Rubbed the Right Way

Animal massage is gaining credibility – and popularity – as a cure for what ails our four-legged friends

By Sharon L. Peters
CTW Features

What’s good for the human is good for the dog.

More and more pet owners are offering their canines the same kind of relaxing, muscle-soothing sessions that they themselves seek when they’re tense, injured or dealing with chronic pain: massage.

“People know that having a massage makes them feel good, and their strong belief is that it makes their dog feel good because the dog plays more, walks longer and faster, and seems happier,” says Lisa Speaker, program director for the Rocky Mountain School of Animal Acupressure and Massage (RMSAAM), Carbondale, Colo.

Dramatic results are seen in dogs that are geriatric and may have hip issues or arthritis, and with canine athletes that compete in agility events or engage in long hikes or Frisbee games, Speaker says. But run-of-the-mill family dogs can over-work or tweak a muscle from time to time, and all can benefit from massage that keeps them limber and flexible and works out kinks, she says.

“It seems to keep them young and active longer,” Speaker says. And it can “improve the disposition or attitude of older dogs” who experience pain from old age.

A form of massage, acupressure, has been used in China on farm animals for centuries. In the U.S., horses were the first four-legged beneficiaries of regular massage after it was discovered that those that competed on the race or jumping circuit recovered faster and performed better with regular massage. Equine massage became a standard for many high-performing horses about three decades ago, and soon the same techniques were applied to working dogs as well.

Now scores of schools teach animal massage, and hundreds of trained massage practitioners are open for business. Most charge $35 to $60 for a 45- to 60-minute session. Some have offices, some arrive on site to give your pet a massage at home. And many others spend most of their time on the agility-competition circuit.

Judy Katz, animal massage therapist, works on a pit bull that does agility competitions.

“The first time he gets a massage, the dog looks at you a little strangely, and then settles very quickly,” says Judy Katz of Katz on Dogs K-9 Massage, Black Forest, Colo. “They love being loved on.”

An increasing number of veterinarians are calling on massage practitioners to provide those services in conjunction with treatment for various ailments or after surgeries.

Acceptance of massage by veterinarians, however, isn’t unanimous. “There are many who see it as beneficial and a few who have no problem with the dog getting a massage, but they don’t see it as useful,” Katz says.

Pet owners, however, are warming to it. Just a few years ago “people would look at me out of the corners of their eyes when I told them what I do,” Speaker says. Today, with the increasing attention given to animal massage, many owners regard it as reasonable regular treatment for a pet.

RMSAAM has trained more than 200 massage practitioners in the last three years, says Speaker, who was a fitness coach before undergoing animal-massage training in California several years ago.

Those who pursue such instruction in massage or in acupressure include veterinarians, vet techs, groomers, dog breeders and boarding operators, she says. “A lot of people who have animal-based businesses want to offer this service to their clients,” she says.

Since the field isn’t regulated, anyone can practice animal massage. Experts say there’s very little risk that an untrained animal massage practitioner will injure a dog, but an untrained practitioner simply may not see results.

Because animal massage is a fairly recent trend, the focus has primarily been on dogs and horses. “I’ve had only one call in eight years from anyone wanting massage for a cat,” Speaker says.

“Cats are totally different animals,” Katz says. She says she has massaged her own cat from time to time. That cat “seems to enjoy it,” she says, “but is not interested in a prolonged session.”

Some considerations:

• Massage practitioners should take a complete history of the animal to focus on areas that will help the dog most and to avoid worsening preexisting conditions.

• Massage practitioners don’t diagnose medical problems. If your dog is limping there could be any number of causes, including disc problems, a hairline fracture or other issues. Many massage practitioners won’t treat a dog that favors one leg, appears gimpy or is extremely sensitive in an area unless a vet has checked it out.

• Ask where the person trained and how much experience she has, especially if you have a dog with arthritis or other condition that requires special skill to relieve some pain.

You can locate a practitioner by asking vets, friends or dog-agility groups. Or go to www.iamb.org/current-members.php, a website that gives a state-by-state list of more than 300 members of the International Association of Animal Massage and Bodywork.

What’s your question? Sharon Peters would like to hear about what’s on your mind when it comes to caring for, training and loving your pet. E-mail Sharon@Pets2008.com.

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