by Michael Holloway

The question I pose is “ Have we forgotten our pets?” the very animals that we called “mans best friend”, the happy pet who gives love to us unconditionally, who is always happy to see us no matter what type of day we have had.  In the past, small animals/companion animals have been used by medical research to find out whether treatments are safe for humans. When these treatments are proven safe for us, we wrongly forget to use these methods on the very animals that made it possible.
Massage has been known for thousands of years to be curative for many ailments.  Now with the help of the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami, massage has been shown to be an affective form of treatment for many conditions. Massage has entered he mainstream of healthcare for humans, treating conditions such as; anorexia, bulimia, cocaine withdrawal, fibromyalgia, PSTD, neonatal weight problems, stress disorders and a multitude of orthopedic rehabilitation needs.
Pet massage and rehabilitation is helping to turn the corner when it comes to veterinary care for our pets.  Veterinarians are beginning to prescribe massage along with acupuncture and chiropractic’s to enhance the medical care for the pets. In just the past few years Veterinarian medicine has begun to acknowledge alternative medicine for the companion animal.  The AMVA American Medical Veterinary Association listed acupuncture, chiropractic care and massage as viable therapies for our pets, but unfortunately that does not change the traditional veterinarians way of practicing medicine. Through continued education, magazine publications, television, and interest from the pet owner, pet massage and rehabilitation is being pushed into the scope of veterinary care for the 21st century as one of the alternative methods for healing our pets.  We can now use therapies such as Reiki, Healing Touch 4 Animals, accupressure and the T-Touch system not only to treat and maintain the health of our pets, but also to correct and possibly even cure disease, syndromes, orthopedic problems in our companion animals.
Massage is also used by the equine sports industry, treating Quarter horses, trotters, Polo ponies and the family horse for pulled muscles, torn tendons and ligaments.  Pet massage and rehabilitation for our companion animals has been a long time coming into the forefront of healthcare for our pets.  Pet massage and rehabilitation is showing up in more and more articles, magazines and special interest television shows.
Take the case of Sandy the golden retriever, at two years old he has undergone bilateral triple pelvic osteotomy surgery to correct hip dysplasia.  Five months postoperative recovery had left Sandy with his knees rotated inward with no flexion in his knees and waddling due to lack of rehabilitation immediately after his surgery. Sandy came to me for treatment and rehabilitation and over the period of month Sandy’s knees rotated back into correct position.  Range of motion in his left knee and hip had returned to 100% and his right knee 70%.  After another month of therapy, he had 100% recovery.
Biji, a Bichon Frise, came to me in very poor health, suffering from Cushings Syndrome and the chemotherapy he was undergoing.  I implemented a program of weekly visits for massage therapy and over a two to three month period of time he was off the chemotherapy, his cortisol  levels had reduced and his activity level had increased significantly.
There have been many more cases of physical recovery, but there have also been some unexpected bonuses from the massage therapy treatments.  Animals have overcome phobias and fears of people, from some specific forms of gender fear to touch/contact phobias produced sometimes from abusive treatment.  The pets have gained weight where they had been chronically underweight, and geriatric animals have exhibited puppy like behaviors. But most importantly, the changes on an emotional level with the pets have been the most appreciated by the owners, when their pets become more affectionate and nurturing.
 Pet Massage Rehabilitation Services, Inc.’s president Michael Holloway is a licensed massage therapist in Florida and Nationally  Certified therapist also.  Michael Holloway conducts instructional seminars for the pet owner, lectures for groups and organizations, writes articles for magazines.  For a brochure or scheduling contact us at:
PET MASSAGE REHABILITATION SERVICES, INC.
540 NE 45th STREET    SUITE #11
BOCA RATON, FL 33431
OFFICE 561-393-4732, FAX 561-393-1765
E-MAIL-petmas2193@aol.com
www.petmassage-rehab.com