I provide a Home Visit Service covering clients in South West and West London, Middlesex and North Surrey. I come to your house to treat your dog in their own environment where they feel the most relaxed.
For the best outcome from your dog’s massage sessions please provide a quiet and calm space for treatment, and where possible minimise any distractions during the sessions for example: TV, radio, phone sounds, people coming in and out of the area etc. I provide comfortable bedding and soothing music for the treatments.
Most dogs – even the most laid back ones – prefer their owners to be in the room with them for their massage, particularly for their first session when everything is new to them. They haven’t had the benefit of discussing this beforehand so are likely to be uncertain about what is happening. Please ensure that you are able to spend time with your dog during all of their treatments. Occasionally some dogs prefer their owners in sight but not overly close, and this can vary from session to session depending on how the dog is feeling each time.
Initial Assessment
Your dog’s first session will last around 1½ hours and will include:
Full Consultation – we go through your dog’s medical history, diet, daily activities and their lifestyle in general. This will also cover their personality and how they like to be handled, as well as the main reasons for seeking treatment and your expectations of the massage sessions.
Gait Analysis – with your assistance, I observe the way your dog moves to assess where they may be holding pain or stiffness, as well as checking for any irregularities in their gait.
Postural Analysis – I look at the way your dog stands, sits and lies down to ascertain whether there are any areas of tension that can indicate areas of pain referral and overcompensation.
Palpation – a hands-on superficial full body assessment to feel for areas of scarring, injury, soreness, pain, spasm, trigger points, temperature changes and muscular issues. This also gives me and your dog a chance to get to know each other and for them to build trust and feel comfortable, which is extremely important.
Clinical Massage Treatment – a tailored 45-50 minute massage targeting the specific needs of your dog. Throughout the session I will be monitoring your dog’s body language as well as the way they physically respond, reassuring them along the way. All dogs react differently, particularly in their first treatment so your dog may want to sit, stand, lie half up in sphinx or lie on their side for parts of their treatment. They will likely move into all of these positions which is completely normal and helps me to understand how they are feeling. Some dogs may lie still straight away, however others usually wriggle and will need to take short breaks throughout the session. Some dogs like their owners with them, others prefer their owners in sight but not overly close.
I work with your dog to adapt the massage so they have a positive experience.
Most importantly the sessions involve listening to you and your dog, and together we work to minimise pain, maximise function and improve your dog’s quality of life.
Aftercare Advice – I will provide you with detailed aftercare instructions and any other recommendations, such as reviewing activities of daily living that may be exacerbating your dog’s condition.
Subsequent Treatments
Clinical Canine Massage is a results driven therapy with dogs typically responding in 1-3 sessions. Most dogs require 3-4 sessions spread over 3-5 weeks for the best results. After the initial assessment, subsequent sessions last around 1 hour including a short review since the dog’s last treatment, as well as updated aftercare advice.
Following your dog’s course of treatments I provide your vet with a full report for their records to ensure continuity of client care.
I always follow best practice so in the event that your dog does not respond to treatment following 3 sessions I may recommend a different type of therapy, or refer them back to your vet for further investigation.
Maintenance Treatments
A maintenance treatment is a regular “top-up” massage session to assist with keeping your dog feeling their best. These sessions can benefit dogs in different ways:
Sports Dogs – regular massage can keep dogs performing sports flexible and supple, improving their performance by detecting and treating underlying issues quickly before they become a widespread problem.
Senior Dogs – regular maintenance sessions can help to improve the comfort levels and mobility of more senior dogs.
Orthopaedic Conditions – dogs who live with orthopaedic conditions such as hip dysplasia, arthritis or spondylosis are living with consistent musculoskeletal dysfunction. This puts strain on other areas of their body. Regular massage can assist with improving their comfort levels and mobility.
Veterinary Consent
Please note that treatment can only be carried out with prior Veterinary Consent. This is a legal requirement for all physical therapies involving animals as specified by the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 and Exemptions Order 2015. It helps to identify any health concerns which may impact the treatment and is for your dog’s safety, as well as your peace of mind.
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