Pet Massage Therapy

Pet massage therapy is something that an increasing number of pet owners are providing for their animals.

What dog or cat does not like it when we softly rub or scratch their belly or neck? Animal lovers who get regular massages themselves realize the value of massage for their four-legged friends. Some owners massage the animals themselves. Others can afford to take their animals to professional animal massage therapists.

There are now schools that teach massage therapy for pets all across the United States. Because so many people treat their pets as beloved family members, they are willing to spend money on them--a lot of money!

Animal massage therapy techniques are basically the same ones used for human massage. Some of the techniques must be adjusted to fit the particular animal's body and size. In animal massage schools, dog, cat, and other animal anatomies and physiologies are learned.

It is important to pay close attention to each animal when performing massage. They may not like where you touch them or how they are being touched and could perceive what they do not like as a threat. They do not have words to express that as humans do so they may growl, stiffen, bark, or go right into the biting, scratching, and kicking. Be prepared! If you fail to pay attention while massaging an animal, you could feel a lot of pain.

In many states and in Alberta, Canada, veterinarians are fighting against pet massage therapy performed by anyone other than a licensed vet or vet tech as they fear a loss of revenue. They fail to realize that they could work together with animal bodyworkers, each referring clients to the other in a profitable arrangement.

Animal massage today is much the same as massage therapy for humans was in the United States 15 to 20 years ago. In time, as more people get used to the idea of animal massage professionals, it will become more accepted.

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