What is companion animal massage?

Companion animal massage is a manual therapy that focuses on relaxing the soft tissues in your pet’s body.  Just like human massage, it is used for various benefits such as pain management and injury prevention. Massage benefits the musculoskeletal system, the blood circulatory, the lymphatic system, and the nervous system.

What kind of pets does it help?

Massage can benefit pets of all ages, breeds, and lifestyles. From your aging cat to your sporting dog, massage can improve their well-being by decreasing pain and stress. Massage can improve mobility, posture, and gait. It can support blood circulation and boost lymphatic system function. If your pet is recovering from surgery or an injury, or just is not interested in their favorite activities anymore, massage may be an effective treatment. Just like with humans, it may take a few sessions to see results.

Do I need to be referred by a veterinarian?

No, but if you are interested in massage for your pet, you should contact your veterinarian first to ensure it is recommended. It is always preferable to have an exam by your veterinarian before starting massage since they will be able to detect any slight variations in the health of your pet that I may need to know about before we start massage therapy. I will request records from your veterinarian and if they feel that there are any contraindications for massage then we will wait until your pet is cleared for massage.

If your pet is dealing with an injury, surgery, or acute pain then they will need an appropriate pain management plan to make them more comfortable. They might not want to be massaged if their pain is not properly managed.

If you have a sporting / performance / or working pet then an exam by a veterinarian that specializes in Canine Rehabilitation is highly recommended. If you need any recommendations, please contact me directly.

What does a massage session look like?

Your pet's first session will be 1 to 1.5 hours long so that I can assess gait and posture, and let your pet become comfortable with me. I am fear-free trained and will perform as much massage as your pet will allow on the first session. Subsequent sessions will be 45 to 60 minutes long for dogs and 30 to 45 minutes for cats. If your pet is uncomfortable with massage in the beginning, we can take it slowly and work towards gaining trust. Some pets lay down and fully relax and others will stand and/or walk away, taking breaks frequently.  Sometimes treats/toys help and sometimes they are a distraction.

How do I book a session?

Please go to the Book an Appointment page and make the appropriate selection for you and your pet. If you have any questions regarding which session is the one to select, please contact me directly. I am currently making home visits unless you request otherwise.