Like us, our canine and feline companions experience aches and pains throughout their lives. Massage therapy performed by our professionally trained veterinary massage therapist is a great way to help them feel better, reduce the need for pharmaceutical pain medication, and keep a healthy activity level through their old age. Dogs and cats are very good at hiding pain, as this is how they survive in the wild. Many of the signs of pain can be subtle such as a twitch in the back, a slightly altered gait, or reluctance to go upstairs. As these early symptoms continue or progress, they cause even more unseen problems throughout the body. For example, a young dog with hip dysplasia may run around having fun like any other dog but he is compensating for his weak hips by over-using other muscles and placing more strain on his upper body. Over time he will start to slow down or possibly injure himself, causing a trip to the veterinarian where it is discovered that the likely cause of his upper body injuries started with the hip dysplasia that he has been compensating for over the years. Massage is part of a comprehensive treatment series utilized at Harmony Veterinary Center to release the muscle tension, pain, and get this dog moving fluidly again. The list of ailments that are responsive to massage therapy can be long, but the most common are:
- Arthritis
- Chronic pain
- Decreased mobility
- Musculoskeletal injuries, disorders or over-use
- Neurological injuries or abnormalities
- Pets who have suffered abuse or neglect
- Post-surgical patients
- Weekend warrior syndrome – over-using untrained muscles
When performed as part of a comprehensive treatment program, massage therapy can enhance a pet’s recovery time, decrease pain, reduce secondary injuries, and improve range of motion and circulation within the body. Other benefits of massage are:
- Relaxation
- Increased quality of life
- Calms and relaxes the mind, body and spirit
- Enhances the human-animal bond and trust
- Breaks down scar tissue
- Decreases inflammation
- Calms and reconnects damaged nerves
- Increases mental alertness and clarity
- Prevents and relieves muscle spasm
- Strengthens the immune system
- Relieves pain
- Promotes tissue healing
