Benefits of massage

Dogs benefit from massage in just the same way that their owners do. It’s ideal for easing muscular pain and resolving soft tissue injuries which, left unresolved, can lead to harder to treat problems that can often make your dog old before their time.

Why your dog may need Clinical Canine Massage

Muscular injuries aren’t always obvious, but if your dog ‘doesn’t seem right’ and displays any of the symptoms listed in the 5 Principles of Pain, then it could be time to ‘ask an expert’.

Canine Massage Guild therapists train for 2 years on the Canine Massage Therapy Centre’s highly respected Clinical Canine Massage Practitioner Programme which is externally accredited by LANTRA.

Guild therapists utilise 4 massage disciplines: Swedish, Sports, Deep Tissue and Myofascial Release. Most significantly they are trained in the unique Lenton Method™ of canine massage therapy, currently the subject of clinical trials with both Winchester University and University Centre Sparsholt. These therapies have helped thousands of dogs across the world experience positive changes within just 1-3 sessions.

Upon veterinary consent or referral, dogs are taken for clinical canine massage for many reasons including

  • Pain management for arthritis, hip/elbow dysplasia, spondylosis, luxating patella
  • Rehabilitation of muscular injuries such as lameness, stiffness or struggling with normal activities of daily living
  • Performance, gait, and posture issues in sporting and showing dogs
  • Addressing and resolving symptoms listed in the 5 Principles of Pain

However, your dog doesn’t have to be injured to benefit from clinical canine massage with a Canine Massage Guild therapist. For example, it can help to

  • Maintain and improve quality of life and mobility in older dogs
  • Improve exercise duration and frequency so your dog can enjoy longer walks
  • Improve and maintain mobility and acitvity levels
  • Keep sporting dogs – agility, flyball, hoopers, cani-cross and so on – at the top of their game…
  • … and even help dogs with anxiety, nervous behaviour and/or depression.

Is your dog showing any of these common signs of musculo-skeletal discomfort?

  • Stiffness
  • Soreness
  • Unable to go up/down stairs
  • Unable to get in/out of car
  • Mobility issues
  • Lost their ‘sparkle’
  • Depression
  • Posture changes
  • Coat changes
  • Uneven nail wear
  • Skin twitches
  • Old before their time
  • Unwilling to go for walks
  • Back/neck/hip issues
  • Agility performance issues, e.g., pole knocking, measuring

See our 5 Principles of Pain for a more details.

Benefits of massage combo

20 Benefits of Clinical Canine Massage Therapy

Clinical canine massage with a Canine Massage Guild therapist can benefit your dog in many ways, including

# 1

Improves joint functionality, health and range of movement.

#2

Breaks the muscular pain cycle associated with arthritis, hip/elbow dysplasia and similar conditions.

#3

Performance enhancement and injury rehab for sporting dogs.

#4

Improvements across the
5 Principles of Pain.

#5

Relieves pain, soreness and stiffness.

#6

Restores post-injury muscle strength and function.

#7

Increases senior dogs’ comfort levels and mobility.

#8

Improves disposition and mood.

#9

Reduces pain-induced stress and anxiety.

#10

Increases vitality and energy.

#11

Reduces inflammation.

#12

Addresses muscular overcompensation.

#13

Improves sleep patterns and rest.

#14

Addresses back, neck, shoulder and hip issues.

#15

Prehab – treatment before surgery to assess current muscular/myofascial stress.

#16

Rehab – as part of your dog’s recovery and pain management programme after surgery such as TPLO or IVDD.

#17

Useful muscular evaluation for your puppy or young dog.

#18

Improves touch awareness and acceptance for petting, grooming or vet visits.

#19

Works either as a standalone therapy or alongside others like hydro and acupuncture as part of pain management programmes.

#20

Improves proprioception, stability and strength by addressing fascial dysfunction.

Clinical Canine Massage Therapy has been so important to keep Harvey, our 11-year-old Sprocker on the road. He’s crippled with arthritis, but the combination of NSAIDs and massage keeps him happy – and stealing food from my son! #caninearthritis #sprocker #olderdog

Harvey, Sprocker, Arthritis Amy Jones, Cornwall
Harvey, Sprocker, Arthritis

The work our Guild therapist has done with Etta is amazing. I highly recommend anyone whose pet is ailing from an injury, to get in touch with their local Guild Therapist to try Clinical Canine Massage. It doesn’t matter if it’s a show dog or a pet, they are our babies and deserve the best of care. #postinjury

Etta, Muscle Injury 
Etta, Muscle Injury

Mabel the labMabel, our 10-year-old Labrador, has been receiving Clinical Canine Massage to help manage the referred pain from her arthritis. The difference in Mabel after a Clinical Canine Massage session is amazing: any limping improves, often goes away altogether, and she is a much happier dog.

Mabel, Labrador, Arthritis, Limping Jan, Cheltenham
Mabel, Labrador, Arthritis, Limping

When he first visited our Guild Therapist, JJ was an arthritic 12-year-old Labrador (now nearing 14). He was clearly uncomfortable when exercising, despite painkillers. He has found Clinical Canine Massage extremely beneficial, he has far more freedom in his movement and he absolutely loves the actual massage. #labrador #arthritis

JJ, Labrador, Arthritis 
JJ, Labrador, Arthritis

My dogs’ Clinical Canine Massage Guild Therapist is a top practitioner. She always puts my dogs at ease so they get the most out of their Clinical Canine Massage treatments. Her wealth of canine knowledge enables her to identify any issues, both current and potential, which is invaluable and much appreciated. #happydogs

Muscle Injury Katie Cole
Muscle Injury

My 12 year Collie cross,Tilly, had bilateral TPLO surgery. Clinical Canine Massage helped with recovery from this as well as the aches and pains that come with being an older dog. I’m so happy to see Tilly enjoying the therapeutic benefits that come from Clinical Canine Massage. #TPLO/#Cruciate ligament surgery #collie #seniordogs

Tilly, Collie, TPLO Surgery, Older Dog 
Tilly, Collie, TPLO Surgery, Older Dog

My Woolly Husky, Ice, is almost 10 and had started to ‘creak’ a bit. Clinical Canine Massage has improved his mobility and Ice really loves his treatments. Highly recommended. #slowingdown #olderdog

Ice, Husky, Slowing Down, Older Dog Sandra Mellule, Riviera
Ice, Husky, Slowing Down, Older Dog

Tia, IVDDOur Tia, who is 13 and has Intervertebral Disc Disease, only keeps ticking along being her wee happy self with Clinical Canine Massage. We really notice the difference after every session. Don’t know where we’d be without our Guild therapist! #IntervertebralDiscDisease

Tia, Intervertebral Disc Disease 
Tia, Intervertebral Disc Disease

When my 9-year-old Terrier Cross, Lady, was hit by a child riding his scooter into her rear, she was in pain and limping. She very much enjoyed the calm and patient energy that the Clinical Canine Massage Guild therapist brought to the table. After two Clinical Canine Massage treatments, Lady was up and running around. The Guild Therapist is very knowledgeable and offered me many insights. #terrier #muscularinjury #limping

Lady, Terrier Cross, Muscular Injury, Limping, Lameness Jasmine, Suffolk
Lady, Terrier Cross, Muscular Injury, Limping, Lameness

As a senior dog who likes an active lifestyle (at nearly 14, she still does a bit of agility training) Shevi, our Border Terrier, loves her Clinical Canine Massage sessions. Most recently, massage has helped her overcome severe anxiety brought on by suddenly losing most of her hearing. Thank you for your support. #agilitydog #olderdog #deafdog #borderterrier

Shevi, Border Terrier, Senior Dog, Agility Pam Hillier, Somerset
Shevi, Border Terrier, Senior Dog, Agility

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