Massage therapy is great preventative care and maintenance for healthy dogs with no symptoms. Most often, however, dogs that are coming to massage have muscle or joint problems.
How to identify muscle tension and muscle pain in a dog?

It is high time to get your dog a massage if he/she...

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• Seems stiff. Temporary stiffness after rest also indicates problems.

• Is reluctant to walk, run, play, or exercise in the same way as before. A healthy dog loves exercising. If the dog is «lazy,» no longer eager to go out, or the pace has slowed, it might suffer from pain.

• Has difficulty jumping into the car or up on the couch, going upstairs.

• Paces, which means that the two legs on the same side move forward at one time.

• Reacts to the touching of specific body parts.

• Twitches his skin when touched or stroked.

• Stretches excessively or gave up stretching completely.

• Is restless, stands up and lies down repetitively.

• Has become passive, depressed.

• Has become more reactive or aggressive.

• Stands hind legs under the trunk.

• Hunches his back.

• Stands, sits, or moves asymmetrically.

 

It is always safest to get a dog checked by a veterinarian before starting massage therapy. If your dog is limping, has swollen areas, or shows severe pain reactions, make an appointment with your veterinarian as soon as possible.

This list is not exhaustive. During the first massage visit, the massage therapist checks the dog’s gait, postures, and palpates the dog thoroughly in search of possible abnormalities. However, you should pay attention to any changes and symptoms and tell the specialist about them.