The Healing Power of Massage Massage therapies can ease physical pain, reduce behavioural problems and make a dog feel much more relaxed in what can be quite a stressful kennel environment. As well as easing the tension our fourlegged friends may be feeling, massage can be very helpful in rehabilitating our dogs, ready for their new loving homes. We spoke to Canine Deep Tissue and Sports Massage Therapist, Zoe Brindle, about the benefits of such massage therapies for dogs. She began volunteering at Manchester Dogs’ Home in March. What made you want to become a Canine Massage Therapist? How do you think massage therapies are beneficial to dogs? As a Sports Rehabilitator I have seen how we as humans reap the benefits of massage as well as other manual therapies, so I thought I could transfer my skills and help our four-legged friends too. And massage is great for both the physical and psychological benefits. It helps to release endorphins into the blood, in turn relaxing the dog. It can also help relieve tight muscles which can often cause pain and altered movement patterns if left untreated. What sort of techniques do you use while performing treatments on dogs? There are a number of techniques involved in massage such as Effleurage which is used to warm up the soft tissues, Petrissage that is used to stimulate the tissues and get the blood circulating and other techniques such as Frictions, Trigger Point Therapy and Myofascial Release that can be used on specific trouble areas – all the techniques used on humans are identical for canines and easily transferable! F E A T U R E Do you have any examples of how such massage therapies have been effective on dogs? Massage can help dogs in a number of ways. An example is the work I have done with an 8 month old Bloodhound Labrador, as you can imagine a very energetic and intelligent dog. Using massage techniques around the muzzle, head and ears can really help to calm a dog down, which is exactly the case with this young pup, she was out for the count in a matter of minutes! What made you want to become a volunteer at Manchester Dogs’ Home, and what do you hope to achieve here? I’ve always dreamt of working with and owning dogs but have never had the chance. I wanted to give something back because I know how much joy and happiness dogs provide us with! I think using my skills at the Home will help the dogs in a number of ways. The strain of being in a kennel can often take its toll on some dogs making them anxious and nervous. Others sometimes have mobility issues as old age sets in. Massage can help calm and sooth a dog and also get them used to human contact, as well as the physical benefits it has such as treating arthritis and breaking down old scar tissues from chronic injuries. Using alternative, non-invasive medicine with its huge physical and emotional benefits seems a logical step forward for canine-care in today’s modern world. And it can lead us as humans to a better understanding of our relationship with animals and the healing possibilities a deep connection can have – a valuable gift we can give back to our loving pets for all the happiness they bring us. Seren Abbey Hughes N O R T H E R N TA I L S S U M M E R 2 0 1 6 1 3
Northern Tails - Sept 16
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