Can any dog have a remedial massage?

Remedial massage is used as both a treatment to prevent dysfunction occurring and to resolve injuries as they arise. It can be used in treating both acute and chronic issues from a limping dog pre-surgery to an elderly dog with ongoing issues due to arthritis.

Your vet may support medical interventions like prescription medication and surgery with complementary health care such as massage. This is because massage can improve blood flow, reduce inflammation and encourage tissue healing and also positively affect a dog's mental health through relaxation and stress reduction.

All of which can accelerate healing and maintain tissue health.

Are there side effects?

There are little to no side effects from massage (a slight increase in inflammation is rare, easily managed and non-life threatening) and the benefits are far reaching.

Do you need a referral?

Your vet may recommend massage to assist in your dog's health plan however massage is not something that needs a referral. As it is such a safe modality, dog owners (or parents) are able to seek out canine remedial massage without consulting their vet. However, we always recommend checking in with your vet first, especially if your dog has specific orthopaedic issues or is on medications.

If you are interested in incorporating canine remedial massage into your dog's health plan, please get in touch; we'd love to hear from you.