Read some feedback from the people whose dogs I have worked with :

INDIE  Working Cocker Spaniel (14y)

Indie is 14 and generally slowing down a little with age. She had cruciate ligament surgery a few years ago and has arthritis and stiffness in that joint.
Due to a diagnosis of Addison’s disease she is unable to have NSAIDs to help with the arthritis and it was suggested that massage therapy may help with her stiffness to keep her active and happy.
Su was very open and transparent about what to expect and the potential benefits massage could bring Indie. Indie is pretty deaf, constantly ravenous due to her Addison’s medication and not happy about being handled due to all her recent vet visits and tests, but Su dealt well with her (and me as an anxious dog owner) with calm, empathetic reassurance and patience. 

In terms of improvement the differences have been more behavioural. I have noticed Indie having what appears to be more confidence to go exploring on uneven ground, being able to turn better in smaller spaces and just looking a bit more coordinated and in control.

We will have more maintenance sessions since Indie is feeling brighter and more like her younger self, and is even enjoying chasing her much younger sibling!

Jennie

NINA  Border Collie (5y)

Nina has been “hopping” on one or the other back leg for a few years and x-ray eliminated many possibilities. Over the last few months she has also been checking back at her hip area indicating a twinge/pinch.

Nina is a reactive, over-excited Border Collie so quite a challenge to settle her for massage treatment, more so as she does not like her hind quarters being touched! Su’s calm and gentle, relaxed approach gave Nina the time to calm enough to allow treatment to her hips, back and neck and free up the tightness in her muscles.

After three sessions Nina has responded well with hardly any hopping and no checking back at her hip/lower back. I feel that the massage treatments are really helping her muscles and I will continue with them on regular basis.

Su is very empathetic, clam and competent. Her communication has been very clear and precise. She provided information on massage techniques I can use myself with Nina between treatments, and lots of information on workshops with massage practitioners which I also hope to do.

I cannot recommend Su highly enough and have already advocated her to many dog owner friends.

Terry

PEPPER  Labrador Retriever (6y)

Pepper has been experiencing some forelimb stiffness for over a year and I hoped that massage would ease this a little.
Su provided a brilliant, professional service. She made it clear what to expect which really helped as I wasn’t sure. Pepper reacted well to Su and to the massage – she seemed to really enjoy it.

I have since observed that her movements seem much smoother and she is less stiff. She is also helped greatly by the mat Su suggested for the floor!
I will definitely seek Su’s help again in future, and I have already recommended her to others.

Thank you Su!

Helen P

ARCHIE  Springer Spaniel (13y)

Archie has arthritis and significant stiffness due to age, so we are always looking for gentle ways to support his comfort and mobility.

Su immediately put Archie at ease.
Her calm and confident approach suited him perfectly, and it was clear that Su understood how to work with older dogs. The massage was unhurried and tailored to Archie’s specific needs – focussing on joints and areas of tension.

After the sessions Archie was more relaxed and walked with more ease. We are really pleased that we have found such a kind and professional therapist!

Olga and Alex

SACHA  Labradoodle/Wolfhound (15y)

Sacha has hind leg muscle weakness, stiffness and struggles on stairs/getting into & out of car etc. I wanted to make her feel as comfortable as possible.

Su handled her very kindly and competently, leaving her much more relaxed after each treatment and able to sleep all through the night when she didn’t before. This also meant that I could sleep all through the night too.

I would definitely recommend canine massage.

Lynn

BETSY  Cocker Spaniel (14y)

Su handled Betsy very gently and empathetically bearing in mind Betsy is 14 and had not had massage before. She was very professional in her approach as well as kind to all of us – Betsy, myself and my other dog.
Initially Betsy struggled to settle but by the end of the first session she was so relaxed and slept deeply for at least three hours afterwards, only waking up when her body clock told her it was dinner time!
Su gave me clear aftercare instructions and explained about potential side effects in the first few days following massage. This was all helpfully written down on a sheet for me making it easy to refer to.
After three massage sessions Betsy’s movement is wonderful, she now moves more easily and has more strength in her hind quarters. It used to take her a considerable amount of time to get settled and comfortable at night – now she manages to lay down straight away.

I would highly recommend Su and clinical massage therapy to any dog owner whose dog is slowing down, getting stiff or showing signs of age.

Lizzie

HEDGE  Collie mix (14y)

My hope for massage therapy was that Hedge would no longer be limping, that he would be happy running around and playing with other dogs and also not spending all his time lying on my bed alone.
He now has all of the above and I am delighted. He loved the massage and of course the attention.

Su handled Hedge kindly and competently, patiently adapting the massage to his needs allowing him to choose where in the house he was most comfortable for his treatments.
The massage therapy has made him a new dog – happy and confident, which he wasn’t prior to treatment – and now he spends time downstairs with the family.
Thank you so much.

Claire

LUI  Greyhound (10y)

Lui was having difficulty getting in and out of the car, he pulled up when running and lifts his hind leg in the air in pain. He also had an injury resulting in a deep gash on his foreleg.

I was hopeful that massage would help Lui. Su was very soothing and kind to Lui – she was confident and knew what he needed. She is a very friendly person who obviously enjoys working with, and has a great sense of empathy with animals.

After three sessions Lui’s scar tissue has evened out and he is better able to stretch and move in general. I was very happy with Su’s treatment and have recommended her to other dog owners with confidence.

Helen W-C