Animals with medical conditions
What you need to know
It is important to understand, that Massage does not ‘treat’ specific conditions. Massage provides support for the bodies systems in the healing process, particularly the lymphatic, muscular, and nervous systems. Because of this, there are very few conditions where massage would not be considered beneficial.
Find out more below about how a massage could help your animal’s condition.
We cannot list every condition that massage therapy can help with, so please get in touch if your animal has a condition which you are unsure we can help with.
Medical conditions
Animals recovering from injury
Depending on the type of injury and the stage of recovery, massage can be hugely beneficial in immune function, pain reduction and in the formation of scar tissue.
How massage can help
Reduces pain
Prevents keloid (raised) scarring
Assists in the formation of strong and flexible scar tissue
Assists in release of adhesion
Removes of waste products
Improves circulation
Supports the body’s natural inflammatory response
Neurological conditions
How massage can help
Reduces pain
Relaxes the animal
Removes waste products
Encourages tissue repair
Improves circulation
Supports the body’s own healing response
Example conditions
Disorders of the brain, nerves and spinal cord can include congenital anomalies, brain trauma/tumour, epilepsy, intervertebral disc disease, paralysis, degenerative myelopathy
Orthopaedic conditions
How massage can help
Reduces pain
Removes waste products
Encourages tissue repair
Improves circulation
Supports the body’s natural inflammatory response
Example conditions
Hip/Elbow dysplasia, degenerative joint disease (osteoarthritis), fractures, skeletal deformities, patellar luxation, osteochondritis dissecans
Pathological conditions
Massage will quite often take place in the recovery stage due to the contraindication of massaging animals with a high temperature or ongoing infection.
How massage can help
Supports the function of the immune system
Improves circulation
Encourages tissue repair
Supports beneficial aspects of healing response
Example conditions: Parasites, viral infections, bacterial infections, fungal infections
Soft tissue conditions
How massage can help
Reduces pain
Encourages tissue repair
Assists in the formation of strong and flexible scar tissue
Reduces adhesion formation
Removes waste products
Supports the body’s natural inflammatory response
Example conditions
Cranial (anterior) cruciate ligament rupture, tendinitis (inflammation of a tendon), tendinosis (chronic tendon injury), ligament sprains, muscle strains, restrictive adhesions
Surgical conditions
Massage benefits surgeries resulting from both trauma and elective surgery.
How massage can help
Elective Surgery
Pre-surgical massage is highly beneficial, as manual lymphatic drainage massage can boost the animal’s immune system.
Trauma and Elective Surgery
Following surgery, massage can assist in the removal of waste products and a quicker recovery from anaesthesia.
Example conditions
Trauma from bite wounds or motor vehicle accidents, ovariohysterectomies (spay), castration (neuter), removal or tumours, dental surgeries
Old age
Older animals lose the ability to self-repair, protect and maintain good health They become increasingly more vulnerable to illness and take longer to recover. Aging can have an effect on every system in your animal’s body.
How massage can help
Supports immune health
Helps manage pain and inflammation
Provides comfort
Increases mobility
Supports homeostasis (balance in the bodies systems)
Example conditions
Cushing’s disease, heart/liver/kidney disease, diabetes, joint/bone disease, senility, weakness, including various effects on the senses (hearing, sight etc.)
Cancer
If your animal has been diagnosed with cancer, massage may be contraindicated (such as in stage 1 & 2 Lymphoma or Mast Cell Tumours). However, massage can be supportive of treatments given and can also be very beneficial for those animals in later stages of cancer/palliative care.
How massage can help
Pain relief
Stress reduction
Assists with mobility and activity
Improves blood and lymphatic flow
Come visit us!
You will find ‘The Small Animal Clinic’s’ Hydrotherapy centre within ‘Centre Paws’ in Wymondham, Norfolk.
Incorporating a dog groomer, dog agility, a dog friendly café, animal massage and even alpaca trekking, Centre Paws is the ideal place to bring your dog. We are only five minutes from the A11 and 20 minutes from Norwich, and you will find ample car parking on site.
