Stretch

Connecting with our pets on a daily basis through massage and stretching has many benefits for both human and animal. For dogs, the physical benefits of massage and stretch include:

• Pain relief
• Improved circulation
• Improved supply of oxygen to muscles and joints
• Removal of waste products of muscle metabolism
• Release of exogenous endorphins (feel-good hormones)
• Improved recovery of muscle from injury
• Improved sensation, eg with spinal injury

Stretching your dog should be as much a part of the day as sunshine, play, training and exercise. Warming up muscles before exercise reduces stiffness and increases blood flow to the muscle. It also directly reduces pain. A gentle heat pack may help older, very stiff dogs before exercise. Use a disposable rubber glove filled with warm water, or gel heat packs, and apply over stiff joints such as hips for five minutes before you leave.

part of your warm-up, always walk to the park. If you must drive, park a small distance away to allow both of you to warm up. The warm-up is followed by five minutes of a range-of-motion stretch. Ideally, a trained animal physical therapist, or your veterinarian, should show you how to do these. Small dogs may need to be up on a bench to allow easier handling.

n with the upper joints such as shoulder or hip, and work towards the lower joints such as the hock or carpus. Gently flex and extend joints in line with the body and hold for 10 seconds. Do not rotate joints. Do not stretch beyond your dog’s comfort zone.

Treats are used to encourage a spinal stretch. Hold a treat and run it from the shoulder down the lateral side of the trunk to the hip. Allow your dog to take small nibbles as you go and try to hold the stretch for five seconds. Repeat on the opposite side. For a straight stretch, run the treat down the front of their chest and between their forelegs until they are in a headstand position. At the end of the exercise period, a slower walk out is done as a “cool down”.

Massage

Although generally safe, there are a few precautions with home massage:

• Don’t massage over active skin infections, open wounds or near recent surgery.
• Don’t massage a tumour.
• Don’t massage an animal that has an elevated temperature.
• Take care if your pet has a bleeding or clotting disorder.
• Take care if your pet suffers from heart failure.
• Don’t massage acute musculo-skeletal or spinal injuries.
• As in all animal care: do no harm. If your pet is showing signs of pain or becoming stiff or sore after a session, discontinue.

Centre yourself with a few slow, deep breaths, then, using the ball of your thumb, apply gentle pressure to a point midway between your pet’s ears. Gently rub around the neck and under the ears, then pull each ear in a rhythmic motion away from the head. The base of the ear contains numerous acupuncture points connecting to the rest of the body. This form of massage relieves stress and improves digestion.

Begin massage by stroking your pet with the flat of your hand. Use soft pressure, just enough to stroke the coat, and increase until you feel the skin and coat stretch beneath your fingers. Maintain constant contact by keeping one hand on your pet at all times. Use long strokes down the neck and spine, stopping at the hip. Watch your pet’s reaction and make note of sensitive areas.