Massage for dogs

 Massage can have a beneficial effect on a dog’s health and be a great addition to treatment.

Benefits of massage for dogs

• Relaxation.
• Reducing anxiety, fear.
• Improving the condition of the musculoskeletal system, joints, blood circulation, digestive system.
• The ability to detect pain points or fever in time.

Contraindications for massage 

• Heat.
• Infection.
• Wounds, fractures.
• Renal failure.
• Inflammatory processes.
• Epilepsy.
• Fungal diseases.

How to massage a dog

Professional massage is best left to a specialist. However, ordinary massage can be mastered by any owner.

1. Stroking the back, sides and abdomen.
2. Grasp the tail with your palm, stroke from root to tip.
3. With more intense rake-like movements of your fingers, stroke the dog from the belly to the back. The dog must stand.
4. Put down the dog. Perform circular movements with your palm, move along the muscle fibers.
5. Gently rub the dog’s paws and the area between the pads.
6. End the procedure by stroking the entire body of the dog.

Relaxing dog massage

1. Get ready and get the dog ready. Gently stroke her, speak in a low voice. Take a few breaths (slowly), shake your hands.
2. With your fingertips, make gentle circular motions along the spine. First clockwise, then counter-clockwise. Keep your fingers off the dog’s skin.
3. Walk in a circular motion at the base of the skull. Once the dog is relaxed, move to the neck (front). Avoid the trachea and muscles on both sides of the throat.
4. Slowly move towards the base of the ear. This area is massaged very carefully – the lymph glands are located there.

Rules for dog massage

1. Calm atmosphere – without extraneous sounds, other animals and active movement. Calm quiet music will not hurt.
2. Massages are done indoors only.
3. Use a table covered with a blanket.
4. Let your dog move his head if he wants to.
5. After a strenuous workout, a break is taken.
6. Start the massage no earlier than 2 hours after feeding.
7. Before the massage, clean the dog’s coat from dirt, twigs, etc.
8. Start with very light touches and only then move on to deeper ones.
9. Talk to your dog constantly.
10. Pay attention to the dog’s reaction: expression of the eyes, movements of the tail and ears, posture, breathing, sounds.
11. There should be no jewelry on the hands, the nails should be short. Do not use perfumes with a strong smell. Clothing should be loose, not restricting movement.
12. Don’t rush, be careful.
13. Don’t massage if you’re in a bad mood or angry with your dog.