Active Clinical Canine Massage Therapy

12/02/2026

CLINICAL CANINE MASSAGE THERAPY

“It’s just petting.”
Many people think canine massage is simply giving a dog extra affection. While it can look gentle and calming, therapeutic canine massage is much more structured and intentional than casual petting.

Here’s how it’s different:

1. It’s anatomy-based
Canine massage therapists study:
• Muscle groups
• Tendons and ligaments
• Joint mechanics
• Gait patterns
• Common injury compensations
They use this knowledge to target specific muscles and problem areas.

2. It has therapeutic goals
Massage isn’t just for relaxation. It’s often used to:
• Improve circulation
• Reduce muscle tension
• Support injury recovery
• Increase range of motion
• Help senior dogs with stiffness
• Complement rehab after surgery

3. Technique and pressure matter
Different techniques (myofascial release, remedial sports massage, deep tissue massage, Swedish massage) are used depending on the goal.
Too much pressure - or the wrong technique - can actually cause discomfort.

Find out more at:

The Canine Massage Guild is a network of highly skilled Professional K9 Massage Therapists specialising in the rehabilitation of dogs

08/04/2025

🚨Alert 🚨 It's that time of year again! First incident.

Please be vigilant when walking your dog around Cannock Chase. A dog t was admitted to the vets yesterday who has been bitten by an Adder 🐍.

🐍What to do if your dog is bitten by an adder?
▪️ Take the dog to a vet as soon as possible! The sooner you come the better.

▪️ No exercise! Carry your dog to reduce to spread of the venom.

▪️ Keep them warm and comfortable during travel (it’s very painful).

🐍How will you know?

▪️ Adders only tend to bite in self-defence so will most likely be on your dog’s face or legs and it will start to swell. You may also see two puncture wounds! Swelling can escalate quickly!

▪️ Your dog will display signs of pain as adder bites are very painful!

🐍Other symptoms include:

- Pale gums
- Bruising
- Hypersalivation
- Lameness
- Vomiting and diarrhoea
- Dehydration
- Restlessness or lethargy

If left untreated, your dog may collapse, have blood clotting problems, tremors or seizures. Severity depends on location of bite, amount and potency of venom, size of dog and urgency of treatment.

🐍What do we do?

▪️ Treat for shock and swelling.
▪️ Pain management!

The dog is currently stable and fine but please be aware!

05/01/2025

‼️How Cold is Too Cold for Our Dogs in the UK?

It's the time of the year when temperatures drop, hence it's important to ensure our beloved dogs stay warm and comfortable. Here’s what you need to know to keep your dog safe during these chilly winter days.

🧡 Ideal Temperature Range

Dogs are quite adaptable, but they still have their limits:

- Most dogs thrive in temperatures between 10°C and 20°C.
- For households with smaller or short-haired breeds, it's best to keep indoor temperatures in the range of 15°C to 18°C.

💙 Too Cold, Too Risky

When does it start to get risky for our canine companions? Here’s a quick guide:

- 0°C to 10°C: While many breeds can handle these temperatures, it's crucial to monitor for signs of discomfort, especially in smaller or short-haired dogs.

- Below 0°C: It's time to take serious precautions. Ensure your dog spends minimal time outdoors, and consider using doggy coats and paw protectors.

- Below -5°C: Ice and frost can burn paws and cause frostbite. Limit outdoor time, and ensure your dog has proper paw protection.

⚠️Factors to Consider

Several factors can influence how cold your dog feels:

- Coat Type: A Siberian Husky with its thick double coat will fare better in the cold than a shorthaired Dachshund.

- Body Fat: Leaner dogs such as Whippets are more susceptible to the cold compared to breeds with more body fat, like Labradors.

- Acclimatisation: Dogs acclimated to warmer climates may feel the cold more than those used to cooler weather.

- Age and Health: Puppies, elderly dogs, and dogs with health issues struggle more in colder weather and need extra protection.

❣️Tips to Keep Your Dog Warm

1. Dress Them Up: Appropriate coats and sweaters can provide an extra layer of warmth for short-haired or thin-coated dogs.

2. Limit Outdoor Time: During very cold days, minimise the time your dog spends outside.

3. Paw Protection: Paw protectors or booties can prevent frostbite and irritation from ice and salt.

4. Warm Sleeping Area: Ensure your dog has a warm, cosy place to sleep, away from drafts.

5. Monitor for Frostbite or Hypothermia: Keep an eye out for signs like shivering, lethargy, or pale gums. If you notice any of these, seek veterinary care promptly.

6. Special Care for Puppies, Elderly Dogs, and Dogs with Health Issues: These dogs are more vulnerable to the cold and need extra warmth, frequent monitoring, and veterinary consultation if they show any signs of discomfort.

By taking these precautions, you can help ensure your canine friend stays warm and happy throughout the winter!

07/08/2024

Muscles pull on bones to create movement, and when arthritis is present, the joint has to recruit extra support of muscles which leads to your dog offloading, overcompensating on other limbs, primary as well as secondary areas of muscular and myofascial pain, and habitual patterns of tension throughout the whole body

So it's not just the joint that's affected.
It's your dog's whole body.
I can help, Message me or go on to my website: www.activeclinicalk9.co.uk to find out more.

18/08/2022

As a Clinical Canine Massage Therapist a common question often asked is, "if my dog has which affects the bones, then how can massage, which works on the muscles, help?". Quite simply, its muscle which pull on bones to produce movement, not, as often thought, the other way round. To be successful, chronic pain management for orthopaedic conditions must address areas of associated muscular dysfunction if mobility and quality of life is to be improved.

When a joint is dysfunctional it has to recruit extra support from the primary muscles which attach to and cross the joint which provide the 'action' or role of the muscle which produces joint movement. Areas of overcompensation should also be addressed if muscular balance, pain relief and improvements in mobility output and sensory input are to be achieved.

Tag someone today who has a dog that you think may benefit from our help. We've been doing this for 10 years and have helped thousands of dogs all over the world. Let us help yours too.

Find your therapist online today
https://www.k9-massageguild.co.uk/therapistregister/

See some testimonials here:
https://www.k9-massageguild.co.uk/testimonial-2/

Results in 1-3 sessions or we don't continue to treat. Simple as that. Try our therapy for your dog today and let your dog become another canine massage success story.

Find your local Canine Massage Guild therapist Search for Guild member therapists in the UK or the rest of the world by using the maps below or search for specific therapists in your area. Postcode/Town: Radius: No results found in this location. Please try again.   Area code: Radius: No results fo...

06/07/2022

Important info on Rapeseed for our dogs

03/06/2022

Some interesting doggies facts. Did you know!

1. Dogs carry 60% of their weight through their front legs and 40% through their back legs

2. The dogs dew claw is the equivalent of our thumb – the dogs wrist (Carpus) can be more unstable if the dew claw is removed.

3. Many behavioural issues that dogs develop can be related to musculoskeletal pain- unexplained changes in behaviour to loud noises or vibration such as crossing a cattle grid may indicate some muscular injury.

4. In clinical trials with Wi******er University 95% of dogs responded positively to Clinical Canine Massage Therapy – as published in the “ Vet Record” by the British Veterinary Association. ALL the therapists in the trials were Canine Massage Guild members.

5. Keeping your dog’s claws and fur between the pads short enables the foot to function better and gives them better pad contact with the ground so having a better grip. – this will reduce the incidences of slipping and sliding on smooth surfaces which can lead to repetitive strain injuries.

6. The dog’s tail is an extension of its spinal cord. It is used for balance, communication and to protect its ge***al area – ensure children don’t pull a dogs tail and if the tail gets injured it will be very painful so always consider contacting your vet if they trap or damage the tail.

7. Clinical canine massage will give results you can see and your dog can feel in 1-3 sessions.

8. Dogs can only loose heat through their mouth and the pads of their feet- coming in to the summer, especially if you have a dog with a short muzzle be aware that they need to be kept cool and not walked on hot surfaces as this can also cause, burnt and blistered pads.

9. The pattern on a Dogs nose is as unique as a finger print is to us. – this unique feature has now been used in cases of stolen dogs to prove ownership so think about this amazing fact when you look at your dogs nose prints on your windows at home or in your car.

10. Dogs can hear our heart beat – they are really that good at hearing!

11. Dogs can smell when we are stressed or fearful – this is why dogs can pick up on our anxiety and sometimes may become protective or anxious.

12. Studies have shown that when owners and dogs look at each other both show an increase in Oxytocin “ the love hormone” bringing a sense of happiness to each. – YES… we do “ love “ our dogs and they do“ love us!!

13. Dogs sense of smell is so advanced that if they show an aptitude to this work they can sniff out medical conditions , drugs, money, blood and explosives . – many dogs love to use their amazing sense of smell and not every dog needs to work but can get great enjoyment from scent working classes at a reputable dog training centre.

14. Owning a dog can help us live longer and recover quicker from health issues such as a heart attack or stroke – the calming effect of stroking and having our dogs around us reduces our stress and heart rate.

15. A STRAIN is a partial or complete tear in a muscle or muscle tendon.

16. A SPRAIN is a partial or complete tear in a ligament

17. Members of the Canine Massage Guild will ONLY undertake massage once your vet has given consent

18. Canine Massage Guild members undertake a minimum of 25 hours continuous professional development every year.- this ensures we keep our skills and knowledge up to date.

19. A dogs need for exercise differs through their life… : we all see that there is a breed recommendation for the amount of exercise our breed of dog or a similar size of dogs need and as responsible owners we try and ensure we give them this as a daily minimum if we can and often feel guilty if we don’t!!
This recommendation is for a HEALTHY DOG THAT HAS REACHED MATURITY but even as an adult dog they often benefit from having a day off and doing enrichment games instead. As puppies they need VERY LITTLE walking exercise (20 minutes for a 4 month old puppy building up and building very slowly from there) this is because their bones and joints are still developing and over exercising as a puppy can lead to joint issues and arthritis as an adult. In the older dog … LISTEN TO YOUR DOG!! They will want less and less exercise due to arthritis, muscle degeneration and the other aches and pains old age brings. They will go and follow you on a longer walk but .. that’s because they love you and want to be with you but if they start trailing behind PLEASE think about making the walks shorter and on softer ground… after all we may have had very active parents and grand parents who could walk all day when we went out with them years ago .. but no one would expect their arthritic elderly parent to walk a 10 mile hill walk that they could have done 10-15 years ago!!

I hope you have found the information interesting and as always if you have any questions about this or the suitability of Clinical Canine Massage. for your dog please get in touch with me.

13/06/2021

❗ WARNING ❗

Please make sure to run your garden hose for a few minutes before using it for your pets. 💧

The fire brigade have warned that when garden hoses are exposed to direct sunlight, the water inside can heat to between 130 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit which can seriously burn both children and animals.

Hope you have a happy and safe summer in the sun. ☀️

10/01/2021

Just reminder everyone to take care when walking your dog in icy conditions. A few things to bear in mind:

-Salt and grit can seriously damage your dogs pads, and even untreated snowy and icy ground can hurt their feet (hard frozen snow can be incredibly sharp).

- arthritic dogs may find it uncomfortable to walk on the hard, frozen ground so keep their walks short.

- Please also avoid ice.....it may look funny seeing your dog sliding around, but it can cause quite serious damage to their muscles and tendons as they try to get a grip and stop their legs splaying.

Whilst canine massage therapy can help treat these muscular injuries, I would much prefer you dog did not get injured in the first place❤️🐾❤️

04/09/2019

http://www.k9-massageguild.co.uk/how-fascia-affects-pain-levels-in-your-arthritic-dog/

Arthritis, Fascia and Pain What is fascia? Fascia is the cling film like substance that wraps every muscle fibre, organ, bone, nerve and blood vessel – it’s everywhere. Sometimes referred to as connective tissue, this dynamic system is made up of elastin and collagen fibres. It is lubricated by ...

02/06/2019

Hi, my name is Deborah (Deb) Smith and I am the founder of Active Clinical Canine Massage Therapy.

I completed the Clinical Canine Massage Therapy course at the Canine Massage Therapy Centre which included over 800 hours of study which includes 4 disciplines of massage – Swedish, Sports, Deep tissue and Myofascial release and with the exclusive Lenton Method®. I treat soft tissue and muscular injuries, support ongoing orthopaedic and neurological conditions, chronic pain management, recovery from injury/surgery and improving sporting performance and injury prevention. All of which can affect dogs of any age and breed, whether a working dog, a pet or sporting dog.

Treatment is non evasive and based on an ethical, client focused approach. It is very effective, affordable with outstanding results often achieved within 1 -3 sessions that will surprise owners and other professionals alike. Quite simply there is nothing quite like it.

I am now a member of the Canine Massage Guild, a network of highly skilled Professional Clinical Canine Massage Therapist. All Guild Members work strictly in adherence with the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 and Exemption Order 2015. In order for me to treat you dog you will need to complete "A Vet Consent Form", but don’t worry as this is easily to do.

Please give me a ring/text/email if you would like to find out how Canine Massage Therapy can help your dog. “A healthy dog is a happy dog”