Tuesday, July 17, 2012

How to massage your dog

By Jerry Welsh


It is not surprising for dogs to be viewed as man's best friends because these animals have proven their worth as affectionate, loyal and protective companions that have also provided the family with an unending source of joy. Giving the dog a massage is one of the ways by which an owner can repay the pet for all the wonderful things it has given. A dog is a social animal that would love to be petted and to receive attention from its master. Dogs are similar to humans in a lot of ways thus these animals will get loads of benefits from massage as well.

It was proven that dog massage have improved the health of dogs suffering from a variety of medical conditions. Massage that is aimed to give the dog specific health benefit to manage a serious health concern is best left to the hand of professional massage therapist. Aging dogs weighed down with joint and muscle pains will be given a new leash to healthier life as regular massage improves blood circulation and better functioning of all the systems of the body.

Massage can greatly benefit physically and emotionally stressed dogs. Pet parents resort to massaging the dog stressed by the rolling sound of thunder and by the resounding sounds of New Year and 4th of July celebrations. Most importantly massaging the dog would also be a good opportunity to bond better with the pet.

A dog would love a massage thus a pet owner should not hesitate to pamper the pet . One of the objectives of massage is to calm a highly stressed dog thus dogs that are not accustomed to being touched should not be forced to submit to being rubbed down. Dogs that hate to be petted and touched are mostly mature dogs adopted from animal shelters. Small pets can be massaged while lying in your lap. Bigger dogs though would need a firm surface like a padded table, a couch or a cushioned floor. Give the dog soft slow strokes from the head to the tail. Using light pressure, gently scratch the dog behind the ears, the cheeks and the chin taking extra care in rubbing the area between the eyes.

On large dogs, you can use the heel of the hands to make circular motions on the neck. Massage the shoulders and the chest with circular motions using the heel of the hand. Massage technique is a bit different on smaller dogs thus instead of the heel of the hand you can use three fingers. This light touch should follow the hair growth direction. The inner side of the legs can be stroked against the direction of hair growth.




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