Canine Massage
Whether your dog is suffering from injury or a specific condition, Clinical Canine Massage could provide benefit in just 1 to 3 sessions.
ABOUT CANINE MASSAGE
Clinical Canine Massage is a powerful therapy which offers resolution of painful soft tissue injuries and issues, that occur in the muscle, tendon, ligament or fascia.
Just like humans, dogs can incur soft tissue injuries at any age. Issues can come on suddenly, as the result of accident or physical trauma, or can present over a longer period of time due to repetition of certain activities, such as ball chasing.
Clinical Canine Massage can also help to provide relief to dogs with orthopaedic conditions such as Osteoarthritis, Hip Dysplasia and Spondylosis. These conditions can put the dog’s body under additional strain, resulting in pain and discomfort.
.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Signs your dog may benefit from massage
Dogs can be very good at hiding pain, meaning that signs of discomfort can be subtle. If you recognise any of the below in your dog, they may benefit from massage:
​
+ Lameness/Limping
+ Stiffness
+ Difficulty going up or down stairs
+ Problems getting in or out of the car
+ Slowing down before their time
+ Hopping or skipping on back legs
+ Slowing down on walks or disinterested
+ Gait or Posture irregularities
+ Neck/Back/Shoulder issues
+ Reluctant to be petted, groomed or examined
+ Nerves or anxiety
+ Crying out in pain or yelping
+ Performance issues in sporting dogs
+ Orthopaedic conditions, such as Arthritis, Hip or Elbow Dysplasia, Luxating Patella
+ Change in behaviour, such as becoming snappy or depressed
+ Self-mutilation, such as biting or nibbling​​
​​​
Common soft tissue injuries/ issues
+ Strains - a tear to the muscle and the most common muscular injury; can occur at any age + Trigger Points – Hyperirritable bands in the tissue that cause referred and local pain + Myofascial Pain – a chronic pain disorder caused by connective tissue restrictions which surround nerves + Overcompensation – weight shifting from areas of injury or arthritis which create new areas of painful tension + Protective Muscle Splinting – commonly associated with the muscle having to work too hard due to orthopaedic issues, such as Hip or Elbow Dysplasia
Common Orthopaedic Conditions
+ Osteoarthritis / Arthritis + Hip Dysplasia + Elbow Dysplasia + Luxating Patella + Spondylosis + Cruciate Ligament Damage & (Tibial Plateau Levelling Osteotomy) TPLO procedure
BENEFITS
What results can I expect to see with my dog?
Every dog is different and will respond differently to massage. Recent clinical trials conducted by the Canine Massage Guild with Winchester University have shown that over 95% of dogs responded positively to clinical canine massage therapy. Below are some common benefits identified by owners:
​
+ Resolution or reduction of lameness
+ Moving freely
+ Relieved stiffness/soreness
+ A pain free dog
+ Improved mood
+ More willing to be touched, groomed and examined
+ Have their ‘zest’ for life back
+ Able to use stairs and get into car
+ Coping better with arthritis
+ Faster recovery from injury or operation
+ Enjoying walks again
+ Able to live life to the full
+ Improved sporting performance
​
Find out more about the clinical trials here.
​​​
What to expect during your first treatment
03
Gait and postural analysis
I will observe the way your dog walks, trots and canters, as well as the way they stand, sit and transition between lying and standing. I will be looking for any irregularities in the way that they move and generally hold themselves. This will help me to identify areas of restriction, stiffness and pain.
05
Massage treatment
Having assessed your dog, I will progress with their first treatment, which I will tailor to their specific needs. I will use a number of techniques from the following four disciplines of massage: Swedish, deep tissue, sports massage, and direct and indirect myofascial release. During the massage I will seek to address areas of hypertonicity, muscle strains, scarring, trigger points and myofascial pain.
02
Consultation
During the consultation I will ask you a few questions about your dog’s history and lifestyle, including their activities of daily living, diet, exercise regime and any past injuries. At this point, we’ll also talk about your expectations of the massage.
04
Palpation
This is a hands-on assessment of the superficial muscles and soft tissues of your dog’s body. This allows me to feel for any areas of injury or issue, which often go undetected.
06
Aftercare advice
At the end of the session, I will provide suggestions and recommendations relating to steps that you can take to help your dog after receiving their massage.
FOLLOW UP TREATMENTS
Second and third treatments
To ensure that you get the best results for your dog, it is recommended that they receive 3 massage treatments over a 3 to 5 week period. Following your dog’s first treatment, any subsequent massages will take about 60 minutes.
​
After your dog’s third massage, I will write a short report that I will share with your vet, for their records. Edinburgh Clinical Canine Massage follows Best Practice Principles; if your dog shows no sign of improvement by the end of the third session, I will refer them back to their veterinary surgeon for further investigation.
Maintenance treatments
Many dogs benefit from regular maintenance treatments, the frequency of which is very much owner led, but are typically carried out every 4 to 8 weeks. Maintenance massages can be especially helpful for older dogs or those with orthopaedic issues such as arthritis, hip dysplasia, or luxating patella, as massage helps to maintain mobility and alleviate chronic pain. Very active, and sporting dogs, also benefit from maintenance treatments, which can help to improve performance, by maintaining flexibility and mobility.
PRICING
How much does a canine massage cost?
A clinical canine massage therapy treatment session costs £40.
The first session will take about 90 minutes, subsequent sessions will last up to 60 minutes.
​
Unable to travel to me? No problem, I also offer home visits within the Edinburgh area for £45.
​
​Home visits outside of the Edinburgh area, may incur a small additional charge. This will be discussed at the time that the first appointment is made.
