Supple Pups: Canine Massage Therapy

Email

Supple Pups: Canine Massage Therapy in Wantage, Oxfordshire

My name's Alisa and I'm a canine massage therapist. I am qualified, insured and registered with AHPR. I'm also trained in canine first aid and health checks as well as hospice, palliative and oncology massage.

Animals have always been a big part of my life and I'm lucky enough to have the skills to be able to help them live healthier, more comfortable lives. I am especially interested in geriatrics and I'm keen to raise awareness of massage and how it can transform the lives of our older companions.

I am mobile around South Oxfordshire, treating dogs in the comfort of their own home. A session is £35 and includes static and dynamic gait assessment, massage and reports.

Would your dog benefit from massage? Most dogs benefit from massage as maintenance but if your dog is seven years old or more (larger dog) or 10 years old or more (smaller dog) or they have any chronic conditions such as dysplasia or arthritis. It is very likely that they will have compensatory actions that cause discomfort and would really benefit from having massage treatment.

I use a variety of manual techniques to release restricted tissues and promote elasticity, including very gentle ones suitable for the more delicate dog. This can relieve the discomfort of restriction, improve mobility and allow the body to better repair itself, enhancing your dog's overall quality of life.

A dog will use a compensatory action when the correct action becomes uncomfortable; this can be because of wear and tear, injury, arthritis, conformation or congenital defects. (Imagine having a stone in your shoe, how would it affect the way you walk?) These things are just part of life and the dog will continue on as normal just with a slightly altered gait.

Moving this way creates tightness in the muscles as they are being used in a way they are not designed for. The tightness builds up over time and the muscle will eventually start to restrict its own blood supply, resulting in discomfort and less healthy tissues.

The dog will then start to compensate for this new discomfort and alter their gait again, becoming more restricted and uncomfortable as time goes on. They gradually change the way they move over time making it very hard for an owner to recognise that anything is wrong. If you are out on a walk however and you see a dog in the distance, you can often tell their age group by looking at the way they move and how much their body is compensating. That is unless they have regular massage!

Massage may not be able to resolve the original problem but it is extremely effective at relieving compensatory actions and restoring a dog's movement, so that they are better able to heal themselves, to move freely and comfortably and enjoy their lives lives to the fullest. With monthly treatments, the effect of compensating can be reversed and your dog can better enjoy their senior years.

Testimonial
"Alisa saw my small 16 year old dog for treatment. He's a slow moving, sleepy boy but I didn't realise how much this was his discomfort rather than just age related. After she treated him the improvement was instant! I don't think he even realised he was being treated because he was very calm. I have a happy little dog now, we're both very grateful."  - Domino 16yr old papillon