How Your Pets Benefit from Your Massage

Everyone knows the benefits of massage for humans, but did you know that your pet can benefit from it too?

In fact, pet massage is a great way for pet owners to participate in their pets overall well-being, and when combined with professional massage, makes the massage and petting you already do, more powerful, more effective, and a more effective health experience for your pet.

What is Pet Massage?

Pet massage incorporates techniques involving medical or Swedish massage and variations of human energy bodywork and is even used by animal trainers, handlers, and behaviorists. Following the massage, pets are reported to be more radiant, more comfortable with their bodies, they appear to be more relaxed, and they are more comfortable with their families.

The Benefits of Pet Massage

The benefits of pet massage run far and wide, including giving them the ability to reach their fullest potential. Studies show that pets that receive touch are happier, more willing to accept guidance, and are easier to train. These same studies show that those who were deprived of touch suffered physical and emotional development, including low circulation, stress dwarfism, depressed immune system, smaller stature, and are more susceptible to injuries and disease.

Some other benefits of pet massage:

Enhances Bonding

During massage, pets experience critical psycho-social interaction, which strengthens their connection, enhances their trust factor and improves their bond with their owners. This is beneficial for behavior modification and teaching and training. The repetitive movement of a pet massage also reinforces their need for comfort.

Improves Circulation, Flexibility, Muscle Tone, and Endurance

The pulling and pushing of the skin and muscles and the gentle manipulation of the limbs improve circulation, flexibility, and muscle tone similar to exercise. Sports pets and those used in competition develop stronger, faster, and more symmetrical frames with massage. They also mend faster and are less prone to injuries. Massage also increases the rate of respiration, which strengthens your pet's respiratory system. A strong respiratory system improves breathing, which provides more oxygen to the muscles and improves your pet's endurance.

Helps Relieve Joint Pain and Stiffness

Sometimes your pet can suffer from joint pain or stiffness as a result of lack of exercise. When they have no way to work off their food, it can turn to fat. The fat puts extra strain on their heart and muscles, which can result in joint pain and stiffness.

Furthermore, large joint movement increases lymphatic drainage from the extremities. When they do not engage in large joint movement, it can result in unrelenting and unresolved fluid pressure, or inflammation, within the joints, fascia, and other tissues. Lastly, without the opportunity to increase respiration and expel chemical toxins and dust, it can clog their lungs and make it harder to breath.

Helps Pets Rehabilitate After Surgeries and Other Traumas

Pet massage has been shown to be effective in helping pets in post surgery and post-traumatic rehabilitation. During massage for rehabilitation, techniques are presented as gentle physical therapy, focusing mainly on the affected portions of your pet's body. Treatment centers on the notion that dogs have an inherent intuitive drive to achieve balance and wellness. During therapy, the movement of a limb within a specific range and the application of specific strokes are used to bring about the healing of the affected body part.

Massage therapy balances the hormones, removes lactic acid from muscle tissue, provides emotional stability, improves intestinal organ system functions and skin, and raises the body to an elevated, more healthy state.

Provides Ongoing Assessment of Your Pet

When your pet undergoes massage on a regular basis, either by you or a professional massage therapist, it allows you to know your pet's body and how they respond to touch. Over time, you will become more aware of how your pet is moving and acting. Any change in the way your pet moves or reacts is a red flag that there is an imbalance in their body. Any unrecognizable shape, heat, texture or reaction to your touch, may signal a problem, in which case, it may warrant a trip to your vet.

Pets whose health can be compromised in many ways desperately need pet massage. However, healthy pets also benefit from massage. Pet massage integrates well with traditional veterinary medicine. When used in combination, whatever conventional or holistic treatment was given is generally more effective. When the pet is emotionally stable, the pathways and receptors are open, which means the pet more readily accepts treatment and recovers more quickly and more thoroughly.

Eugene Wood is a leading NYC and Long Island Massage Therapist and the Education Chair for the NY Chapter of the American Massage Therapy Association. Eugene has offices in Manhattan and Wantagh, Long Island. Learn more by visiting his website at www.eugenewoodmassage.com.