{"id":874,"date":"2018-06-16T21:38:32","date_gmt":"2018-06-16T21:38:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.petworks.com\/?p=874"},"modified":"2021-02-01T16:32:43","modified_gmt":"2021-02-01T16:32:43","slug":"pet-massage-therapy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.petworks.com\/articles\/pet-massage-therapy\/","title":{"rendered":"Pet Professions You Didn’t Know Existed: Massage Therapy"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the first of our four-part series on luxurious pet services, we delve into the world of pet massage therapy–what it is, why it’s important, and tips for pet parents considering massage therapy for their furry friend.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

by Caroline Wilson, owner\/head editor & writer of \/redpen<\/em><\/p>\n

We\u2019ve all been there–sore and exhausted after exercise, stressed after a long week of work, or just drained. Maybe your feet are killing you after a day of walking, or your shoulders and back ache from sitting at your desk all day. Regardless of the source, we\u2019ve all felt pain, and I\u2019m sure we\u2019ve all wanted a massage at one point for said pain. Well, our pets apparently feel the same way–and there are pet massage therapists to help them. <\/span><\/p>\n

I always thought that just petting dogs and cats was <\/span>technically<\/span><\/i> a massage, but pet massage<\/a> therapy is far more than the gentle patting on the head you give Rover after he fetches his ball. It\u2019s a serious profession–just like that of a human massage therapist. The animals that receive these treatments are most commonly dogs, cats, and horses. These services are growing in popularity, and for good reason. With rates as low as $35 per hour in some cases, you can give your best friend more than just a little pampering session. <\/span><\/p>\n

Massages provide as many benefits to our furry friends as they do to humans. Animals, like us, develop stiffness in their joints from aging or inactivity, which leads to arthritis. They also experience soreness from exertion in the same way we do<\/span>.<\/span> \u201cSince animals can’t speak to us in the language we use to speak to each other, holistic healing touch is the next best thing we can implement as a form of communication\u201d says Alexis Justman, a certified canine massage therapist from Sugar Muzzles<\/a> (an LA-based company specializing in dog massages). Regular massage therapy throughout your pet\u2019s life can help alleviate those pains. Like any human massage, they can also improve body function (for example, massages can increase flexibility and good blood circulation) and boost moods while indulging your pet. <\/span><\/p>\n

Justman doesn\u2019t consider hers to be a luxury pet service. Her hope is that massages \u201cwill be accessible to all pets from all walks of life, and pet parents will find a way to integrate massage into their animal’s wellness routine.\u201d Her practice focuses on \u201cunderdogs\u201d–homeless, elderly canines that suffer or have suffered from illness or abuse. She says that these dogs are those who need it the most. <\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

So what goes into a pet massage<\/a>? Surprising, a lot-comparable to that of a human massage. The process starts with intake paperwork (an overview of your critter\u2019s medical history). Many therapists also meet their clients before the session to set up a bond with the animal. The massage begins with some petting in the areas they\u2019re going to be focusing on in order to warm up the muscles. After that, the therapist will practice a variety of techniques specific to your pet. For example, a therapist working a cat might perform a \u201cvoice massage\u201d, repeating a comforting phrase to the feline in order to relax her. Horse massages will often include an ear rub to relieve tension. These techniques, along with others, are known to elicit positive responses from the animals in question. Most therapists will also teach you a few moves so that you can also ease your pet\u2019s tension in between sessions. <\/span><\/p>\n

However, not everyone loves massages, and similarly, neither will all pets. Some dogs and cats may be more skittish than others, and in that case, a massage might do more harm than good. It\u2019s imperative to make sure your pets are comfortable with receiving a massage. In addition, animals with certain medical conditions might feel more pain than pleasure from a massage session. <\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s also important to make sure that your critters are in the hands of a qualified animal masseuse, the definition of which varies from state to state.\u00a0 Some states only allow veterinarians to practice animal massage therapy (if you’re curious about your state’s laws, click here<\/a>)–but then again, some states don’t even regulate licensing in human<\/em> massage therapists. Justman\u2019s 200-hour certification process, which took place at the Ojai School of Canine Massage, was very thorough, requiring rigorous training, studying, exams, thesis presentation, and logged hours of application and practice. California is one of the states that doesn\u2019t limit the practicing of animal massage to veterinarians<\/a>, which makes the service a common one in the LA area. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPeople [in LA] tend to be more open-minded and willing to explore alternative and holistic care to either replace or supplement their existing wellness routine\u201d says Justman on the popularity of her services in her location. The growing presence of mindfulness in health has also contributed to pet massages becoming a more common practice. <\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re considering booking a massage session for your pet, make sure that you contact a reputable therapist. The Petmasters website has tons of options for you and your furry friend. You can check out some of them here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In our next article, we\u2019ll be talking about pet event planners and how throwing puppy parties are beneficial to your pet and you.<\/span><\/p>\n

About our professional:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Alexis Justman is a certified canine massage therapist based in Los Angeles, California. After helping one of her foster dogs battle cancer with various alternative and holistic methods of care, she wanted to give relief to senior dogs in pain. That\u2019s how she found the Ojai School of Canine Massage, a well-recognized program established in 1999. In 2016, Justman received her certification and founded Sugar Muzzles. She works with \u201cunderdogs\u201d–homeless, elderly canines that suffer or have suffered from illness or abuse.\u00a0 She encourages all pet parents to consider bringing elderly rescues into their lives–they need and give love the most.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In the first of our four-part series on luxurious pet services, we delve into the world of pet massage therapy–what it is, why it’s important, and tips for pet parents considering massage therapy for their furry friend.\u00a0 by Caroline Wilson, owner\/head editor & writer of \/redpen We\u2019ve all been there–sore and exhausted after exercise, stressed … <\/p>\n

Read More “Pet Professions You Didn’t Know Existed: Massage Therapy”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":880,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,75],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nPet Professions You Didn't Know Existed: Massage Therapy - Petworks - Advice From Industry Pet Care Pros<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/staging.petworks.com\/articles\/pet-massage-therapy\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Pet Professions You Didn't Know Existed: Massage Therapy - Petworks - Advice From Industry Pet Care Pros\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"In the first of our four-part series on luxurious pet services, we delve into the world of pet massage therapy–what it is, why it’s important, and tips for pet parents considering massage therapy for their furry friend.\u00a0 by Caroline Wilson, owner\/head editor & writer of \/redpen We\u2019ve all been there–sore and exhausted after exercise, stressed … Read More "Pet Professions You Didn’t Know Existed: Massage Therapy"\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/staging.petworks.com\/articles\/pet-massage-therapy\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Petworks - 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