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Q: Why should I get or give my dog, cat, or other companion animal massage? A: Massage is a gentle form of touch that almost all animals find highly pleasurable; it is a wonderful way to bond and can be a useful tool for dealing with "issues" on several levels: physical, emotional, social, behavioral. It can be used to help calm, soothe, focus, or energize, depending on the animal’s needs. Q: Which animals need massage most? A: Animals that can particularly benefit from massage include the elderly; the young - especially large-breed puppies; those recovering from illness or injury, coping with a history of abuse/neglect, dealing with arthritis, dysplasia, or other chronic conditions, or in need of hospice care; and athletes.
Q: What are the benefits of massage for animals? A: Massage has a wide variety of benefits, including increased circulation of blood and lymph; improved body awareness, muscle efficiency, and joint flexibility; pain relief through endorphin release; physical relaxation and emotional calming; injury prevention and/or rehabilitation; enhanced general well-being; and growth in self-confidence, focus, trust, and bonding. Massage also provides both preventative health maintenance and the likelihood of early detection of growths or other health changes. There is even a benefit to the giver of the massage in the forms of reduced blood pressure and stress levels.
Q: Are there any times animals should not be massaged? A: Yes. Massage requires cooperation, so it can’t be forced; it is inappropriate if the animal says "NO" or if the massage giver is unable to offer full attention. (angry, distracted, etc.) It is also inappropriate if the veterinarian says "no" for any reason. There are some medical situations where one should not massage. These include shock, stroke, heat exhaustion, fever, and nausea or other digestive upset. Seek appropriate veterinary care for these: massage can be a valuable complement to veterinary treatment, but it is not a substitute for it. Avoid open wounds like surgical incisions, healing cuts, or seeping hot-spots. Freshly-injured areas should not be massaged for 24-48 hours in the case of bruises, sprains, etc.; two weeks in the case of breaks. Massage to unaffected areas is acceptable in these situations and can be very beneficial. Although in most situations the benefits of massage will likely outweigh any risks, consultation with a veterinarian is important when considering massage for animals known to have or suspected of having disc or other spinal issues; kidney, liver, bladder, heart, or immune system impairment; cancer; or other health concerns.
Q: Do I have to be a human massage therapist to work with animals? A: In Utah and Washington practitioners must be human-licensed before becoming licensed for animal massage; it is not currently (6/07) a requirement elsewhere. Depending on the type of work they are accustomed to, human massage therapists can sometimes find it difficult to adapt to massage with animals. It may even, at times, be an advantage for prospective therapists/practitioners/providers not to have a massage background and learn from the ground up; where one starts from matters less than what one learns along the way.
Q: Do I have to be licensed to do animal massage? A: Licensing is a state-by-state issue, so this answer will likely change, but as of the moment (6/07) the only places where you have to be licensed to massage animals are Alabama, California, Utah, and Washington.
Q: How do I get certified for animal massage? A: It depends on what one means by "certification". There are a number of individual schools currently issuing certifications, but Certification in the sense of recognition by an independent certifying body applying generally-accepted qualification standards of education and/or experience does not exist at this time (6/07). This is an answer subject to change as there are groups working toward the establishment of just such a body. Once this is in place, working therapist/practitioners/providers will be ‘grandfathered’ into certification based on their prior education and experience.
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