No matter which kind of pet you have, massaging him or her will undoubtedly bring you closer together (yes, even hamsters and mice enjoy massage), improve your pet’s health, and make you more centered and relaxed in the process. You will soon notice how your pet takes a deep breath right after you do, and how you really communicate through your hands. And as an added bonus, you will be the first to know if something is wrong with your pet and can take action before it develops into something serious.
Even if your dog is not competing in agility, he can sustain muscle injuries and strains just from a long walk or a vigorous game of Frisbee in the park, especially if it’s been a few days (or more) since the last one. Take some time before heading out to massage him all over to help warm up the muscles and joints. And once you’re back home, settle down for a nice post-workout rubdown to get the lactic acid out of the muscles before they start to hurt. It’s also a great way to make sure he didn’t injure himself while having fun.
Although massage can be an enormous help in maintaining health, there are a few instances where it is not the best option. If the animal is in shock, has a fever or infection, kidney failure, certain heart conditions, or suffers from Wobblers disease or cancer, you want to avoid massage and perhaps seek out other alternative therapies, such as Reiki and/or other energy healing methods.
Or even just stiff joints? If so, massage can be a tremendous help in reducing the pain and getting some mobility back, so that he can enjoy his walks again. It’s important to keep older pets moving in order to avoid muscle atrophy and loss of flexibility, and even a short walk helps. I recommend that all pet owners learn massage to some degree, so that you can work on your pet when you both have the time and opportunity.
All animals! Just as in people, massage brings a wealth of benefits: promotes relaxation and stress release, increases flexibility, relieves muscular restrictions, spasms and stiffness, strengthens the immune system, speeds up recovery after injuries and surgeries, helps flush toxins from the system and helps the animal maintain its overall health.
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