My name is Jo and I have been a qualified fitness instructor and human massage therapist for around 17 years. I enjoy being able to help people be the best that they can be physically. I have always owned or lived with dogs and in 2014 one of my dogs suffered a severe injury to his hind leg. This resulted in lots of surgery and rehabilitation over a period of 9 months. During this time I used my knowledge as a human therapist to assist with his recovery but was also inspired by the care and treatment that he received at a specialist veterinary surgery. I wondered if I could train to help other dogs in similar positions. I attended a one day workshop with The Canine Massage Therapy Centre. This inspired me to then enroll on the two year Clinical Canine Massage Therapy Practitioner course.
· The identification of injuries through gait and postural analysis, along with palpation
· Orthopaedic and Neurological Conditions
· Advanced palpation
· In depth study of the Anatomy and Physiology of the Canine
· Advanced Canine Massage Techniques©, Swedish, Deep Tissue and Sports
· Myofascial Release using the Lenton Method©
I am a member of the professional organisation ‘The Canine Massage Guild’ and the founder of Wyre Forest Massage and Clinical Canine Therapy. I am fully insured and dedicated to maintain and improving my knowledge through continued professional development (CPD)
ABOUT CLINICAL CANINE MASSAGE
Clinical Canine Massage treats the body as a whole, is non-invasive, safe and very effective. Massage improves the way that the circulatory, lymphatic, muscular, skeletal, digestive and nervous systems work. A qualified massage therapist will never just look at an area of concern but the body as a whole and will treat in this way too.
Clinical Canine Therapy works by releasing sore and tight muscles and surrounding tissues, removing Trigger Points which are very painful and cause referred pain, remodelling scar tissue and helps to rehabilitate injuries.
The specifically developed canine massage techniques and releases work on the 700 muscles in the canine body that pull on the 320 bones allowing your dog to move. Issues with these muscles and connecting fascia change the way that your dog moves, creating further problems and pain. In order for the ‘normal’ movement of a dog to return these issues need to be located, identified and restored to normal function. Clinical Canine Massage does this.
BENEFITS OF CLINICAL CANINE MASSAGE
The benefits of canine massage include:
· Increased range of movement
· Reduced pain
· Reduced stress, anxiety and tension
· Improved posture and gait
· Improved skin and coat (texture and appearance)
· Quicker recovery from injury/surgery
· Relief from the symptoms that come with Neurological and Orthopaedic conditions
· Increase in activity levels
· Better mood (dogs can show aggression when in pain)
· Improved performance (show/sporting/working dogs)
Just like humans, a dog does not have to be injured or living with a condition in order to benefit from massage. Massage is wonderful for maintaining musculo-skeletal health and preventing injury. It is very beneficial to sporting, agility, show and working dogs.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Prior to any treatment taking place you will need to obtain a signed Veterinary Consent Form . A consent form is not only a legal requirement under the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 and Exemption Order 2015 but also informs me of any diagnosis, medication and contra-indications to massage. There will also need to be a 2 week period after your dog has had any vaccinations, flea/tick spot on treatments or given a blood donation
DURING THE APPOINTMENT
Your first appointment will last around 90 minutes and will include a comprehensive consultation. I will discuss aspects of your dogs daily life, sometime simple changes to the things that you dog does on a daily basis can make the greatest of changes. I will complete a gait analysis to see if there are any noticeable changes in the way that your dog moves and I will also complete a physical palpation which enables me to identify any possible areas of concern.
This will be followed with a full body massage.
Further sessions
These generally last 60 minutes sometimes less. I will document any improvements or changes that you have seen, palpate for any changes that I can feel, reassess your dogs gait and then complete another full body massage.
I cover the area of the Wyre Forest and its surrounds. Treatments are done at your home address. There may be a small charge for travel outside of this area
AFTER THE APPOINTMENT
You will be given individual advice about how your dog may react to massage at the end of the appointment. Some dogs go through what is known as ‘The Healing Crisis’ or ‘Herxheimer Reaction’ (humans can experience this too).
Massage can assist and speed up the body’s own natural healing process. As the body heals, it eliminates waste products. Speeding up this process means that the body is trying to eliminate them at a faster rate than normal resulting in a healing crisis. This process is perfectly normal and should last no more than a few days. Symptoms of a healing crisis can be:
· Increased drinking/Urination
· Lameness or an increase in joint or muscle pain
· Lethargy, quietness or lots of sleeping
· Increased energy, wanting to play or be active
· Restlessness or insomnia
· Runny nose
· Stomach upset or nausea
· Increase in appetite
· Fever or cold/flu like symptoms
I will provide you with feedback and explain how to get the most out of your dogs treatment, I will also provide a report for your vet
FAQ’s
Q. Can I stay with my dog during the treatment?
A. Yes. Most dogs settle and respond to the treatment better when their owner is with them.
Q. Will the treatment be painful?
A. Deep tissue work can be painful whether on a human client or canine client. Any discomfort felt with be soothed by softer massage techniques which relax the tissues and muscles
Q. How many sessions will my dog need?
A. Initially your dog will need between 1-3 sessions during which improvements should be seen. Follow up sessions will be discussed with you and tailored to your dog so that their muscular health can be maintained
