Animal massage

Massage for a four-legged friend?

Okay, we know it might sound a bit... eccentric, but people really do massage pets. Horses, cats, or dogs benefit from therapeutic and relaxation massages, and it is by no means a whim. Just like us, animals can suffer from various physical and nervous ailments. They can also get injured - especially those who practice sports (most often horses and dogs), but an injury can also happen during a regular walk or play in a meadow.

Animals generally really enjoy this type of therapy because, in addition to its beneficial effect on their body, massage puts them into a state of deep relaxation. It can be used as an individual therapeutic treatment or as a treatment complementing other forms of therapy.

Therapeutic massage

The healing effect of massage is particularly useful in the treatment of orthopedic and neurological disorders. It helps combat various types of pain, muscle contractures, tendonitis, soft tissue scars, and edema. It is a permanent element of post-operative rehabilitation. In this case, just as in humans, it helps in returning to fitness, even after long-term immobilization.

Massage not only heals but can also prepare the body for specific challenges. For animals used in sports, it will be an excellent complement to training.

Appropriate sports massage techniques are used to achieve specific results. For example, to properly prepare an animal for the start of the competition season after a break (e.g., winter), a maintenance massage is performed. Before the actual competition, a pre-exertion massage is applied – warming up the most burdened muscles and joints, which, among other things, prevents injuries.

In case an animal participates in a larger number of events on a given day, an inter-exertion massage is used, which helps to alleviate the hardships of such a heavy load.

After the competition is over, a post-exertion massage combined with stretching will accelerate tissue regeneration.

And here is an interesting fact.

Did you know that our MediGun vibration massager is used for massaging horses?

Relaxation massage

This form of massage works especially well for highly neurotic animals because it calms, soothes, relaxes, and eliminates even deep depression in animals. Currently, this form of massage is used - with very good results - e.g., in dogs with traumatic pasts, abandoned dogs, etc. Show animals also benefit from this form of relaxation. It helps to reduce the stress associated with performances.

Of course, many of our four-legged friends will appreciate such a massage. It is therefore worth performing it - of course on those pets that won't bite our hand off or scratch our eyes out... - It is an excellent way to strengthen the relationship with your pet.

A MOMENT OF REFLECTION

If you think your pet needs a rehabilitation massage, consult your veterinarian.

Massaging a dog, just like massaging a human, requires professional knowledge: knowledge of the anatomy of the one being massaged, an understanding of the diagnosis, and knowledge of the methods of rehabilitating a given condition. Do not act on your own, because it may turn out that your actions will bring the opposite effect to what was intended.

You should entrust your pet to an animal massage therapist, who will not only help the animal alleviate pain or regain fitness but will also show you how to work with your beloved four-legged friend.