Entries Tagged 'Dog Massage' ↓
December 31st, 2007 — Dog Massage, Winter Safety, Dog Health, Dog Walking, Dog Sports, Dog Hiking, Dogs
Don’t forget to check your dogs paws when icy weather hits. Snow and ice can cause many of the same problems that humans have with the cold.
Think about getting booties for you dog. These can protect your dog’s feet not only from harsh chemicals, but also from broken glass that might be hidden by snow and ice.
Here’s a link to a website that sells them: Dog Boots
Chemicals used to melt ice and snow are harmful to your pet. Don’t let your dog eat the ice and snow in a neighbor’s yard. You never know what chemicals they could have used to speed up melting. And, many neighborhood streets are sprayed with chemicals by the highway department.
If your dog is like mine, he LOVES to catch snowballs. Roll balls of snow from your own yard or any other source you know doesn’t use chemicals. Don’t dig down to get a handful, skim off the top. This will minimize the chance of picking up rocks and sticks that could hurt your dog. Push the snow together only enough to keep its shape for you to toss. Packing it down tight might hurt your dog when he catches it.Always check your dog’s paws after playing in snow or ice. It’s a good idea to wipe your dog’s paws with clean warm water after a walk in the neighborhood. After your dog has had a good day’s play in the cold, wash and dry them off thoroughly. Then check the pads of each paw. Look for swelling. Nicks and cuts as well as abrasions could cause infections. If you don’t find anything, watch your pet to see if he licks his paws. This may be a sign of an injury and the main reason you rinse your dog’s paws off after a walk. Check him again. If you find something, clean the wound gently. For a serious cut, contact your vet or local animal emergency hospital. Don’t let it fester before seeking help.Once you’ve checked your dog and everything is okay, treat him or her to a nice gentle leg massage. This will stimulate circulation and keep his paws nice and toasty. Sit beside your dog and take one leg in both hands. Make slow circular movements with your thumbs as you work down from the top of the leg to the paw. Use a steady, light pressure. When you reach the paw, take one finger and slide it between the toes. If your dog doesn’t like this, then stop. Otherwise, continue between the toes using only one finger. Don’t push the toe outward, keep it in its natural line. Only apply enough pressure for your finger to glide through.As always, offer your pet fresh clean water after any massage. This helps flush out toxins from the muscles that can be released during massage.
Have a fun, safe, and healthy winter!
December 2nd, 2007 — Pet Massage, Dog Massage, Dog Massage Techniques, Pet Friendly Places, Washington DC Pet Friendly Places, Virginia Pet Friendly Places, Dog Spinal Manipulation, Holistic Pet Remedies, Dog Sports, Dogs, Dog Spa, Dog Services, Holistic Pet Care, Dog Health Questions, Dog Behavior Training
Paws for Health of Virginia is a new service based in the Chesterfield/Midlothian area of Virginia. Offer your dog the same benefits that humans get with massage. Canine massage is a safe, effective way to help your dog live a healthier life. Massage is great for improving circulation, reducing pain, and promoting overall health and well being. Massage is especially helpful for dogs with hip and elbow dysplasia. Services include introductory massages, full body massages, and massage for sick, injured, or elderly dogs.
In this blog, we’ll look at some tips that can help your dog lead a happier, healthier life. Take a look at the massage video posted here at www.caninegames.com for massages you can do at home. It will get you started on helping your pet feel their best.
Remember, although massage is a safe and gentle procedure, it is never a substitute for regular veterinary care. You should always consult with your vet before using any treatment he or she is not aware of. Verify with the vet that your pet doesn’t have any condition that massage might make worse. Always offer your dog clean fresh water after a massage. This helps flush out toxins and other waste from your dog’s muscles. Also, massage is a useful addition to veterinary care, not a substitute. Always keep your vet informed about any outside treatments.
For more information, see the contact information below:
Stephanie Whitehead
Canine Massage Therapist
Paws for Health of Virginia, LLC
9947 Hull Street Road
Suite 244
Richmond, VA 23236
pawsforhealthofva@yahoo.com
804-986-4675
November 27th, 2007 — Dog Massage, Pet Massage, Dog Massage Techniques, Dog Health, Dog Services, Dog Sports, Dog Spa, Dogs
After a day of strenuous work or play, give your dog a cool-down massage.
It will be pretty much the same as your warm-up massage with three differences. First, you want a little bit firmer pressure than you used for the warm-up massage. Where you wanted to wake up the muscles with the warm-up, the cool-down massage helps the blood to move wastes out of the muscles to where they can be eliminated.
You also want your movements to be slower and more fluidly connected. This helps to relax tense muscles and calm your dog. Again, use the strokes you did for the warm-up, but make them longer, a bit heavier pressure, and slower.
Third, although you will still use an open palm, you want to turn your hands around. Where you were stroking down the body with your palm leading your fingers in the warm-up massage, now you want your fingers to lead. This feels like a pushing motion and that’s what you’re doing, helping to push toxins and blood through the muscles. This helps blood flow assist the body in removing toxins like lactic acid from the muscles.
As with the warm-up routine, you’re using the same pattern. Down the spine from the crown to rump, around the jaws, and over the snout. Repeat this sequence three or four time or for between five and ten minutes. Just slow it down and make the strokes longer and firmer. Note any tension or “flinching” responses from your dog. These are areas that may need a bit longer massage or even heat or ice therapy. If your dog shows marked flinching, check with your vet to make sure it isn’t a pulled muscle. Check the paws, too, for any injuries. After the massage, offer your pet clean, fresh water.
Contact Information:
Stephanie Whitehead
Paws for Health of Virginia, LLC
9947 Hull Street Road, Suite 244
Richmond, VA 23236
804-986-4675
pawsforhealthofva@yahoo.com
Remember, although massage is a safe and gentle procedure, you should always consult with your vet before using any treatment he or she is not aware of. Verify with the vet that your pet doesn’t have any condition that massage might make worse. Always offer your dog clean fresh water after a massage. This helps flush out toxins and other waste from your dog’s muscles. Also, massage is a useful addition to veterinary care, not a substitute. Always keep your vet informed about any outside treatments.
