The Healing Power of Touch

By Alana Stroud

Massage isn’t just for beneficial for humans—it helps animals, too: cats, dogs, horses, livestock. Everything that walks, crawls, and swims—from small critters like guinea pigs and rabbits all the way up to large zoo animals—all gain benefits from massage.

Massage therapy is a form of holistic healing that provides physical and psychological benefits and doesn’t cost you a dime. Massage will help strengthen the bond between you and your pets and will help with issues like enhancing trust in a shy feline or calming hyperactive behavior in an energetic canine. Petting is always a welcome interaction, but massage will take your relationship to a completely new level with your furry companion and lower your own stress levels at the same time. There are many massage techniques to choose from, so find the one you like best and go from there.

Cats

Felines already engage in massage techniques with one another. Grooming and kneading are two examples. It only makes sense to further this ingrained behavior by introducing some massage techniques they cannot perform. Ill and ailing cats find comfort and security in soothing contact. For felines that appear healthy, regular massage can help detect early signs of disease and unknown physical injuries. Indoor cats especially benefit from massage as they aren’t as active as outdoor cats (or their wild ancestors!), and their muscles need toning. When you apply the touch, it will be clear just how much your cat enjoys it, and it will be quite rewarding to see the progress and benefits that massage provides for your feline.

Dogs

Canines experience the same rewards from massage as cats do. Dogs are zestful animals always ready to please, and when he or she is feeling poorly, it’s quite obvious. Help your dog maintain his or her general well-being by performing massage therapy. Performance dogs who may suffer from nerves can easily be calmed by a preshow massage while simultaneously loosening up muscles to help with agility. Working dogs will receive the ultimate paycheck when a massage to their sore muscles awaits them at the end of the day. Breeding mommies will gladly allow you to help their sore musculoskeletal system recover. Breeds that suffer from hip dysplasia will also be thankful for the opportunity to have more fluidity in their movements.

SIDE BAR

Holistic comes from the Greek word holos, meaning “whole.” Holistic therapies aim to treat the body as a whole system, not merely pinpointing one symptom and fixing just that issue.

Osteoarthritis is the most common skeletal disease of dogs, with seniors and large breeds especially prone to it. Massage can not only relieve the pain from arthritis but can also help your canine friend move around a whole lot easier.

Massage does not replace veterinary care. Be sure that your pet still receives regular checkups, and continue medication for preexisting or newly developed conditions as directed.

There are certain conditions that should not receive massage. Ask your vet to make sure you aren’t damaging your pet’s health in the process of trying to improve it!