Pets experiencing pain can benefit greatly from a number of holistic services, including massage therapy. I had the opportunity to watch Linda McKenna, owner of Pet Kneads, give a massage to Diamond, a 6-year-old German shepherd/lab mix with arthritis in his hind legs. Linda, a certified practitioner in canine-massage therapy, views her work as a labor of love. She teams with veterinarians and emphasizes a complementary approach using traditional and holistic pet care. A canine massage is very similar to the human massage in that it increases circulation, muscle tone and flexibility.

    Linda began the massage session by speaking with Diamond's owner in order to determine the dog's behavioral and health problems. She then physically assessed Diamond, examining the tip of his nose and the length of his body, while also checking for any lumps or fatty tissue. She then moved her hands across Diamond's body and used a combination of kneading, muscle squeezing, vibration and other strokes that are commonly used on humans. Lisa spent just as much time massaging Diamond's front legs as his back. She noted that dogs experiencing pain in their hind legs tend to overcompensate by putting too much exertion on the front legs. Linda also flexed and released all of Diamond's paws and legs, giving him a greater range of motion. She was very sensitive to the dog's level of comfort throughout the massage.

Linda flexed and released all of Diamond's paws and legs, giving him a greater range of motion.

    Linda also used a dog-specific technique called “skin rolling,” during which she picked up folds of skin at the scruff of Diamond's neck. She noted that this technique calms dogs because their mothers carry them in this manner when they are pups. Linda moved on to massage the tips of Diamond's ears, explaining, “The tips of a dog's ears are de-stressor areas. If a dog has separation anxiety or is scared by a thunderstorm, this is a great place to massage them because it will relax them immediately.”

    Linda charges approximately $30 for 30 minutes; the price varies depending on the length of service, the type of dog and the distance traveled to deliver the service. For more information, contact Linda McKenna at (440) 949-8761 or (440) 281-3141.


Photos by Bob Perkoski - www.Perkoski.com.