Do you suspect your dog is in pain? Have they been diagnosed with a potentially painful condition? Have they recently injured themselves?
Did you know that Canine Massage Therapy is a great tool to have in your pain management toolbox?
So, how does massage help?
Reducing Compensatory Pain
When a dog is in pain, they will often change their gait pattern or posture to reduce the load on the painful area. For example, let’s look at a cruciate injury. At the onset of injury, the dog will mostly likely be non-weightbearing or limping on the effected limb. To enable themselves not to weight-bear on the painful limb, the dog will shift its weight forward onto its forelimbs and will often arch it’s back, particularly in the lumbar region. This can result in a great deal of muscle tension in the lumbar region, as well as the forelimbs that could be causing the dog pain and discomfort in addition to the limb that is injured. This would be considered compensatory pain as it has resulted from the dog compensating for the initial injury site.
There are several dogs that I have treated that are very guarded across the lumbar region, for this exact reason, despite the injury occurring years prior to the treatment.
In terms of chronic pain, these compensatory changes may have been going on for years and you may see changes in the dog’s muscle mass as a result. A dog with osteoarthritis in their hips will have a reduced range of motion in their hindlimbs, with their forelimbs having to work harder to move the dog forward, so you may see increased muscle mass in the neck and shoulders. This can also result in muscle tension in these areas and along the back.
Massage will help relieve the muscle tension in these areas, helping to reduce pain.
The Science-y Stuff – Physiological Responses to Massage Therapy
Massage therapy encourages a range of different physiological responses from the body that can help relieve pain too!
Massage therapy increases circulation which can aid the removal of waste products and toxins from the muscle tissue, thereby relieving any over-worked muscles. This increase in circulation can also improve healing, reduce inflammation, and increase production of synovial fluid – this is the fluid that helps protect joints from damage.
Furthermore, massage therapy increases the production of dopamine, oxytocin, and serotonin resulting in a decrease in cortisol levels. This helps improves mood and reduces pain perception.
Massage therapy also by interrupting the cycle of pain. Pain signals are sent to the brain via the central nervous system. Massage interferes with these pain pathways by sending other messages to the brain therefore preventing the pain signals from reaching their destination and reducing the feeling of pain in the body.
Think of it this way, do you remember being told to “rub it better” when you hurt yourself as a child? This is because the act of rubbing the area you’ve just hurt blocks the pain signals from getting to the brain.
Charis
Train & Treat
Further Information
Charis Donnelly, Train & Treat, is a qualified and experienced Canine Massage Therapist providing treatments to prioritise your dog’s mental and physical wellbeing.
Charis is a member of the International Association of Animal Therapists which promotes best practice.
For more information on how massage therapy can help your dog, email charis@train-and-treat.co.uk
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