A craniosacral hold is a gentle, calming technique used to support your dog’s nervous system. Place your hands lightly — at the base of your dog’s head and on their sacrum — and simply listen to the body. There’s no massage or manipulation involved. The touch is extremely light, about the weight of a nickel. […]
Some dogs simply don’t enjoy being touched. This might be a shocking claim since most people associate interacting with dogs with ears scratches or belly rubs. But it is the reality. Sure, dogs put up with it, as they do with many other things. There are those dogs who LIVE for touch. It is the […]
Why massage your dogs ears? Massaging your dog’s ears will help desensitize and teach them to enjoy their ears being handled. It will make grooming and necessary husbandry tasks much easier: Ears need to be checked for redness, inflammation, debris or ticks Some vets take temperature with an ear thermometer Ears need regular cleaning as […]
Prevention is key for healthy dog muscles: After the cold and dark winter days we are all ready for sunshine and adventure. But before we jump right into long hikes, swimming, bike rides and other fun activities, let’s make sure that our dog’s muscles are in good shape and that we re-introduce more strenuous activities […]
Even though the three can all seem similar on the surface, they are in fact very different. All three can potentially be quite concerning and should be assessed by a veterinarian. Spasm Sudden, involuntary contraction of a large group of muscles. It is usually painful, both in the area of the spasm and in areas […]
Even though we pet our dogs daily, we rarely do so while paying full attention to what we feel under our hands. I encourage you to get to know your dog’s body by spending five minutes each week exploring their body with your hands and noting your observations in the body provided.
What is the Biopsychosocial Model of Pain? This model postulates that pain perception is influenced a dynamic interaction among and within three aspects: biological, psychological and social. Each one of the three aspects is an important contributor to the level of pain perception and altering one aspect will have an effect one the other two. […]
Most dogs love a nice neck or back massage, but the paws are often a neglected part of their body. It’s mostly because many dogs don’t enjoy having their paws touched. However, the health of the paws is crucial to proper movement and comfort. There can’t be proper and well balanced movement if there is […]
As I was cleaning out my office, I realized that over the years I have collected a ridiculous number of massage/bodywork/energywork related books. Some good, some so-so and some mind-blowing amazing! Which is why I thought that I would share my favourite titles for those working in the animal bodywork field or those simply wanting […]
Massage is a wonderful compliment to a holistic approach to pet care. Anyone looking to lead a healthy and balanced lifestyle is well aware of the many benefits of holistic approaches to self care. We recognize the value of massage, energy work, yoga and meditation. If you have ever enjoyed a massage, you know the […]