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Massage For Animals:
Rubbing Them The Right Way

By W. Bruce Bregenzer, Animal Massage/Touch Therapist

To anyone who has ever pet a dog or stroked a cat, the fact that massage is a pleasurable experience for animals comes as no surprise. On the other hand, many people are surprised to learn that massage is beneficial to animals, not just physically but on mental, emotional, social, and behavioral levels as well. The benefits of massage also extend to the caretaker/companion relationship, and even to the practitioner: GIVING a massage produces a lowering of blood pressure and stress levels..

One of the most widely accepted definitions of massage is this: massage is the systematic manipulation of the soft tissue of the body; the movements of gliding, compressing, stretching, percussing, and vibrating are regulated to produce specific results. Simply put, massage is touching of the skin, muscles, and other soft tissue intended for a beneficial effect. In legal terms the definition of massage may be limited to the human body (at least in some areas) but the benefits of massage extend equally to animals.

It is the view of the author that a more accurate definition of massage, in deference to Einstein’s theory of relativity, would be: “massage is the energetic modality that operates at the slowest vibrational level”. This makes it easier to understand why the very light amount of pressure used in working with animals is so profoundly effective: it is vibration, not pressure, that is the key to unlocking the incredible healing power of the animal’s body. It is both helpful and important for the practitioner not to lose sight of the fact that it is the animal that actually does whatever healing occurs through massage: the role of the practitioner is to provide an atmosphere conducive to healing and facilitate the healing process.

Not a substitute for veterinary care but rather a complement to it, massage can be an important element in successful treatment programs in combination with allopathic medical applications and/or holistic modalities. A properly designed and applied massage can make medications more effective by improving their circulation through the body while helping to minimize undesirable side-effects by speeding removal of toxins and waste products.

Massage can also produce remarkable, sometimes dramatic effects when used alone. There are several reasons for this, perhaps the most important of which is that massage encourages endorphin production and release: endorphins are the body’s natural pain relievers. Animals are very logical about pain; if it hurts to do something they do whatever they can to avoid doing it. Compensation, the name given to the changed action used to do the avoiding, can give pain relief but can also lead to additional problems. When pain is lessened or removed by endorphins, the animal is able to use the affected area(s) in a more natural manner. In addition to relieving pain, endorphins have a positive effect on mood, helping the animal maintain a frame of mind conducive to healing and health.

Along with age, physical condition, and personality; evaluation of the animal as a candidate for massage therapy involves consideration of the history provided, genetic predisposition, veterinary diagnosis, and other ongoing treatment. Designing an appropriate massage requires the practitioner to combine these factors with a knowledge of massage techniques and of the animal’s anatomy and physiology; observation of the animal’s movement and demeanor; and experience gained through working with other animals. As the massage progresses, the practitioner will note both positive and negative reactions by the animal as well as any physical, emotional, or behavioral changes produced, and vary the application as necessary in order to obtain the most favorable result possible for each individual animal.

There are times when massage is inappropriate, described in the “Contraindications for Massage” table provided below. These are primarily medical issues or emergencies, but there are three situations that are just as important although they don’t fall into that category. Massage is not appropriate at times when one cannot give full attention to the animal; for example, when angry or distracted. It is also not appropriate if the veterinarian OR THE ANIMAL says no.

Massage enhances the general health and wellness of any animal, but there are some animals that can particularly benefit from an appropriately designed massage program. This would include animals recovering from injury, illness, or surgery; animals with a history of abuse, neglect, or abandonment; animal athletes; puppies, especially large-breed pups; animals of any age with ongoing issues such as dysplasia or arthritis; the elderly; and those in need of hospice care. It has been my privilege to work with many individuals in each of these situations, either in my practice as private clients or at one of the several shelters I visit.

For those animals recovering from injury, illness, or surgery pain relief is one of the principal benefits of massage. Studies have shown that the reduction of pain speeds healing: it allows the animal to begin the process of returning to normal usage of the affected area(s) or adapting to a new bodily reality. Increased circulation of blood and lymph, feeding the healing tissue while preventing a buildup of waste or toxic materials, is another important massage benefit. Soothing muscular tightness while building muscle tone and easing nervous tension contribute to recovery as well. For animals whose treatment involves the use of anesthesia, massage (in particular the percussive techniques known as tapotement) can help ease the waking-up process. It is not uncommon for at least some anesthetic to become trapped in the animal’s body; massage helps the body release the anesthetic.

When the animal’s history includes abuse, neglect, or abandonment the physical benefits of massage, while important, may be secondary to the mental and emotional effects. This can be most readily understood when one considers that of the senses, touch is the only one functional at birth. Puppies and kittens are born with their eyes closed; hearing, taste, and smell may exist but lack referents and only become truly functional with experience. Touch, however, is something that the animal has experienced while in the womb and seeks after birth: laying on one’s littermates is not just a cute accident. When animals are abused touch can become equated with pain, forcing the animal to relinquish this most important sense. Fortunately, most animals that can be enticed to accept even a little massage are able to regain touch as a source of pleasure. Animals that have been neglected sometimes have a difficult time accepting attention, but massage can enhance their self confidence as well as raise their comfort level, restoring a sense of self-worth to animals who may have lost it or had it beaten out of them.

Animals with ongoing issues benefit from massage even when the issue is one, such as dysplasia or arthritis, that can only be affected in fact or degree by surgery, medication, diet, or some other means. The improvements in muscular efficiency and flexibility coupled with pain reduction allow the animal to be more active: increased use generally speeds a return to normal usage. Compensation, whether developed from trauma, an ongoing condition, or a structural imperfection, is only one of the issues that may have to be dealt with, especially in the case of long-standing imbalances and particularly with older animals. Atrophy, muscle memory, decreased nerve activity, new issues caused by rebalancing, restoration of confidence, and what I call “the grumpy-old-man syndrome” can all be factors in recovery and retention.

Animal athletes, like human athletes, can benefit from pre-event and post-event massage. The benefits are primarily physical: warmed muscles and joints are less likely to become injured and are able to perform at a higher level for a longer period of time than cold, tense muscles. The pre-event massage should be short, light, quick, and invigorating. It should be stimulating to the animal’s mind as well as his or her body; positive mental imaging of the animal performing well goes hand-in-hand with enlivenment of the muscles. Post-event massage should be slower than pre-event massage and soothing; releasing performance tension, clearing the tissue of accumulated waste products, and relieving soreness and muscle aches are some of the benefits of post-event work..

Kittens and puppies enjoy being touched; the physical effects of muscle relaxation and increased flexibility can be important for young animals, especially for large-breed pups. Differing growth rates of muscles and bones often produce what are literally growing pains; massage allows stretched muscle tissue to relax while endorphins ease the discomfort. Young animals benefit from massage on emotional, behavioral, and social levels as well as the physical. Infants (human or animal) that are touched grow and develop faster than those that are not. Emotionally calming, massage helps produce a state of mind conducive to learning, making training less stressful for both the animal and the caretaker or trainer. Massage early in life results in kittens and puppies that are more active, alert, and responsive to social stimulation. Guiding Eyes for the Blind in Yorktown Heights, NY begin their dogs on massage at infancy and continue throughout their working lives and into retirement.

Arthritis, muscle atrophy, decreased nerve action, diminished mental function, circulatory problems, and other & “geriatric” issues make the elderly among the most likely candidates for massage. Fortunately, each of these issues can usually be positively affected by a well-designed massage. Massage provides mental stimulation along with physical benefits, allowing the animal to be more active, and while it is true, particularly for older animals, that “if you don’t use it, you lose it”, the reverse is also true: “the more you do, the more you can do”.

Maintenance of dignity is one of the greatest benefits of massage for the elderly and for those in need of hospice care of any age. Animals have a different view of death than humans do, accepting it as just one part of the bargain that is life. Even so, the process of dying can be trying mentally and emotionally for both the animal and the caretaker; massage allows the animal to prepare for death as comfortably as possible while providing every opportunity for physical recovery.

Designing a program of massage appropriate to these situations may require a professional approach, but there is no reason for caretakers not to do what might be described as a “maintenance” massage with their own animals. The techniques involved are not hard to learn, and the familiarity with the animal’s body gained may lead to earlier detection and treatment of issues that develop. There are many ways to interact with your pet, but few if any offer the range of benefits that massage does.

BENEFITS of MASSAGE for ANIMALS

• Increased circulation of blood and lymph
• Pain reduction/endorphin release
• Increased flexibility and muscle efficiency
• Stress reduction/relaxation
• Improved body awareness
• Emotional calming
• Reduced injury recovery time
• Increased trust and bonding
• Performance enhancement/Injury prevention
• Familiarity with the animal’s body
• Early detection of possible health changes
• Improved general health and well-being

CONTRAINDICATIONS for MASSAGE

The list below describes issues that may exist with the animal. In addition to these, massage is not appropriate if YOU, the massage-giver, are not in the proper frame of mind: do not massage when you are angry, frustrated, distracted, etc. There are three levels of contraindication, describing situations in which massage is never allowed, sometimes appropriate, or limited in application.

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