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!

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

Click here to view the embedded video.

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.

Click here to view the embedded video.

You want to use an open palm.  Start with a brisk, light rub down from the crown of your dog’s head to the rump.  You want to use light, even strokes, one after the other.  Keep your hands loose and open and use a brushing stroke, one hand after the other, with your palm leading.  You don’t want to use a lot of pressure here; just enough to better stimulate the blood flow.

Use the tips of your fingers to gently massage the large muscles of the jaw.  Trace lightly over the snout and top of the head again, repeating the open-handed brushing strokes.  Repeat this stroke routine about three or four times in it’s entirety.
 
Do a light massage on the large muscle groups down the legs by using your thumbs to trace small, even circles across the entire muscle.  Be careful not to apply a lot of pressure.  You are looking to get the blood flow to the muscles, not to do deep relaxation.  Blood flow helps the muscles work better, move better, and be more flexible.  This helps your dog avoid injury and minimize soreness after a strenuous day.
 
Keep your massages short, between five and ten minutes.  Offer fresh water and a bathroom break afterwards, then enjoy your day.
 
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.