The Basics of Animal Massage Therapy

Massage has been shown to be very beneficial for pets as well as humans. Our pets enjoy the same benefits, such as reducing stress, enhancing blood circulation, decreasing pain, improving sleep, reducing swelling, enhancing relaxation, and increasing oxygen capacity of the blood. Pain induced by muscle knots, excessive tightness, and muscle spasms can often be reduced or eliminated by massage alone. And massage is helpful in the breakdown of adhesions, or the sticking together of healing tissues, which can cause movement restrictions and discomfort.

It is possible to perform basic massage techniques on your own pet at home. As always, check with your veterinarian before performing massage if your pet has a medical condition. Massage is not recommended for some situations, such as active infections, pregnancy, and cancer.

When performing massage on your pet, keep in mind these guidelines:

Massage should never hurt. If your pet seems uncomfortable (restless, snaps, cries, or winces), use lighter pressure. If while using a light stroke your pet is still uncomfortable, then it is best to discontinue the massage.
Spending too much time in one area can cause soreness. Be sure to incorporate the whole body, and move from one area to the next in an orderly fashion. Approximately five minutes on each area should be a comfortable amount of time.
Always keep one hand on your pet for continuity. It can be distracting and confusing to your pet if you repeatedly touch them one minute, and not he next. (Remember how annoying it would be when your pesky brother or sister would poke you one minute, and then say "I'm not touching you" the next?)

Here is a brief overview of the most common massage strokes used:

Effleurage – A gliding motion following the contour of the body that can be done softly to relax the pet both when you first approach as well as at the conclusion of the massage. Begin moving down the pet (head to tail, shoulder to toes, hip to toes) in order to achieve a relaxing sensation. Benefits include increased circulation by dilating capillaries, increasing lymphatic circulation, relaxing and soothing the patient, and removing waste products, or “flushing”, the area massaged.
Petrissage – Rhythmic lifting of tissue in a circular, single or bi-directional pattern. Think about lifting the tissue from the bone and gently squeezing or milking. Circles and longitudinal strokes over muscle help broaden the tissue to make it more warm and elastic. Benefits include increased circulation (deeper than effleurage), removing toxins, reducing local swelling, relieving fatigue, improving cellular nutrition, mechanically relaxing the muscles, reducing muscle soreness/stiffness, and softening superficial connective tissue.
Skin Rolling – A form of Petrissage. The skin is lifted between the thumb and fingers and gently compressed, and then rolled as the fingers “walk” over the tissue. This can be performed in multiple directions. Benefits include loosening adhesions and releasing endorphins.
Friction – Brisk, often heat producing compressive strokes that may be done superficially to the skin or to deeper tissue layers. Benefits of friction massage include increasing circulation, loosening stiff muscles/joints, reorganizing collagen, reducing trigger point activity, and freeing restrictions caused by adhered tissues.

Also, keep in mind how you are giving the massage. There is a different sensation when using a flat, open palm versus using just your fingertips The massage technique is just as important as the massage stroke being used:

Superficial – The hands or fingers are drawn over the skin in a brisk back and forth motion.
Deep – The finger puts pressure on the body and then moves in small movements in different directions (up and down, back and forth, or circular).

Watch your pet's body language for signs of how much pressure you need to apply:

Too much: eyes opening or dilating, sudden faster breathing, glancing at you from the corner of their eye, sitting up, squirming, or moving away.
Just right: sighing, yawning, licking their lips, flatulence.