As a nation of dog lovers, it’s no surprise that we would do anything for our beloved companion animals. Besides grooming and other procedures that have them looking their best, dog owners are also making sure their pets feel at the top of their game with the latest canine care treatments and therapies.
The emergence of treatments like animal hydrotherapy and physiotherapy has enabled dogs to receive more acute relief for their ailments. Though more recently, dogs have been going in for a spot of TLC in the form of canine massage.
Now, you may believe that this is simply a new trend that will pass and it’s just something people want to post on their Instagram. However, clinical canine massage has numerous proven benefits for canine health.
When you think about it, dogs have at least 700 muscles working with their bones that allow them to move. As such, it’s these muscles that are most at risk of injury and massage has proven to be the most effective way to rehabilitate and recondition these muscles for movement, mobility and longevity.
Why Dogs Need Canine Massage Therapy
Canine massage works directly with the soft tissues within a dog’s body to provide relief from a whole range of physical and emotional challenges. As such, it is quickly becoming recognised as a powerful tool in the natural healing processes of canine bodies.
Just some of the reasons clinical canine massage is used include:
- Recurrent lameness
- Uneven or faulty gait
- Soft tissue injuries
- Orthopaedic issues
- Neurological disorders
- Coat and skin conditions
- Pain relief for hereditary conditions
- Pain relief for age-related conditions
- Pain and tension relief for working dogs
- Recovering from an injury
- Dogs sensitive to touch
- Performance enhancement
By using clinical canine massage, Canine Massage Therapists tend to be able to pinpoint and rehabilitate muscular injuries and issues successfully within a handful of sessions.
Clinical Canine Message Benefits
Canine massage therapy has been proven to benefit the overall wellbeing of a dog, including those that do and don’t have medical issues. In fact, canine massage is linked to maintaining their immune system as well as being beneficial for each major system of the canine body.
By receiving canine massage therapy, dogs can expect:
- To be in less pain
- Heightened mobility
- The ability to be more active
- Reduction or eradication of lameness, limping or stiffness
- To be more open to physical examinations and touch
- Complete rehabilitation after a muscular injury
- To return to normal posture and gait
- A happier and improved mood
How to Do Canine Massage
As a non-invasive therapy, canine massage therapy addresses soft tissue problems through a practised and informed touch.
By taking this approach, each dog massage is catered to the individual needs of the animal. The Canine Massage Therapist can chop and change their approach depending on the issues they encounter. They also know when the problem exceeds their skillset and when they should refer the animal back to the Vet.
The techniques used by Clinical Canine Massage Therapists involves direct and expert manipulation of each dog's muscles and face. The Masseuse will be proficient in fibre direction, muscle isolation, origin use, insertions and actions, as well as tactual exploration when assessing tissue. This is because they complete thorough training to develop a working knowledge of the muscular system.
Four disciplines of massage are generally used in canine massage therapy, and these involve over 50 different techniques including: myofascial release, direct and indirect approach, deep tissue, remedial sports and Swedish massage.
During a clinical canine massage session, the Masseuse will perform a:
- Gait Analysis
- Postural Analysis
- Superficial Tactual Exploration
- Full Consultation, including a Medical History and Activities of Daily Living (ADL) Assessment
They will also:
- Talk with the owner to establish the expectations of the therapy
- Complete a 45-50 minute massage therapy session
- Provide full visual feedback to the owner
- Issue a home care plan and provide any other necessary recommendations
- Instruct a maximum of 3 or 4 initial canine massage therapy sessions, though some dogs require less
Is There a Market for Canine Massage UK?
If you’re looking for a job working with dogs and like the sound of becoming a Canine Massage Therapist, you will no doubt be wondering ‘is canine massage popular?’.
Job opportunities for Canine Massage Therapists exist across the UK, but especially so in rural areas where dogs often work or race. Like other animal care careers, most Canine Massage Therapists are self-employed. There aren’t often opportunities based in-house at veterinary clinics. So, it’s wise to befriend your local veterinarian so they are more likely to refer their patients to you for complementary treatment.
If you gain the skills and confidence to open your own practice, you will need to be prepared to travel as many dog massages may need to take place in the animals home. For this reason, you will almost certainly need a driving license to get started.
The canine massage therapy salary varies based on a number of factors, for instance, how many clients you obtain, your geographical location, qualifications and years of experience. In this instance, it is very wise to study to gain canine massage qualifications.
Where to Learn How to Do Canine Massage
While you don’t necessarily need to be qualified in canine massage to provide it, it is illegal for anyone besides the animal’s owner to treat them unless a Vet has agreed to the treatment.
This ultimately means you need pre-approval from Veterinarians to provide dog massages, and they will want to make sure you have the right skills for the job. As such, choosing to learn canine massage is the most direct route into this highly rewarding career.
To practice canine massage, you need to be trained in all aspects of the discipline. This includes dog behaviour, anatomy and physiology, the necessary massage techniques and more.
You can pick up a wealth of knowledge in canine massage books, but the most efficient way to gain new knowledge and essential hands-on experience is by studying canine massage courses. UK learners will be pleased to know you can do so conveniently through an online course.
Study Canine Massage with Stonebridge
It may sound contradictory to gain hands-on skills through canine massage therapy online courses, but it’s absolutely possible. This is because the courses are broken down into two parts; academic study and hands-on skills application.
Once you enrol on the course, you will begin your studies by delving into the theoretical elements of canine massage. This includes learning about gait and posture in canines, canine communication and the health and safety requirements for massage treatment.
Once you master these topics and the many others involved the latter part of the course will provide you with the opportunity to put what you have learnt into practice. You will have the chance to work with canines in a massage setting and will be evaluated on your ability to handle, assess, and deliver various massage treatments on different dogs.
Upon successful completion of the modules and assessments, you will walk away with an (RQF) accredited Level 3 Diploma in Canine Massage.
Enrol Today
The flexibility of online canine massage courses UK is that learners can more easily juggle their studies with their existing commitments. So, if you’re looking to retrain as a Canine Masseuse around childcare or your existing job, you can!
Stonebridge Associated Colleges is one of the leading UK distance learning providers, with multiple courses in canine care. If you want an introduction to canine massage therapy, you can study our Principles of Canine Massage Diploma.
Whereas if you want to learn canine massage from the ground up and get qualified for this career path, our online Canine Massage Level 3 Diploma (RQF) is the course for you.
If you would like to find out more about either course or discuss further the career opportunities that exist in canine massage, call our Course Executives today. They are well aware of how you can make a living from canine massage and can answer all the questions you have about this life choice.
Call them on 0121 392 8288, contact them online or click below to view the Canine Massage Level 3 Diploma (RQF) in more detail.
