PAWS in the PARK EVENT- CAMDEN 2012

            These delightful dogs thoroughly enjoyed their massages at the Paws in the Park held on Sunday the 28th October 2012.

  

  

 

Meet Tasha...

Meet Tasha. This beautiful nine year old Rottweiler and I first met in July 2012 after a phone call from her mum seeking some help for her.

Tasha was recovering from the removal of her left front leg in May due to cancer and was having difficulty maintaining her balance. She also needed help with her hind quarters as in recent years she had TPLO surgeries on both her back legs and was very stiff in her gait. She also suffers with some arthritis.

When I first met Tasha at her home, her balance was so unsteady that when she came to greet me, she kept falling down on her chin, which scared her greatly. With clearance given by her oncologist to proceed with weekly massage, I started on the road to help her regain her balance, proprioception and ease the tightness in her hind quarters.

On the fourth visit to Tasha, it was a delight to see her come running down her yard to greet me, the massage and propriocetion exercises had helped to give her full confidence in balancing on her three legs. To our surprise last week, she is now confident enough to jump up on her hind legs to greet us, though her owner discourages this mischievous behaviour.

Unfortunately, Tasha has not been without setbacks since I have been seeing her. In late August she suffered a reaction after having a chemotherapy treatment which left her unable to move her legs properly. Her owner decided to take her back to her orthopaedic specialist for a check up. He was unsure of what caused the reaction but recommended she maintain her weekly massages as he could see the improvement with her.

Tasha is due to have her final chemotherapy treatment in October and we all hope for a positive outcome for this beautiful lady.

I will continue Tasha’s weekly massage sessions, helping to strengthen her muscles and introduce new challenges for her as she gains more confidence with herself.

Sadly, Tasha lost her brave battle and crossed The Rainbow Bridge on 17th June 2013. 

The Effects of Aging on Dogs

As our canine companion become older, life starts to change for them in so many different ways. Suddenly this once young active dog now finds it harder to climb the stairs, jump on the lounge or into the car and run or play the way he/she once did.  His/her hearing has become duller and their eyes don’t see as clearly anymore.  The wonderful long walks have now become much shorter and they are more likely to prefer a cosy spot to lay down and sleep for longer periods of time.

If one is not careful they can suffer from pressure sores, so a soft comfy bed is a good choice to help stop this happening. They will get chilled much easier and need to be kept warm in the colder weather.  A heat pad is a good choice for the older dog to help keep them warm and help with their stiff joint problems.

Some elderly canines can suffer from separation anxiety, while others can suffer from canine Alzheimer’s.  Age is now catching up with this gentle and much loved canine but many things can be done to keep this wonderful friend more active including weekly massages.

The benefits of massage to an older dog are that it helps to stimulate and increase flexibility/body tone, circulation of blood and oxygen to the tissues. In some cases partial massage can be used as a substitute for exercise in dogs with a decreased range of motion and joint problems. It also promotes healing and helps cleanse the body of metabolic waste. The body’s natural pain reliever called endorphins helps relieve pain and discomfort naturally. Inappropriate physical and emotional behaviours are also greatly modified.  All of the above are a wonderful adjunct to veterinary care when needed.

“Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference”.........portion of the serenity prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr

Written by Heather Brook. (copyright 2012)

Colder weather and how it can affect our dogs.

With the warmer days coming to a close in Australia, and the colder days of Autumn and Winter starting, you need to make sure your dogs are kept warm.  

Some dogs are more susceptible to feeling the cold especially older dogs and those that suffer with joint problems.  

Some simple things that will help to make your dog feel more cosy.

* A raised bed off the ground such as a trampoline bed.
* A dog coat to keep the chills away.
* A heat pad is especially good for older dogs and those that suffer from joint stiffness.
* If your dog lives outdoors make sure they have a warm kennel with thick cosy bedding.
* If your dog gets wet, make sure you dry them off well, particularly before they settle for the night. Having a damp coat will not help a dog that suffers with joint problems.

Like humans, dogs really enjoy a good massage, so why not treat them to some this winter. Massage will help to relieve aching muscles and joints which is quite often brought on by the cold weather. They will love you for it.

- Written by Heather Brook. - 2012

I pet my dog all the time, he/she really enjoys it so why is massage different?

As a Canine Massage Therapist I am frequently told by loving owners "I pet my dog all the time, he/she really enjoys it so why is massage different?"

I explain to owners that while “Fido” most certainly enjoys all the petting that is given to him/her it is not the same as having a good doggy massage. The reason for the difference between petting and massage is a purposeful and intentional technique of touching your dog. The strokes are controlled in the amount of pressure, direction and intention that you use. It’s also an effective way of detecting and relieving many health problems, aids in healing and helps reduce hyperactivity, nervousness and anxiety in dogs. It also has great benefits to offer older dogs that suffer from chronic and degenerative disorders and also include things like arthritis, stiffness of joints and decreased range of motion.  Massage can be used as a partial substitute for exercise as it helps maintain and increase blood circulation and flexibility. We as healers, handlers and caretakers of our precious canine companions should become alert to changes and other warning signals that may require professional veterinary attention. 


-Written by Heather Brook. (copyright 2010)

Welcome to my Canine MassageTherapy Blog

Dog massage also known as Canine Myofunctional Therapy (CMT) is a muscle therapy developed specifically for dogs. 
The benefits from this 100% natural, hands on method of injury repair and pain relief truly offers benefits for dogs of all ages and stages.
Working in conjunction with veterinarians and dog owners I aim to give my canine patients quality massage therapy treatment. Please stay awhile and look around.

Holly enjoying her massage.