Four Borders Canine Massage Therapy

19/04/2025

🖤🩶 Baxter the Border Collie 🩶🖤

What a little star this boy is!

Baxter is a rescue collie and can be a little anxious and suspicious in new environments, so it was important to ensure the Clinic was a calm, cool, quiet space before we started each session.

He is the sweetest boy though and having taken time to allow him to feel comfortable, with a couple of familiarisation sessions first, he relaxed beautifully, to enjoy and benefit from a full massage session.

Baxter has had a few issues with his overall comfort levels, and over-compensation, has caused soreness and tight areas within a key group of muscles. He is currently enjoying a multi-modal approach which includes Physio, Chiro and of course (!), Massage. We are all working together to help this wonderful boy.

As well as helping dogs to feel more comfortable through canine massage, these special moments of mutual trust between the therapist and the dog, are what mean so much to me in this role.

See you soon, gorgeous boy Baxter!

Image used with kind permission of Owner

05/04/2025

⚠️ Please, please, be extra vigilant at this time of year and through the summer months! Remain calm if your dog is bitten by an adder and follow the clear instructions…my own collie was very, very lucky - I was able to carry him across the field to the car, and he was in the veterinary surgery within minutes. They saved his life with anti-venom. It took him over three weeks to feel completely well.

Not all dogs are as lucky as Charlie, but if you follow this guide and are always prepared, there is every chance you could save your dog’s life.

🐍 Adders 🐍

With the glorious weather recently, we have seen an expected increase in calls regarding adder bites.

The adder (Vipera berus berus) is the only venomous snake native to the UK, and is also found across northern Europe. It is a protected species in the UK. Adders are most commonly, but not exclusively, found on dry, sandy heaths, sand dunes, rocky hillsides, moorlands and woodland edges. The clinical signs of an adder bite can include rapid and progressive swelling around the bite site, pain, lethargy, vomiting, bruising, bleeding and collapse.

What should you do if your pet has been bitten by an adder?
❌Do not panic.
❌Do not interfere with the bite.
❌Do not apply a tourniquet.
❌Do not attempt to touch or catch the snake.
❌Do not kill the snake – it is a protected species.
❌If practical, carry your dog to your car and go to your veterinary surgeon - do not delay seeking advice even if your pet is well as things can change quickly.

Adders are not aggressive and generally only bite when provoked. They hibernate in the winter and as a result most bites occur in the summer. Pets are frequently bitten on the leg, head or neck. If your pet has been bitten by an adder (even if you did not see the snake or are not sure what happened) – contact your vet immediately. Your vet will examine your pet to determine the location of the bite and extent of the swelling.

Veterinary professionals can call us any time on 02073 055 055 if required for assistance with managing cases of adder bites. We also hold a list of antivenom stockists across the UK. Please note that antivenom is not indicated in all cases.

19/03/2025

💕 I’m delighted to share that having completed a 5 Module CPD course on Photobiomodulation, I am now a certified Photizo Light Therapy Practitioner, and this will be an addition to the Four Borders Clinic.

💕 Natalie Lenton of The Canine Massage Guild, trains therapists, the art of ‘advanced palpation’ through targeted touch across 40 pairs of muscles throughout an intensive 2 year course. This allows the therapist to identify areas of soft tissue and joint, deviations and discomfort. Typically we are able to feel for changes in the muscles such as trigger points, strains, adhesions, myofascial pain, and temperature changes.

💕 The Photizo Light Therapy Vetcare Unit is a stand alone additional aid, which delivers one-touch pre-programmed red and infra-red light. Amongst many benefits, it can offer further calming effects for your dog, and support the therapist’s role in aiding with soft tissue repair by faster improvement in musculoskeletal, swelling, and inflammatory responses. It can also aid in the recovery of infection, and helps to minimise chronic scar tissue formation.

With the ability to feel for changes through my finger-tips, first and foremost, and using the unique protocols taught by the Canine Massage Guild, the Photizo may be used as a complementary therapy tool.

Image of my own border collie 💕

11/03/2025

💙 Disco..vering Canine Massage 💙

This gorgeous little boy, Disco, visited the clinic this week for very important cuddles, and to get to know the environment too. (He stayed in my arms as he hasn’t completed his innoculation process yet).

His young owner trains and competes in agility and is keen for him to have future clinical canine massage therapy sessions, to help maintain his fitness and comfort levels as he grows, and then starts his foundation levels in the sport.

Did you know that Canine massage is beneficial for puppies too, as :

🐶 It helps to build confidence through human touch and handling

🐶 Can help with anxiety and nervous behaviour

🐶 Helps to identify soft tissue issues early such trigger points, strains, myofascial pain, and bony changes through palpation and gait analysis

🐶 Aids skin and cell regeneration

🐶 Improves circulation

🐶 Improves digestion

I’m sure you’ll have grown a little more when I see you next little man! See you very soon 🩶

Image used with kind permission of owner.

08/03/2025

🌟🏆🥇Bebe did it!!🥇🏆🌟

Huge Congratulations to Bebe and Michael who won the ABC Medium (Anything But a Collie) Overall Agility on the famous green carpet at Crufts!

It is such an achievement to even qualify for this world famous show, let alone win! It takes years of training, dedication, and targeted musculoskeletal care.

Michael keeps Bebe in tip top condition by taking her comfort and fitness levels very seriously - she is an athlete afterall. A multimodal approach keeps Bebe feeling her best, and I am super proud to play a part in her fitness journey.

You are both absolute stars! Huge CONGRATULATIONS 👏🤩👏🤩

26/02/2025

🩷 Be more Bebe 🩷

This little girl just after her pre-Crufts canine massage maintenance session was complete.

A nice stretch out, a roll over, and a contented smile.

Wishing beautiful sweet Bebe and her talented owner/handler, SO much luck in the Crufts ABC Medium Jumping and Agility competitions next week! Watch out for them on that green carpet! It’s a huge achievement to qualify! 💚

You need to wake up now though Bebe 😆

GOODL LUCK and see you soon special girl xx

17/02/2025

🐾💛 Incredible Indy 💛 🐾

This sweet boy is currently having his first three clinical canine massage sessions, before he moves onto a maintenance programme.

Indy has a condition called ‘Alopecia’ which is hair, or fur, loss. There are many reasons, and conditions, that can cause Alopecia but it can be treated in most cases.

As with every new client, a signed vet consent was obtained before his first session.

So, how can clinical canine massage help Indy?

✅ It can stimulate the hair follicle growth by increasing blood flow and improving overall circulation.

✅ Improved circulation efficiently delivers oxygen and nutrients to the tissues throughout the dog’s body, promoting skin and coat health.

✅ Massage can improve lymphatic flow which carries metabolic waste away from the organs and muscles.

✅ Indy will also further benefit from these sessions, as he can be a little anxious, and the careful, and targeted massage techniques in conjunction with Lenton Method™️ protocols, aid in lowering the sympathetic nervous system. This process then activates the parasympathetic nervous system, and, as this is the body’s rest and digest system, it instigates a calming and relaxing effect.

See you very soon little guy. You are such a star and I love our time together 🌟

Images taken by, and given permission to be used by, Indy’s owner. (Treats provided by owner)

31/12/2024

🩷 🐾 The Bee-eautiful Bee who saw out a wonderful and exciting 2024 for Four Borders Clinical Canine Massage Therapy 💕

Thank you to every one of my lovely, clients who have made this year an absolute pleasure and joy to go to work. Each and every one of you are special, and I feel so honoured and lucky to work with you. Thank you.
I can’t wait for 2025! 🐾🩷

21/12/2024

🎄 It’s not too late if you’ve run out of time and inspiration, and the shops and online supplies are low on those dog toys and treats!!

Canine Massage Therapy - please do visit the Canine Massage Guild website to find out how canine massage really can help your dog feel more comfortable, and to find your local canine massage therapist.

Have a wonderful, safe and happy festive season 🎄

17/12/2024

🩷 Leaving the clinic earlier today before my exciting appointment with a local Canine Acupuncturist, based at a Veterinary Surgery, who invited me to go along and learn a little more about how acupuncture works, and how it can help dogs.

We share a mutual client, and it has been so interesting from my perspective and Amy’s, how in this particular dog’s case, both modalities of canine massage and acupuncture have absolutely complimented the other, both therapies having many physiological and pschological benefits. Some benefits do cross over, but most just truly compliment the other.

This combination has allowed our canine client to enjoy life to the full again. He is a much happier, content dog, with improved behaviour, improved overall comfort and mobility, increased range of movement,and, he is really enjoying his walks again!

I feel so proud that as Therapists specialising in different areas, we can both understand that sometimes a multi-modal approach may be beneficial for the dog.

Ultimately, we want whatever works best for the canine client, helping them feel more comfortable and living their best life to the full 🥰

I’m really looking forward to the future! 🩷

15/11/2024

I’m not ‘lion’ - this boy is super special ☺️

🦁 Dave the Leonberger, visited the Clinic recently. His owners had noticed that Dave seemed uncomfortable in his neck, but weren’t certain they could pinpoint the exact area.

🧡 We decided to do a Muscular Health Check. This allows the Therapist to check 40 pairs of muscles from head to tail. There were actually other sore areas present, which weren’t obvious before the check.

🦁 Referred pain is a term used when there is an injury in one area, however pain is felt elsewhere. Common areas can be neck, shoulders and back, however it can affect any part of the body.

🧡 The main reason? This is because nerves are connected via a huge and intricate network of fibres called the ‘Fascia’.

🦁 Fascia is a connective tissue that covers every single muscle, bone, nerve fibre, organ, blood vessel and ligaments. It is made up of nerve fibres and is as sensitive as skin. When stressed, or restricted, it can cause discomfort and play a part in referred pain.

🧡 The client will now ask her Vet to sign the Consent Form for a full massage session.

🦁 I can’t wait to see you soon Dave. And I’m so happy that you felt relaxed enough afterwards, to fall asleep! 🥹🧡

Images used with kind permission of owner.

07/11/2024

…. Not just another day at the office! 🩷

04/11/2024

❤️ It was time for a First Aid course renewal and to refresh my First Aid knowledge!

Super interesting, I thoroughly enjoyed this 10 module Canine First Aid Diploma course.

Not all of the subjects covered will apply to canine massage of course, but it’s incredibly beneficial and important to have this knowledge, in terms of working with dogs, being a dog owner, and being around dogs in sports such as dog agility.

📣 Did you know, that it’s been estimated, that 92 per cent of pets will experience an emergency situation and require immediate or very short term First Aid! That is nearly ALL pets!!

🩺 Up to 60 per cent of veterinary visits are of an emergency nature!

🫀Do you know how to take a dog’s pulse? You may be interested to know that a normal pulse will vary from the size of dog, (small, or medium or large breed) - and it’s different again for puppies!

💦 Would you recognise the signs of a dog that is de-hydrated?

🫀 Did you know that there is an easy acronym for emergency CPR…

A = Airways
B = Breathing
C = Circulation

🪴 Plants, both house and garden can be toxic to dogs. So many common varieties are poisonous if ingested, such as the Rhododendrum, Tulip Bulbs, Sweet Peas, Lily of the Valley, Foxgloves, Rhubarb Leaves, Daffodil Bulbs and Azaleas - and there are many, many more!

⚠️ It would be a natural instinct to want to hold and comfort your dog or puppy following an electrical shock if they have chewed through cables. But the animal should NOT be touched. The electrical source should be disconnected FIRST.

True Example of an emergency first aid situation with my own dog :

🐍 One of my border collies suffered a severe adder bite (tag) on his nose, and I was told that my quick actions played a big part in his full recovery. I had learnt from my previous First Aid course, what to do in the case of a venomous bite.

So, how about looking into an Animal First Aid Course? Perhaps a gift idea for your Christmas list! You never know when you may be forever grateful for that bit of insight….and you may just save that precious life 🐾 ❤️❤️

01/11/2024

Just like us, every dog has their individual character, preferences and likes and dislikes.

Some of our Four Borders clients like a certain routine when they come to visit and I try to adapt the clinic and pre-massage set up process as much as I can to help them relax.

This gorgeous Whippet/Saluki, who can be a little anxious with certain triggers, really likes the pink vetbed to ruck up, (not the grey!!) and also loves blankets so she can make a ‘nest’. Then she is ready for her relaxing massage.

For this girl, massage is especially beneficial not only from a Physiological angle, but also, just as importantly from a Psycological perspective! Did you know that massage can help with both?

🩷 Psychological - ‘relays to the mental or emotional state of the mind’

Massage can :

🩷 Help to sooth

🩷 Help to relax

🩷 Have a calming effect

🩷 Give a strong feeling of touch

🩷Allow warmth to flow through the dogs muscles

🩷 Relax the nervous system

🩷 Have a mechanical soothing effect

Canine Massage could be something to consider for your dog, during this busy and more noisy season, with the many social events on, such as Halloween, Bonfire Night and Christmas.

Thank you Lottie, and thank you to her owner for giving permission to share. (Second image post-session, where she was kept warm with the blanket whilst her owner got ready to take her home)

30/10/2024

Spot lovely Logan the Dalmation 🖤

Logan’s owner was looking for some alternative therapy to help aid Logan’s recent mobility issues.

He’s a long ranging dog which can mean he will run out quite some distance, and after noticing Logan was displaying some intermittant lameness, and seeming a little ‘depressed’, the family considered he may have hurt himself on a recent wet and muddy walk.

After three canine massage sessions, he’s already showing improvement, both in mood, and gait and posture. He does love to ‘chat’ through his massage though, which can be a common trait of Dalmations. I wonder if we’ll end up covering 101 reasons why massage is beneficial. Is that possible?! 🖤

See you soon gorgeous boy.

Image taken by owner and used with their kind permission.

08/10/2024

🧡 The gorgeous Bronwyn having just had her monthly maintenance massage, and the adorable Morwenna 🧡

They live in the same household. Morwenna has had a lot of invasive therapy due to injury, and to help Morwenna understand that this is a nice place where she can relax, her owner brought her along too, and she stayed for Bronwyn’s session.

They both seem so content in the environment ☺️ This means as much to me, as the huge benefits of canine massage therapy.

I’m really looking forward to helping Morwenna feel much more comfortable using the many techniques and specific protocols taught so carefully, amd thoroughly by the Canine Massage Therapy Centre, and used only by Canine Massage Guild Therapists. ☺️🧡🧡

30/09/2024

🍀 Just checking in with little Ske straight after his recent massage session before I moved position.

As I completed hands on passive touch, slowly lifting my hands, he opened his eyes. He gave me his paw, and went back to sleep 🥹 What a boy. What a perfect role I have, as a Canine Massage Therapist 🥰

🍀 Wishing Skedaddle ALL the luck, and to your amazing handler Steph, and to the rest of TEAM GB, for the:

✨ Agility World Championships in Belgium ✨

Wake up though! That spotlight is waiting for you! 😌

24/09/2024

🧡 Knots, Nails, and Muscles! 🩷

Thank you, Barkgate, for taking such stirling care of both Lunar and Solar during their recent groom. Not only do they look beautiful and smell divine, there are other benefits of grooming.

The key reasons for my decision to have them both groomed was:

🩷 COMFORT : to make them feel more comfortable overall. Both of the girls’ fur gets very long, and can get matted. I do my best to keep them brushed, but you need an expert with the correct tools, when the fur gets matted too close to the skin.

🩷 PADS : Another key reason was for their fur to be trimmed inbetween their pads in readiness for the winter. Mud clots and ice balls can be painful. Did you know that ice balls can stretch your dogs toes apart, which can pull at the fur, and at worse cause cracking and bleeding?

🩷 NAILS : If the nails are too long, issues can arise such as splitting, which could cause open wounds. Also, longer nails may push into the soft tissue under the paw, leading to pain and possible infection.

🩷 Long nails prevent the paw pads touching the ground…this can lead to a reduction in floor/ground grip, and dogs can easily slip, causing muscle or tendon strains. Or for example, in agility sporting dogs, a difficulty in gripping the contact equipment, therefore a potential for injury.

🩷 Dog’s struggling to balance naturally because their nails are too long, could develop postural issues. This can lead to musculoskeletal discomfort such as trigger points and strains, myofascial pain and overcompensation.

I know Lunar and Solar are feeling so much better! And we will be back for maintenance sessions. I will also be booking my young boy Mars in too, before winter sets in ☺️