PRESS INFORMATION
The Canine Massage Guild Welcomes Marcelle Cassar as Veterinary Technical Advisor
31st March 2020.
The Canine Massage Guild is delighted to announce the appointment of Marcelle Cassar BVSc (Hons) CCRT MRCVS as its Veterinary Technical Advisor. In addition to her veterinary qualifications, Marcelle has pursued an education in complementary therapy by achieving the Certificate in Canine Rehabilitation Therapy awarded by the Canine Rehabilitation Institute in the USA. She has also completed a course in Western Veterinary Acupuncture and Chronic Pain Management allowing her to offer acupuncture in general practice.
Even then, she felt that there was still a gap in her knowledge, so Marcelle trained to become a Clinical Canine Massage Therapist with the Canine Massage Therapy Centre. She comments, “As a member of the Canine Massage Guild, I now feel I have a fantastic set of manual skills which enable me to really help dogs with any muscular/soft tissue problems whether through orthopaedic or neurological conditions, pre-or post-surgery, sporting injuries, trauma or simply getting older.”
In addition to being the Clinical Director of the Animal Rehabilitation Centre based at Oakhill Vets in Windermere, Cumbria, Marcelle has also accepted the role of Veterinary Technical Advisor to Canine Massage Guild where she will act as primary contact for other vets and veterinary enquiries. Marcelle will also answer technical queries, help to educate vets and their staff about Clinical Canine Massage Therapy, represent the Guild at congresses, universities and industry meetings, and help to produce educational literature and articles.
Natalie Lenton, founder of The Canine Massage Therapy Centre and Guild, says, “Working with client-centred veterinary practices has always been a number one priority for the Guild and its therapists. Following the launch earlier this year of our Integrated Veterinary Care Initiative (IVCI), a bridge between veterinary practices and clinical canine massage, we are delighted to announce that one of our own former students and Guild Member, the highly skilled and versatile Marcelle Cassar BVSc (Hons) CCRT MRCVS has agreed to build that bridge even further by working closely with practices wanting to know more about the many benefits of this therapy.
The IVCI, Marcelle’s appointment, and the ongoing clinical trials of The Lenton Method™ at both Winchester and Sparsholt Universities demonstrate how vital we believe it is that Clinical Canine Massage becomes a fully accepted, mainstream treatment for dogs at all veterinary practices.”
Vets wanting a peer’s perspective on how Clinical Canine Massage Therapy as taught to Canine Massage Guild therapists can benefit their practice may contact her on marcelle@btinternet.com.
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About the Canine Massage Guild
Clinical Canine Massage Therapy is unique to members of the Canine Massage Guild and typically sees results in 1-3 sessions based on an ethical client approach model and the unique integrative blend of 4 disciplines of massage alongside the exclusive Lenton Method™.
For chronic pain management, soft tissue injury rehabilitation, and orthopaedic and neurological condition support, clinical canine massage blends myofascial release, both the direct and indirect approach, sports massage, deep tissue massage and Swedish massage as well as the trademarked MFR protocols from the Lenton Method™, currently the subject of clinical trials at two leading universities, a three-pronged approach that incorporates advanced palpation skills, BodyMapping (an actual map of the body that is used to determine common areas of muscular injury and issue as well as myofascial pain developed over the course of 10 years) and ‘The 7 Protocols’, a unique set of myofascial release techniques that produce long lasting results.
Clinical therapists are also trained in the assessment of orthopaedic and neurological conditions essential for patient referral back to their consenting vet to ensure paramount client care. Written reports are also provided to the consenting vet and sensible home care plans are provided to the owner.
The initial Clinical Canine Massage Practitioner Programme is delivered by the Canine Massage Therapy Centre Ltd. over a period of 2 years and it is externally accredited by LANTRA. Upon completion and pass of written and practical examinations therapists are able to join the Canine Massage Guild and commit to Continuing Professional Development (25 hour/year minimum) provided exclusively by CMTC for Guild members including manual lymphatic drainage, facilitated stretching, skill reviews, neuromuscular refacilitation, ventral MFR and other clinically appropriate bodywork courses.
Animal welfare, consumer protection, clarity of law and professional standards are the Guild’s core values alongside providing the best service possible to dogs, their owners and vets. The online therapist register includes members from the UK, Ireland, and Spain.
For further information please contact Virginia Harry. Email: vharry@btinternet.com.
