Is pet
massage different from petting? Yes.
Massage extends many benefits beyond those of simple petting.
Massage is
the manipulation of of muscles and skin to promote increased circulation
to all the organs and tissues in your dog's body. In massage we
use many different hand positions and strokes along the muscle
and joint
structure of the pet, and utilize controlled pressure.
Why should
my pet get a massage? There are a number of possitive
effects a massage can give to your pet, and to you. We believe
pet
massage provides many benefits for your petg's overall physical
and emotional wellness. It is a great way to show your pet that
you care,
and massage can be a very calming and relaxing time for both of
you.
What types
of pets should get a massage? All kinds of pets, every
pet in fact. Professional MLB players get sport massage, and so
do race horses. Why not our other pet athletes? Massage
can be great for
older pets since it enhances blood circulation and tones muscles.
Babies are good candidates, too. They will learn to accept human
touch on various parts of their body, and learn to remain calm.
Massage can help pets with recuperation from injury or surgery
by enhancing
blood and lymph circulation and possibly shortening the recuperation
time. Massage is also for our normal, healthy (or couch potato)
pets. Pets with emotional issues might find massaging effective
in finding
their inner tranquility.
How do
we know if our pet likes to be massaged? Pets who
enjoy massage might lean onto your hands, close their eyes,
burrow
into your hands
and arms, some even start to doze off. Every pet has her favorite
spot to be massaged. After a while, they may start to come
to you and push their favorite body parts to be massaged
against you and
demand that you massage them!
Are there
any side-effects of the massage? Unlike medicine, there
are no side-effects of massage, except the fact that your pet may
learn to like it too much and demand that you massage her more
often. We use a very gentle method of massage, and
we do not
apply excessive pressure or force to the animal's body. We are
extra careful with some pets including pregnant pets, pets with
recent
bone fractures, and pets with cancer but we will make sure of your
pet's health condition during the initial phone or e-mail consultation.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding massage and your
pet's health, we urge you to contact your veterinarian beforehand.
How long
does it take for a massage session? The length of the
massage session depends on the individual animal. Since our program
is customized
according to your pet's health and condition, it's difficult to
generalize. It takes some pets longer to get accustomed to the
touch of massage. The first session with a shy or reluctant pet
may take as little
as 30 minutes,
and some sessions may take up to an hour. It's very hard to generalize.
Will you
teach me how to massage my pet so I can preform massages in-between
visits/
or so I won't need your services? Absolutely! We can discuss
this more during your pet's initial session. It is best for you
to massage your own pet and have that special time together. We
are happy to continue our services for those who do not have the
time/ability/inclination to massage their own pets.