WHAT TO EXPECT

BEFORE TREATMENT

Chilterns Clinical Canine Massage acknowledges and respects the veterinary surgeons act 1966 and exemption order 2015. Before commencing treatment on your dog, you will need to obtain a signed consent form from your veterinary surgeon. This is a legal requirement and veterinary consent will enable your vet to inform me of any diagnosis, medications and contraindications before treatment.

Please note, if your dog has had vaccinations or a spot-on flea / tick treatment there will need to be a period of two weeks before commencing treatment.

Download your consent form here

ON THE DAY - INITIAL CONSULTATION

The first consultation will last for about 1.5 hours and will include a detailed discussion on your dog's condition and your reason for choosing canine massage. Your dog's lifestyle, such as exercise, and Activities of Daily Living (ADL's) will be discussed.

This time also allows me the chance to become acquainted with your dog and for them to relax and become comfortable with me prior to the massage.

GAIT AND POSTURAL ANALYSIS

I will observe how your dog walks and trots going away from me and coming towards me to help me determine if there are any gait irregularities present such as lameness, stiffness, incoordination and areas of discomfort.

I will also observe how your dog stands and transitions into a sit, lying down and back into a sit / stand, again looking for any irregularities, areas of discomfort and how they distribute their body weight.

PALPATION

The basis of the art of palpation is assessing the 4 T's - Tone, Texture, Temperature and Tenderness and in addition, having a thorough understanding of a muscle's origin and insertion (where it starts and ends), its fibre direction and its actions will allow for a complete picture to be formed.

Using my fingers, I will perform a palpation of the various superficial muscles, assessing them for strains, trigger points, hypertonicity and myofascial pain

MASSAGE TREATMENT

Your dog will then receive a full body massage. Each treatment is tailored to your dog's individual needs, depending on what has been found during the palpation. An integrated blend of Swedish, Sports, Deep Tissue, Myofascial release and the Lenton Method® are used.

The massage will generally last for 60 minutes however, I always work at your dog's pace and will adapt the massage for your dog and the situation where needs be.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Following the massage treatment, I will discuss my findings with you and give you a detailed handout on post massage care and advice that you can employ to further help your dog.

Clinical Canine Massage aims to improve your dog with in 1 - 3 sessions. Subsequent treatments are generally booked within 3 - 5 weeks and last approximately one hour.

Following the 3 initial treatments I will then write a report and send it to your veterinary surgeon.

Your dog's health is my priority and as a member of the Canine Massage Guild I work best practice. If no improvement is seen within the 3 sessions I do not continue and if I find an area of concern, I will refer back to your veterinary surgeon.