. Just as people receive massage to enhance the body’s well-being, PetMassage™ is a practical, helpful addition to any animal’s health care program and complements both traditional and holistic veterinary care.

Overall Benefits of PetMassage™ Therapy
• Improves blood flow and circulation
• Revitalizes stressed muscle – relieves muscle tension, soreness, and spasms
• Balances the effects of stress and anxiety.
• Facilitates posture and body balance, improves muscle tone
• Promotes healthy skin and coat
• Enhances flexibility, range of motion, and joint function
• Reduces chronic pain and discomfort
• Enhances the immune system and helps rid the body of toxins
• Frequently improves performance
• Often assists in the reduction of behavior issues
• Helps reduce recovery time from an injury or surgery
• Calms and relaxes the nervous system promoting overall wellness

Early Detection Allows for Early Intervention
Regular massage allows for early detection of health problems. Through touch and observation, I am able to feel changes that have occurred in the skin and hair, identify health problems that may be developing, and notice behavioral changes.

The number of massage sessions will depend on the health of the animal and the goals for the massage. Typically, older animals benefit from 1-2 maintenance massages a month. If an animal is rehabilitating from an injury more frequent massages are recommended. Specific health, behavioral or performance goals can be set and the number of sessions determined accordingly.

*IMPORTANT NOTICE: MASSAGE IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR VETERINARY CARE!
If your dog or cat is limping or injured, or if you suspect any sort of health problem, please contact your vet immediately. If you would like your animal to receive the benefits of pre- and post-surgery massage or want massage to play a part in rehabilitation from injury, please consult your vet first. It may be necessary for me to speak with your vet to determine the best way to incorporate massage into the healing process.

Which animals benefit from massage?

Focused on preventative care, massage is an important part of a holistic approach to promoting your pet’s overall health. Regular massage benefits every animal regardless of age or activity whether you have a companion pet, show animal, or working dog. It is also an integral component in rehabilitation from illness or injury. Massage is a gentle, yet non-invasive, and can relieve pain and stress.

Young Animals and Rescue Animals
Accustoms the animal to being touched and handled
Reduces the effects of stress and anxiety
Promotes socialization and trust in people
Eases tension of transitional stages (growth, moving, etc)

Adults
Provides early detection of illness or injury
Improves muscle tone and mobility
Promotes wellness through enhancing body systems
Slows developing problems of aging

Seniors or those with handicaps
Reduces chronic pain from age-related health issues
Reduces muscle atrophy caused by inactivity
Promotes better mobility, joint health, and range of motion

Pre- and Post-Surgery
Helps calm pets prior to surgery
Supports muscle and tissue surrounding a fracture
Reduces inflammation, swelling, contusions (bruises), and joint pain
Alleviates pain, promotes healing, and provides comfort
Use after surgery with your vet’s permission

Performance Dogs
Show, performance, and sporting dog can strain their muscles the same as people. This includes the professional athlete performing in obedience, fly-ball, herding, tracking, and agility as well as the weekend warrior who accompanies his/her owner on a long hike or spends the day at the park.
Pre-event warms up muscles by increasing blood flow
Post-event loosens up muscles and joints to prevent stiffness and soreness
Helps prevent lactic acid build-up that causes soreness in muscles
Excellent diagnostic tool – muscle tension, swelling, and growths can be easily detected.
Assists with injury prevention and improves muscle recovery
Reduces stress and anxiety

Working Dogs
Guide, service and therapy dogs
Police, search and rescue, detection dogs (drugs, arson, bomb, cadaver)
Herding, hunting, sled dogs
Workings dogs live highly stressful lives. Trekking over hard surfaces/pavement, wearing a harness, climbing over debris, working in and around crowds, retrieving objects, trailing livestock, and tracking, can lead to injury, chronic illness, and emotional issues. Working dogs also have more wear and tear on their bodies than most house pets and this can lead to reduced life spans. Massage can help maintain mobility, prevent injury, and reduce the effects of stress. Massage helps return balance to their bodies and may prolong life.

At this point, you may be saying, “I pet my dog (cat, rabbit, etc) all the time. Why does she(he) need a massage?” While petting is soothing and relaxing for both you and your pet, it is rubbing rather than massage. The animal’s body actively responds and participates during a massage. Massage is the deliberate delivery of strokes using controlled pressure and intention. It allows for a more thorough assessment and increases circulation and aids in restoring and rebalancing the flow of energy throughout the body. Massage is beneficial for both physical and emotional well-being.

Massage affects all body systems
• Increased circulation provides nutrients and the removal of toxins and
• Coat quality is improved through the dispersion of natural oils
• Skin exhibits more elasticity and less dryness
• Oxygen levels are increased and respiration is improved
• Muscles are relaxed and toned
• Nervous system function is enhanced
• Digestion and elimination are improved
• Reduction in pain through the release of endorphins
• Provides a sense of well-being and enhances disposition

Muscles & Bones
Increases supply of blood and nutrients to muscles and bones
Increases flexibility and function of the joints allowing for better range of motion,
Reduces joint strain by releasing tight muscles and tendons
Helps maintain posture and body balance
Improves muscle tone and flexibility
Enhances joint range of motion and gait
Relaxes muscles and reduces spasms, tension, and cramping
Reduces muscle and soft tissue pain
Helps prevent muscle atrophy (deterioration due to injury or paralysis)

Skin & Coat
Promotes healthy skin and coat
Enhances psychological benefits associated with touch
Diminishes excessive scar tissue
Aids in the removal of dry, scaly skin
Cardiovascular (Circulatory) System
Supports the immune system and facilitates tissue healing through enhanced circulation
Temporarily lowers blood pressure and pulse (heart) rate
Improves circulation and flushes toxins from muscles and joints

Nervous System
Stimulates or soothes the nervous system depending on the type of massage
Helps balance the nervous system
Decreases pain by increasing production of endorphins (the body’s natural painkillers)
Promotes relaxation
Digestive & Excretory Systems
Stimulates digestion and elimination
Relieves constipation and intestinal gas

Respiratory System
Deepens/normalizes breathing through relaxation
Stimulates blood flow to and from the lungs aiding in the absorption of oxygen
Improves lung capacity and function, helps to increase stamina

Emotional
Eases fear and/or aggression that can lead to social problems
Improves the mood of an animal by giving them a sense of well being
Reduces the stress of boarding, moving, loss of playmate or owner