by  Michael Holloway LMT

Massage and rehabilitation are necessary treatments for recovery of our pets, whether they may be the family pet or champion show dogs.  Massage releases tight muscles, tendons and ligaments reducing pain, correcting postural distortions, stabilizing joint structure, and increasing flexibility and range of motion.  Rehabilitation can consist of walking, running, swimming, stair climbing, hill climbing and stretching routines all of which would be custom designed around the needs of the dog.
In the show ring everything about the dog’s presence counts including movement and form, to be passed over by the judge for this does not have to continue.  Massage in conjunction with rehabilitation therapy can diminish limitations in the show dogs ability to move and perform while improving the quality of life and health of the animal
Lower back injuries are common in dogs due to many reasons; such as, playing rough; jumping on off furniture and jumping up onto people with their front legs.  Muscle pulls could be the only real problem but left untreated it become complicated injuries causing more compensation problems in the posture of the pet.  More serious injuries to the discs like pulled or torn ligaments connecting disc to disc, compression of the cartilage, impinged nerves in the spinal column or in the peripheral nerves going to the limbs should first be examined by your veterinarian.  Treatment planning should be discussed with your veterinarian considering massage, hydrotherapy and exercise therapy to rehabilitate your dog.
 Situations may arise in training with your show dog that may leave you perplexed as to what to do.  Case in point, an owner of a Doberman Pinscher show dog was having difficulties stacking their dog, they could not understand why it would not hold its stance.  The owners believed that more training of their dog would solve the problem, it did not.  Upon examination, assessment and a comprehensive history taking it was discovered an injury occurred in their backyard while the Doberman had been playing with another family dog.  The Doberman incurred pulled muscles in its low back in the lumbar region.  The pain that resulted from these pulled muscles left the dog unable to go into or maintain the show position stances that the owner was trying to stack the dog into.
 Next example is Sippie a 12 year old female champion Irish Setter which has competed all its life and was now in the veterans class. Sippie’s owner, Mrs. H was becoming concerned about Sippie’s declining mobility with an upcoming show in St. Louis; Mrs. H wanted her dog ready to compete.  The owner started using massage and exercise therapies to correct Sippies decreased flexibility.  To the owner’s delight the therapies worked well in correcting the range of motion problems in Sippie, Mrs. H was equally pleased that Sippies stance and stride opened up.  Now Sippie was able to be stacked and would hold the stances she was placed in.  The treatments turned back the clock for Sippies physical condition allowing her to perform well for the judges winning second place in the veteran’s class.

Biography

 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