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Old Dog Resources
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Animal Massage
Touching All Creatures, Great and Small
By Shirley Vanderbilt
Originally published in
Massage & Bodywork magazine, April/May2002.
Copyright 2003. Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals. All rights
reserved.
How do you give an elephant a massage? No, it's not a riddle. It's what's new
in the zoo. When I asked that question of certified massage therapist Jill
Deming, she replied matter-of-fact, "It's very similar to massaging a horse. You
use your knowledge of biomechanics so you don't injure your body." Deming, also
a biologist, has massaged all types of exotic zoo animals as well as cats, dogs
and horses. But an elephant? Maybe you don't own a pachyderm, but there's a good
chance that a pet of yours, perhaps a lizard or llama, could benefit from a
little human touch.
As with many alternative treatments, animal massage has its roots in ancient
practice. Early Egyptian hieroglyphics depict animal healers using massage for
treatment. A full-body massage was recommended for dogs and horses by Flavius
Arrianus, a philosopher and administrator under the reign of Roman Emperor
Hadrian. He stated it would "knit and strengthen the limbs ... make the hair
soft and its hue glossy, and ...cleanse the impurities of the skin."1
Jean-Pierre Hourdebaigt, author of Equine Massage: A Practical Guide, notes that
horse massage was practiced in ancient China and Rome and more recently by the
Hopi Indians of the American Southwest. And for centuries, horses owned by
gentry have been curried, brushed and rubbed down as part of routine care.2
Why Massage an Elephant -- or Dog or Cat?
Dr. Michael Fox, author of Healing Touch and numerous other books on animal
care, points out the price of domesticating animals. In the wild, social
grooming (by licking) provides the touch stimulation needed to thrive, and
hunting and free-play keeps the animal's body toned and fit. Many of our
domesticated friends, confined to the home or small yard, miss out on these
activities. Fox also notes that domesticated dogs and cats tend to be more
infantile and dependent in their behavior than their feral counterparts.3
While petting does provide loving attention and touch, massage goes a step
further.
The benefits of massage for animals parallels those for humans. In fact, when
you think about it, many findings in massage and touch research were initially
proven with lab animals. Animal experiments evaluating the physiological effects
of massage began as early as the 1800s.4
In the 1980s, Touch Research Institute began their investigation of the
importance of tactile stimulation using rat pups as their subjects. And at
present, studies are being conducted with animal models to track ions involved
in the biological process of touch. In addition, the Chinese have produced
numerous studies documenting the effects of Eastern modalities on animals. By
extrapolating to humans and continuing with studies on bipeds, researchers have
provided evidence of the many benefits of touch and massage.
One of the most valuable assets of animal massage is health maintenance. Regular
massage aids in early detection of abnormalities, such as swelling, injury or
painful areas, and facilitates early medical diagnosis of problems. In some
cases the time element can be life-saving. The animal's general overall health
is boosted by an increase in blood and lymph circulation and enhancement of
muscle tone and flexibility. Fox describes touch as "a potent bridge for love,"
thus regular massage develops or can further seal the bond between pet and
guardian. Many animals with emotional issues (depression, grief, shyness or
distrust) respond well to the relaxation and positive touch of massage. Young
animals can be acclimated to touch with massage, making them easier to handle
for grooming and medical care.
Massage has become very popular for equine athletes. According to Patricia
Whalen-Shaw, massage releases toxins from the muscle, allowing horses to perform
longer at a higher level of activity. "Psychologically it's amazing," said
Whalen-Shaw, LMT, and owner of Integrated Touch Therapy, Inc. "If they're
focused and relaxed, they do their best. It's a part of the whole package of
training." A few days before competition, massage is used for loosening
musculature while post-event work moves metabolic waste and eases soreness. The
animal can return to competition sooner. "But it's not the same application as
with human athletes," she said. "A horse lives in the present and doesn't
understand 'it may hurt now but you'll feel better later."
And, of course, there's that elephant. But pachyderms are not what interests
Jonathan Rudinger, founder of The PetMassageTM Training & Research Center in
Toledo, Ohio. Rudinger offers intensive workshops and a home-study course in pet
massage. As a nonprofit organization, the center began research a year ago and
will continue until there is enough data for evaluation. Subjects are divided
into three groups of 20 dogs each, receiving massage, touch or massage in water.
The animals include older dogs with hip dysplasia, those with back issues and
dogs with emotional problems of grief, abandonment and abuse. "I met a
3-year-old dog with bad separation anxiety," said Rudinger. "He was tearing up
everything in the house, eating out of the garbage, like a feral." Although the
dog was fearful, Rudinger managed a 12-minute massage, with the dog accepting
his touch.
A second study project is focused on young pups with growing pains, especially
large breed dogs. Rudinger notes these dogs experience significant pain when the
bones grow faster than muscle. He's had excellent results with massage in these
cases and is documenting his work.
Animal massage is not a medical diagnostic tool, nor is it a substitute for
veterinary medical care. This point cannot be over-emphasized. But as an adjunct
for healing, massage is an excellent treatment for enhancing recovery in medical
cases: pre- and post-operative, chronic disease, and injury or transitory
illness. In all medical cases, veterinary treatment comes first. Massage
follows, but only with the approval of the animal's practitioner.
The New Movement
"Build it and they shall come," said Michelle Rivera, CMT, of The Healing Oasis
Veterinary Hospital in Sturtevant, Wis. Rivera and her veterinarian husband, Dr.
Pedro Rivera, established their holistic animal center in 1993, offering
chiropractic, massage, herbs, homeopathy and acupuncture. "The public demand is
there," said Rivera. "People are becoming more aware of their own treatment
options and asking, 'why can't we get it for animals?'"
The growth of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association is but one
sign of increasing acceptance of alternative treatments for animals. Membership
has jumped from slightly more than 100 in 1998 to 900 members in 2002, with 100
of those outside the United States. Veterinarian schools are beginning to open
Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) departments and CAM clubs. Although
holistic animal care is not yet mainstream, we are beginning to see its
influence, not only in private practice, but also zoos, preserves and wildlife
rehabilitation. The whole field of alternatives seems to be up for grabs with
therapists using a variety of modalities -- massage, reiki, acupressure,
Tellington Touch (TTouch) and even the more unconventional shamanic healing and
soul retrieval, animal communication and music therapy.
As the movement grows, animal therapy associations are also popping up in an
attempt to bring solidarity among therapists and create recognition not only
nationally, but internationally. The International Alliance of Animal Therapists
and Healers (IAATH) was founded three years ago for just this purpose. Among the
goals of IAATH are: promotion of pubic awareness, education and development of
professional standards for practitioners, opening options in animal health, and
creating a common ground for sharing information and research.5 Another group,
AMTIL (Animal Massage & Therapies), founded in 1998, provides listings and links
on their website for practitioners, consultants, schools, organizations and
products related to holistic animal care.6
The Vet's Perspective
Are some veterinarians resisting the massage movement because they fear
infringement on their turf, or is it just a lack of awareness? For the most
part, the holistic veterinary movement has emphasized acupuncture and
chiropractic medicine, leaving massage out in the cold. Dr. Susan Wynn of
Marietta, Ga., specializing in animal acupuncture and herbs, suggests several
reasons for this. "Acupuncture and chiropractic were introduced in schools
earlier and are more familiar to doctors," she said. "They're more dramatic. I
can get an (acupuncture) effect in 10 minutes. Veterinarians are used to people
demanding results quickly. Massage takes time, money and effort."
Holistic veterinarian Dr. Robert Silver, of Boulder, Colo., concurs with the
time factor. "There's a lot of overhead in vet practice and it's hard to get it
served even by acupuncture or chiropractic." But Silver does refer out for
massage, saying his clinic space is too small to accommodate an in-house
therapist. He recommends massage as an integral part of animal care for treating
problems, rehabilitation and recovery, and maintaining wellness. Pointing out a
recent veterinary article on cancer care in which massage is listed as an
appropriate modality, he said in terminal cases, massage can be very beneficial
for diminishing aches and pains. "It's a very bonding experience for the owner,"
he adds. "I give out handbooks on massage and encourage owners to do it
themselves." Silver suggests the current growth in holistic animal care is in
part due to the veterinarians. "Vets themselves are humans who work too much and
develop ailments better served through complementary procedures. Many have
sought out alternative therapy for their own health and in the process gained a
new perspective."
According to Dr. Jan Facinelli, another factor of influence is research.
Facinelli is an avid supporter of massage, chiropractic and acupuncture, and
includes them in her Denver practice. She noted that veterinarians want
scientific proof documented by their associates rather than laymen. "If it's not
standard, scientific proof, they're not going to give it credence. When benefits
are documented, then truth will speak for itself," she said. "We want to make
sure it does no harm."
Oregon energy practitioner Dr. Donna Starita is chairperson of IAATH. "What
we're seeing over and over is lack of awareness and education," she said. "I try
to help vets understand what I'm doing." She encourages a relationship of mutual
respect between vet and therapist. If your are taking your pet to a veterinarian
and a massage therapist, it's important to keep both informed of the treatment
protocols of each practitioner.
Decisions, Decisions
In the high-profile horse country of Wellington, Fla., massage therapist
Jean-Pierre Hourdebaigt established Massage Awareness, Inc., offering massage
services and training. He explained, "You do it because of your love for
animals, not because of prestige or potential financial earnings. Equine massage
is very demanding on the therapist. Massage is not a mechanical work, it takes a
lot of feeling and energy. Some sessions might go very smoothly, some others
might be very tiring," he said.
Rivera agreed that intention is everything in animal massage and that the
massage practitioner must be an animal lover gifted in working with them. "It
can't be on a whim," he said. "It should be something that you love."
Who's Qualified
The 2001 guidelines on complementary and alternative therapies established by
the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) do not specifically address
the use of massage by a non-veterinarian therapist, as did the 1996 version that
required supervision and referral from the treating practitioner. Rather, there
is a broad encompassing of CAM modalities to be used at the discretion of the
individual veterinarian. Within that directive comes caution that the safety and
effectiveness of the treatment "should be proven by scientific method." Dr.
Craig Smith of AVMA headquarters explained the basic premise of the new policy:
"Medicine is medicine and regardless of what treatment is being used, the same
basic principles should apply." The veterinarian conducts an exam, establishes a
diagnosis and consults with the owner to decide on a course of action. "If that
animal can benefit from those modalities, the vet has the right to seek it out.
They also have the responsibility to follow up and monitor the animal's
progress, in that they are not providing the treatment." They are also
responsible for abiding by the state regulations, all of which are accommodated
by the flexibility of the guidelines. The individual is encouraged to use a
combination of their knowledge and experience to make a decision. However, Smith
stated, "We still think that animals receive the best care when a veterinarian
is involved in that care."
Animal massage is on the cusp of becoming mainstream. The success of each case
brings visibility and validation to the practice, and with each new
well-trained, dedicated and passionate massage therapist entering the field,
there is movement forward.
Reprinted with permission from our friends
at MassageTherapy.com
Click here to find a qualified animal massage therapist in your area.
Shirley Vanderbilt is a staff writer for
Massage & Bodywork magazine.
References
1. Equine Sport Therapies of Georgia. "The History of Massage Therapy."
2.
www.estofgeorgia.com/MassageHistory.htm.
3. Knaster, Mirka, "Animals: They Could Be Your Next Clients," Massage Therapy
Journal (Fall, 1998): 34-35.
4. Fox, Michael, Dr. Michael Fox's Massage Program for Cats and Dogs (New York:
New Market, 1981), 3-4.
5. Knaster, 34.
6. International Alliance of Animal Therapists and Healers (IAATH),
www.iaath.com.
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