Dog massage is one of the newest trends in alternative pet health care.  While initially it may sound a little strange, canine massage has many of the benefits for dogs that massage has for people.  If you are considering massaging your dog for health benefits, stick with a light massage unless you are a trained massage therapist with a solid foundation in canine anatomy.  Deep tissue massage can be harmful if conducted improperly.

Health Benefits of Dog Massage

• For older dogs who suffer from arthritis, hip dysplasia, luxating patella, and other discomforts, dog massage can be very soothing and may eliminate the need for stronger pain medications.
• Dog massage can help when a dog is injured to prepare for surgery and to decrease the recovery time needed.
• Dog massage can increase your pet's range of motion and flexibility - especially for older or overweight dogs.
• Massage can help reduce stress and increase a dog's comfort with having different parts of their body manipulated such as their paws.  Increasing a dog's comfort with touch helps in grooming and trimming nails.  Some dogs, such as those prone to separation anxiety, are especially sensitive to stress and massage will help them relax.
• Massage is especially beneficial to dogs who suffer from aches and pains.  Massage releases endorphins and stimulates the lymphatic system.  Endorphins are important as the body's natural pain killers and the lymphatic system works to remove toxins from the body thereby speeding recovery and healing.
• For athletic dogs who compete in agility-based competitions or for working dogs such as bird dogs, massage will help warm up the muscles and prepare them for competition or for the hunt much in the same way that athletes all over the world use massage to enhance their performance.

If you would like to help your dog out by performing a light massage, make sure you stay away from deep tissue manipulation unless you have special training!

Make sure you dog is lying on a warm, comfortable, supportive surface such as a rug.  If you have a very small dog such as a chihuahua, dog massage can be performed in your lap.

When doing massage with your dog, you want to remember that this is not a petting session.  Cup your hands slightly and use very light pressure.  A good rule of thumb is to place a nickel on the back of your hand to get a feel for the lightness of pressure you should be using.  Your strokes should feel about this light.  Start with long, slow, light strokes from nose to tail.

As your dog begins to relax, you can move to gentle strokes behind the ears, on the jowls, under the chin, over the nose, and on the ears from the head to the tip of the ears.

When your dog begins to relax, scratch gently behind the ears, moving to the cheeks, under the chin, over the nose, between the eyes and over the head. Rub each ear several times between your thumb and forefinger, working from base to tip.

Move slowly in circular motions using your first three fingers over each part of your dog's body.  When massaging your dog's feet, use a few fingers and move from the dog's knee joint down to the paws.  Make sure while you are performing dog massage to be careful of any hot spots or wounds that your dog may have.  This is also an excellent time to watch out for any burrs or ticks that your dog may have.

There are some excellent videos available online to help assist you in performing a light massage for your best friend.

Many groomers offer dog massage as an adjunct to the grooming process. Unfortunately, they often have not been trained formally in canine massage. When you are choosing a massage therapist for your dog, you want to ask about any qualifications that the therapist has, what specific courses they have taken in canine anatomy and massage, and whether or not they have any certifications in dog massage. Unlike the health codes that exist to make sure that massage therapists have appropriate training and certifications, there are not laws in place that regulate dog massage. This is unfortunate as dog massage requires a specific skill set of knowledge. In addition, verify any liability insurance that your potential massage therapist has for working with dogs. This will insure that your dog's care would be covered should anything go wrong because of the massage. Avoid any dog massage therapist that does not have the necessary training (one home study course is not enough), certification, and insurance.