Pet Massage

Why would you want to give your Pet a massage? Well besides the obvious bonding there is a more healthy reason. If your pet becomes injured due to a sprang or pulled muscles or suffers from arthritis massageing is the cheapest method to use.

Anti inflammatory drugs will cost you hundreds of dollars as well as hurting the immune system. Save yourself a trip to the vet by using the following methods.

Key Points:

• Massage therapy works in a variety of ways
• Repetitive low loads on muscle allows tissue elongation
• Assists in moving fluid through the lymphatic system
• Removes and replenishes tissue fluid
• Improves movement in abnormal tissue (scars, adhesions)
• Effect on mechanoreceptors may alter pain perception
• The effects on cortisol, serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine levels have not been conclusively explained
• Appropriate massage touch has many healing properties, although the methods are not always known

Key Therapeutic Points

There are multiple types of massage strokes and techniques--we will discuss the most commonly used ones for small animals.

Contact should always be maintained between the massage therapist's hand and the patient.

Stroking

• Superficial, relaxed long movement with the tips of fingers or palms of hands
• Very light pressure--.5-1 lb
• Slow speed, 1 stroke every 3-6 seconds
• Along length of muscles, in same direction hair grows
• Used for soothing and calming effect

Effleurage

• Most common move
• Typically used every second move, at beginning and end of massage
• Always use this stroke in direction of heart
• Increases venous and lymphatic flow
• Stretches muscle fibers
• Relaxes muscles
• Gliding motion with whole hand, with thumb following fingers
• Use one or both hands with even pressure over muscles
• Stroke every 2-3 seconds
• Pressure applied can vary
• Light pressure, 2-3 lbs, is soothing
• Heavy pressure (10-15 lbs) has significant effect on circulation
• Can be done very rapidly to warm up for exercise

Petrissage

• Foundation of massage
• Kneading, muscles squeezing, compression, wringing up, and skin rolling
• Soothing at 1 stroke per second
• Stimulating at 2-4 strokes per second (athletic warm-up)
• Intermittent pressure and relaxation

Kneading

• Performed with thumbs or palmar surface of three fingers
• Rhythmic, circular movements, small circles
• Start at 2-3 lb pressure
• In large muscles may gradually increase pressure to 5-12 lbs
• Intersperse with effleurage

Compression

• Use palm of hand or lightly clenched fist, alternating hands in rhythm
• Use only on large muscle groups of large dogs
• Use caution with increased pressure
• Alternate with effleurage

Muscle squeezing

• Relaxes tense muscles
• Used on neck, back and leg muscles
• Movement of hand is between extended fingers and heel of hand
• Start gently with 5-10 lb pressure
• Use in slow rhythm, 1 per second
• Fast rhythm, 2-4 per second for athletic warm-up

Wringing up

• Used on shoulders, neck and back
• Increases circulation, relaxes muscles
• Performed with palms, thumbs abducted at 90 degree angle
• Both hands flat on body part, then wring muscle from side to side
• Start at 2 lb pressure, gradually increase depending on muscle mass and size
• Slow rhythm of 1 stroke or less per second

Skin rolling

• Helpful in maintaining skin elasticity and to prevent adhesions
• Lift skin between fingers and thumbs, push thumbs towards fingers
• Performed slowly and lightly--no more than 2 lb pressure at most

Best of all, this is something that YOU can do at home to HELP Your Pet Heal!

If your pet is in discomfort right now, you're just minutes away from being able to offer the relief your pet has been hoping for.

Veterinary Secrets Revealed is indispensable for any pet owner because the Illustrated Instructions Are So Amazingly Easy To Follow.

The Veterinary Secrets Revealed Hard Copy Manual has pictures of each problem which are placed immediately above the description of the problem to make it easy to select and follow the right treatment plan.

Detailed At Home Exam DVD - This Video makes it simple for you to become instantly proficient in being able to examine and diagnose your pet at home.

A Step by Step Walkthrough presentation CD ROM gives you even more information into how Dr Jones diagnoses these diseases, and the most important remedies that he uses daily with his clients pets.

The Entire Veterinary Secrets Revealed Multimedia Course on 5 Audio CD's allows you to hear about all the specific illnesses and remedies while driving to work or listening to your iPod.

The Veterinary Secrets Revealed Pet Health Manual on CD ROM has topics that are listed in the table of contents in alphabetical order so it's easy to find information on your own pet's particular problem.

The Veterinary Secrets Revealed Hard Copy Manual has a detailed index at the end of the book which takes you right where you need to go when you're searching for more detail. In an emergency, you need to be able to find what you need instantly.

To check all of this out, go to Veterinary Secrets Revealed Today.

Its Your Pet... Heal Them At Home!!