Frequently asked questions
General Questions
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What is the cost of a clinical canine massage appointment?
A clinical massage session costs £40. There may be an additional small charge to cover travel to home visits.
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Why is a series of three sessions recommended?
An initial course of three treatments over three weeks is recommended for dogs with musculoskeletal issues. This is to allow time for very tense muscles to begin to soften and heal after the first treatment, permitting further progress to be made during the subsequent sessions. Three sessions also gives time to more nervous dogs to get used to massage and fully relax into the process.
An initial course of three treatments is sufficient to assess whether or not the therapy is suiting the dog. Should no results be seen within this time, treatment is not continued unnecessarily. A written report of findings is provided and the dog referred back to your veterinary practice.
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What if my dog won't settle for massage?
Many dogs don’t always lie down still for a session, so don't worry! A 45-50 minute treatment time is allocated to give your dog the chance to settle in, and to get up for a break if needed. While some snooze the whole way through the treatment, some dogs want time for a wriggle. I can work with your dog across a range of circumstances and behaviours and adapt to what suits them best to gain their trust. Even fidgety dogs can benefit from massage.
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Is there evidence that massage works?
Massage is an effective therapy. In a collaboration between the Canine Massage Guild and researchers from the University of Winchester, the first ever large-scale study into the efficacy of clinical canine massage on the treatment of pain was published in 2021 in the Vet Record, the official journal of the British Veterinary Association. The study looked at whether massage positively affected the quality of life of dogs experiencing chronic pain, lameness, signs of ageing, athletic performance and subclinical signs of pain as reported by owners. Out of 527 dogs, 492 dogs responded to treatment. This result evidenced that veterinary-diagnosed musculoskeletal conditions responded successfully after clinical canine massage therapy.
How massage helps restore muscle function
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How does massage address injuries?
Clinical canine massage can address muscle or tendon injuries such as strains (tears) – both acute injuries from a direct trauma, and chronic, repetitive strain injuries (which sometimes present as intermittent lameness). Clinical canine massage helps to restore functionality to muscles with strains by remodelling the scar tissue from the strain and mobilising surrounding muscle fibres, improving the flexibility and strength of the muscle.
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How does massage address trigger points?
Trigger points are bands of contracted tissue which cause tension and pain in muscles, and which can lead to a dog fatiguing easily during exercise and showing premature signs of slowing down. Trigger points can be resolved or significantly reduced by massage. The whole muscle and areas of compensation with other trigger points will be addressed.
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How does massage address restricted fascia?
Fascia is connective tissue that normally forms a frictionless surface, allowing the muscles, nerves and other structures to slide and glide over each other. When injury causes fascia to become restricted and stiff, the area can become painful to touch and show ‘twitch’ responses, normal movements of soft tissue and joints are reduced, and it can become widespread and lead to persistent pain. Symptoms include a reluctance to the groomed or petted, and restricted mobility. Symptoms of myofascial pain can be significantly reduced or resolved through releasing the areas of restriction.
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How does massage support conformational conditions?
Massage supports mobility through addressing associated muscular dysfunction and keeping the surrounding muscles in best condition to support the affected joint. Clinical massage can also address predictable patterns of overcompensation in other areas of the body. Hence clinical canine massage offers pain management and support as part of a multi-modal approach to management of these long-term conditions.
What to expect at your appointment
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What is needed in advance of my first appointment?
Obtaining approval from your dog’s vet is required prior to the first appointment, as a check that there is no veterinary reason why massage would be unsafe for your dog. A copy signed by you and your vet can either be emailed to Pentland Canine Massage in advance of your first appointment, or brought with you on the day.
Download the Vet Consent form.
Your appointment should be made for a date that doesn’t fall within two weeks of your dog having received vaccinations or drop-on flea treatments.
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What will take place during the first appointment?
Your first appointment will last up to one and a half hours. Before the massage treatment begins, Nia will ask some details about your dog’s history, any diagnosed conditions and veterinary treatments. As we discuss these, your dog has a chance to become familiar with the room. Nia will also observe your dog’s posture and how they move, and if appropriate, carry out an initial palpation of your dog’s muscles to assess the tissues. If your dog doesn’t want to or can’t do these activities, the session is adapted to suit their needs. This initial consultation will inform Nia about your dog and their needs, so that the session can be tailored accordingly. The massage treatment itself will last about 45-50 minutes. Dogs aren’t always comfortable to lie down for their treatment, and this treatment length gives time for the dog to settle in, or to have breaks if needed.
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What happens next?
After the treatment, Nia will advise on aftercare instructions and recommended course of treatment. No matter what the presenting condition, she expects to see measurable results in between one and three sessions.
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What subsequent appointments will be required?
An initial course of three treatments held over three – five weeks is recommended for dogs with musculoskeletal issues. This is to allow time for very tense muscles to begin to soften and heal after the first treatment, permitting further progress to be made during the subsequent sessions. Three sessions also gives time for more nervous dogs to get used to massage and fully relax into the process. These subsequent appointments will last an hour.
An initial course of three treatments is sufficient to assess whether or not the therapy is suiting the dog. Should no results be evident within this time, treatment is not continued unnecessarily. A written report of findings is provided and the dog referred back to your veterinary practice.
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When can maintenance appointments be helpful?
Dogs with ongoing conditions that will continue to have impacts on their muscular health and cause symptoms of muscular pain to reoccur (for example arthritis) will benefit from regular maintenance sessions. If you would like these, they are timed to fit with the individual's requirements. A session monthly or six-weekly may be enough to maintain your dog’s levels of mobility and comfort gained from the first three sessions.