| Massage therapy for small animals is part of | | | | and to stimulate the body for action. A |
| Veterinary Massage Therapy. This is a form of | | | | post-event Animal Sports massage helps the |
| massage deriving its techniques from therapeutic | | | | animal cool down. It is also diagnostic. It will help |
| massage for humans. It adapts the various | | | | indicate any injury. Show cats can also receive |
| methods and methodology to suit the specific | | | | similar treatment, although the intent might differ. |
| purpose. As in the case of massage therapy for | | | | All small animals can benefit from the different |
| humans, Veterinary Massage varies according to | | | | types of massage now available. It can help |
| the choice of the practitioner. | | | | reduce stress. An animal will relax under a good |
| Massage therapy for small animals can be holistic | | | | massage treatment. Under certain conditions, |
| in its application. It can also focus solely on the | | | | massage treatments are beneficial in healing or at |
| physical. Again, it depends totally on the approach | | | | least mitigating the problem and speeding up the |
| and its philosophy. Some therapists believe you | | | | process of healing. This is particularly true for |
| have to treat the entire make-up of a living being | | | | dogs recovering from surgery. |
| before you can heal it. You have to restore the | | | | Massage therapy can help dogs after surgery in a |
| universal life force, returning it into balance. Others | | | | number of ways. It can help them to relax. |
| perceive massage therapy as a means of healing | | | | Massage therapy reduces the stress and allows |
| the body. They do not consider it anything | | | | the healing to begin. Certain types of massage |
| beyond a form of physical treatment. For some | | | | may decrease the amount of scar tissue build-up. |
| therapists, Veterinary Massage is Medical Massage | | | | This will help in their movement. In Pet Massage |
| for animals. | | | | Therapy, one technique further enhances this by |
| You can locate various types of Veterinary | | | | utilizing Passive Joint Movement. |
| Massage for small animals on the internet. There | | | | Elder animals may also benefit from Small Animal |
| is the Tellington Touch promoted by Linda | | | | Massage Therapy. Passive Joint Movement or |
| Tellington-Jones. It promotes a method utilizing | | | | Passive Range of Movement Therapy and other |
| circular hand movements across the entire body | | | | massage techniques can help increase the mobility |
| of the animal. It is to help the animal by improving | | | | of joints. This is especially effective with dogs. Pet |
| its health. It is also a means to address and | | | | Massage can help with arthritis and such conditions |
| correct behavioral problems. It can also help dogs | | | | as hip dysplasia. This is, of course, along with |
| and cats with lameness, stiffness, stress and sore | | | | medical attention. Pet Massage is, after all, a form |
| backs. | | | | of Complementary and Alternative Medicine |
| You also run across Hands-To-Paws and other | | | | (CAM). |
| groups offering their services. There are small | | | | Another form of Pet Massage is Reiki. This |
| animal massage therapists and those who | | | | no-touching type of massage therapy is popular |
| specialize in cats or dogs. You can take courses | | | | for its perceived holistic treatment of the animal. |
| from an accredited school. Here, they will teach | | | | It tries to channel energy into the animal. It |
| you some of the basic techniques. Many of them | | | | unblocks channels to allow free flow of the life |
| derive from Swedish or Classic Massage. | | | | force. This helps create a healthy animal, on the |
| The basic techniques from Swedish Massage are | | | | physical, mental and emotional planes. |
| Effleurage, Tapotement and Petrissage. These | | | | There is also the use of Acupressure as a |
| techniques are also part of a specific type of | | | | treatment among some small animals. This even |
| Veterinary Massage -Animal Sports Massage. | | | | includes many reptiles. As with the case of all |
| Though frequently associated with horses, it is | | | | massage therapy treatments of animals, you |
| applicable to small animals. There are working dogs | | | | need to work with the pet. Never force massage |
| and show dogs who benefit from Animals Sports | | | | therapy on an unwilling animal. Always respect the |
| Massage. | | | | boundaries they set. Be aware of the areas you |
| Sporting dogs benefit from two categories of | | | | are exploring. Be careful of the abdomen, never |
| Sports Massage. They need pre-event and | | | | pressing too hard or too deeply. Above all, |
| post-event treatments. A pre-event treatment | | | | remember this is a co-operative effort. |
| helps to warm up the muscles for the contest | | | | |