Epione Canine and Equine Massage

24/01/2024

A little bit about me and my work ethos.......
I've been qualified for human massage therapy for 25 years. And still learning new skills. My tutor is a holistic osteopath, as well as qualified in acupressure massage and various holistic therapies. While I was training, he would lie about where he felt pain and discomfort, so I would learn to listen to my hands and my observations of human posture. This is the heart of how I work with animals.....they don't lie, and can't tell me where their pain or discomfort is. Quite often the main core of a massage session is on compensatory muscles, rather than the injury. Their body has to work very hard to balance when something isn't quite right.
Animals are very trusting and while I'm massaging I will only work with their consent. At the end of the day I'm asking them to allow me to work on potentially tender areas, which as humans we can understand the discomfort process and reasoning behind any tenderness. Over a few sessions they do have a "light bulb" moment, where they realise the work I'm doing does make them feel and move better.
For those animals who have discomfort or pain, they can show this in their behaviour. I've seen a lot of posts about pain related behaviour, but don't discount underlying discomfort. Think of this...you have on going mild tummy ache, but not painful or showing any other symptoms. Do you feel good and happy? You'd hold yourself slightly differently, feel tired and protective of yourself. Add in that everyone has a different pain threshold and coping mechanisms. Why would animals be any different? In my assessment for each session I'll ask about your animals behaviour, not to judge, but to understand your animal that little bit more.
I love what I do. Helping canines and equines feel better, move morefreely and enjoy life that little bit more is a privilege and I'll be doing further studies to improve on my services and my abilities.
Get in touch if you have any queries.

03/01/2024

Happy New Year everyone. I hope you all had a great festive break.

Myself and my 2 new teenage pups have had a good time, even with the wet weather.

If you believe massage is just for older Equines or Canines....think again.
Even at the tender ages of 7 and 8 months my pups enjoy a massage. Relaxing growing muscles, ligaments and tendons. Aiding in improving their circulation and strengthening their muscles, ready for the next rough play session, walk or zoom around the garden. It's allowed a bond of trust to form quickly and already they ask for certain areas to be worked on.
Young Equines are no different, growing and playing in their field, along with in-hand work for training and strengthening.
Massage at a young age can help them grow balanced, confident in touch, improve their circulation and importantly reduce the risk of injury - while they make the most of being young and full of energy 😉

12/12/2023

Introducing my new rescue pups 😃.

It's been a very hard month. Loosing my old boy Max left me feeling very despondent and a little lost. The house was depressing and too quiet. So we went a bit mad (some would say) and decided to fill the house with chaos and challenges. These two certainly keep me busy 😉

In celebration of new adventures to come in 2024 I'm offering 25% off package deals when booked in January (travel expenses not included).
To make the most of this offer visit my website Epione Canine and Equine Massage or call / message 07907005828

19/11/2023

Love this and it's very true...

Those who know me know I used to be an army dog trainer. I learned two things while I was in the army working with dogs, both are still a daily part of my life.

First: you always sort your dog out before you sort yourself out.

Are they thirsty or hungry? Do they need anything at this point? Every day without fail, I follow this rule that I learned so many years ago. Dogs’ can’t just fill up a water bowl, they can’t stop a griping hunger in their stomach on their own, but we can. So I choose to meet their needs before I work on my own, and I always will.

Second: you always move at the slowest man’s pace.

This lesson taught me everything about living with older, slower dogs. As dogs get older, they run less. Older dogs sniff more. They sniff everything. Senior dogs might be stiff and achy and need to cover less ground, but they cover that ground at a slower pace.

Please consider their needs and go at their pace.

It’s not fair to leave them behind or pull them along.

18/11/2023

🐶 Have you got a puppy?
🐶Do you need help with puppy biting and toileting? Or perhaps just reassurance that you’re doing the right thing?
🐶Need help??!! Give me a call or a pm!

18/11/2023

These toxins kill.

18/11/2023

A huge thank you to everyone for your kind comments and support with what has been a difficult time. It's been very much appreciated and uplifting 😀

I was thinking of doing a post on how your dog or horse can benefit from massage. The conditions, injuries, how their pain can be reduced etc etc. However, rather than giving you a science lesson on subjects you may not connect with. I'd rather write about something you would like further information on.
Does your canine or equine BFF have a condition or injury? You'd like to know if massage can and HOW it might help.

P.S. Basil.....loved his massage sessions to aid his cruciate ligament surgery recovery 🥰

07/11/2023

I know some people that have truly social dogs can struggle with this concept as they have no issues with this, and some people judge others by the sociability of their dog.
"They just weren't socialised enough as puppies"
"They need to be more obedient"
"They just need to play more"
"They need to be more dominant when playing"
"They need to just submit"
No, no...and no again.

Just like us, dogs have social preferences and some are very strong.
You may have noticed this with a dog that only likes to play with their own breed, or much smaller dogs. Some dogs are drawn to very specific types of dogs or seek out dogs with a particular physical trait.
Some will just refuse to be social with a particular breed as they may struggle to read that particular breeds body language, and they may even act "aggressively" to that breed when that dog attempts an interaction.

Another thing I would like to point out is.... there is a bit of a myth out there that reactive dogs only belong in the "not social" category. Some reactive dogs can be really social with others, but they could be leash reactive even to dog breeds or types they may enjoy interacting with off lead.
Just because a dog is reactive does NOT automatically mean they dislike all other dogs.
Even reactive dogs have (and are allowed) to have their own unique preferences.


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07/11/2023

I've been quiet for a while as since my last post, celebrating my dog Max's 13 birthday, his larynx paralysis had suddenly got increasingly worse. The natural approach wasn't enough any more, although massage greatly reduced the symptoms of his reduced air way it couldn't alleviate the cause. We decided to change up medication and give him a good week, which allowed him to be more Max, before saying goodbye yesterday. Yes, I am currently broken 😢 but when we take our furbabies into our hearts we have to do the right thing for them right up to the end.

For anyone with a Canine who has larynx paralysis, you'll understand the discomfort your dog may go through when breathing is hard work. Please get in touch, and I can show you techniques to help release muscle tension in their neck, shoulders and rib cage allowing their breathing to return to a more comfortable level quicker - Please note this would be free advice, veterinary consent would be required.

04/11/2023

🎆🐶Reactive Dogs and Fireworks🐶🎆

November is a very, very common time for behaviour problems to start and with fireworks going off throughout the whole of November it’s not a surprise.

Reactivity in many cases isn’t just about how the dog feels about dogs. It can very much be about the environment as a whole with dogs being the tipping point.
For many of our dogs fireworks mean intense fear and no sleep, sometimes for nights on end. There are also links between sound sensitivity and musculoskeletal pain. Dogs with musculoskeletal pain are more likely to be sound sensitive and should be regularly pain assessed, 80% of dogs that I see for reactivity also have pain related issues and if a dog has been made to repeatedly jump and fear has meant that they’ve had very tense posture, then there’s a good chance that pain has increased by fireworks.
So if you have a reactive dog what should we be expecting throughout November and how can we deal with it?

* Increase in reactivity due to fear and no sleep

* Toileting in the house

* Refusal of walks

* Clingyness and relapses in separation anxiety.

How can we help our dogs?

* Small scatter games outside

* No walks or walks in quiet places and hiring fields.

* Seeking veterinary support and getting your dog pain assessed.

* Setting up a safe sleeping area.

* Playing calming music (not too loud!) and drawing curtains to block out fireworks.

* COMFORT YOUR DOG IF THEY ASK FOR IT!!! NOT COMFORTING YOUR DOG IS AN OLD WIVES TAIL!!!

04/11/2023

16/10/2023

Thyme herb.
Thyme has antimicrobial properties that will help your pet fight fungus, bacterial, and viral pathogens. It can also help fight off a cough and other illnesses.Thyme will help boost the immune system so your pet can fight off disease and heal faster.
This well-loved herb offers anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant effects, and if your pet is struggling with yeast infections, it may be a welcome addition to their meals, thanks to its antifungal benefits.

15/10/2023

HERB OF THE DAY.
Cleavers are rich in vitamin C and silica, which can strengthen dogs' teeth and bones.
Cleavers have immunity-boosting antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties that can protect dogs from chronic diseases.
As a natural diuretic, cleavers can help eliminate toxins, prevent urinary tract infections, and promote urinary and kidney health in dogs.

12/10/2023

A BIT OF HISTORY

We are a small family run business providing a natural species appropriate diet for dogs and cats.

We are unique and offer support to transition to raw feeding and herbal health care.

Caroline is a highly qualified canine nutritionist with over 7 years’ experience in raw feeding. She also has a diploma in canine holistic / herbal health, anatomy & physiology and zoopharmacognosy, she is a member of the complimentary medical association and can offer bespoke remedies.

Cy has many years in business development and has been a leader in the customer service sector.

We have combined our skills to support our new and existing customer base. We strive to offer a great product and great service to our community.

11/10/2023

𝙆𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙛𝙚!
With Halloween just around the corner, you may already have some decorations up or be planning to spooky-fy your home this weekend!
Either way, we just wanted to share a few reminders about how we can celebrate Halloween, without harming out local wildlife.

🦇 Please do not use fake 'cobwebs' outside - these are incredibly dangerous for birds and bats who can easily fly into them and get stuck.
🦔Do not leave carved pumpkins where hedgehogs can get to them. Once you have finished with it, you can leave for birds and squirrels to enjoy, however hedgehogs can get very unwell if they eat it.
🐾If you go out trick-or-treating, please dispose of your rubbish - even the smallest wrapper can be fatal to unsuspecting wildlife who could easily ingest it.
🦊If driving on Halloween, keep our wild friends in mind who may be out on the road but not used to the increase in traffic.

11/10/2023

🐾🍁🍂 BE AUTUMN AWARE 🍁🍂🐾
Good advise from Taverham Vets

Did you know?

Conkers contain a chemical called aesculin, which is toxic to dogs. They can also cause dangerous blockages in the stomach requiring surgery.

If you see your dog eat a conker or if your dog develops symptoms of vomiting, diarrhoea, signs of discomfort or collapse contact your vet straight away.

11/10/2023

🐶🧡🍁As we welcome in Autumn, let's be alert to an unwelcome guest — seasonal canine illness. It's a rare but potentially serious condition that can affect any dog at any age.

Check out our guide to symptoms and treatments and keep your pet's tail wagging this Autumn:
https://www.myfamilyvets.co.uk/seasonal-canine-illness?utm_source=practice&utm_medium=social

05/10/2023

Website is now live 🥳🥳
www.epionemassageuk.com
Please get in touch with any questions or queries

25/09/2023

Meet Max 😍
My rescue Springador.
He's 13 today! And the inspiration behind my new adventure.
I asked myself how can I help him through his twilight years....naturally.
Massage helps ease his arthritis and old injuries pain and discomfort. Releases tension in his ribs and neck caused by laboured breathing due to fatty lumps under his rib cage and (unconfirmed) possible larynx paralysis.
If he's happy, I'm happy 😊
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAXY BEAR ❤❤❤❤

19/09/2023