Dog Massage Therapy

Dog massage therapy is more common now than any other type of pet massage, with cat massage coming in a close second.

Just about any pet can be given massage, either by a pet professional or by the owner.

If you would like to try giving your dog, cat, or any other pet a massage, here are some pointers and tips.

Start with the ears. They are often overlooked but your pet will love it. What your dog (or cat) really wants you to do is rub where the ear attaches to the head. Use your index and middle fingertips to rub with a good amount of pressure in that spot where the ear and head connect.

The not-quite-boney structures you feel in the ears are pieces of cartilage, just like in human ears and noses. Do not use your fingernails, just your fingertips. Move to the inside of the ear and rub it all over as well, especially in between all of the pieces of cartilage. Dogs love this.

Start out with a little pressure and increase it as the pet allows. This is the best way not only for the ears but for the entire body of the animal.

Next on the list of dog massage therapy spots is the nose. Press firmly but not too hard on the front of the nose, but do not block the nostrils. Normally the dog will push back against your fingers with his nose. The two of you can push back and forth for a little while, sort of like a game.

Move to just under the chin where the jawbones meet. Rub on that spot, back and forth. Your dog will be in doggy heaven.

Grasp a paw and massage the padding on the bottom of the paw. Make sure you rub the webbing between the pads on the paw. Pets love this and can never quite reach in there by themselves.

Of course, the best part of the dog massage therapy session for Fido is the belly rub. Just start rubbing, varying your pressure. The dog will usually roll right over and surrender to you. My dog actually puts his paws on my hand to keep me from stopping.

Belly rubbing on a can can get a little tricky as he may start clawing with his hind feet. This is an instinct thing, nothing personal against you.

Don't forget the leg joints when performing dog massage. Digital circular friction movements on the joints are appreciated.

Last, but not least, rub the top of where the tail attaches to the back.

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