Giving your dog a massage might sound unusual or you might think that it is not necessary. However, dogs do indeed like massages as much as they love being petted, getting their bellies rubbed or being scratched behind their ears.
But the fact that your dog will love getting a massage is not the only reason to do it. Dog massages have many health benefits and can help you strengthen your bond with your furry friend. Let's take a closer look at the reasons why you should give your dog a massage, how to do it and watch some of the best dog massage videos.
Benefits of a Dog Massage
Some of the most important advantages of dog massages include:
- Stress and Anxiety Reduction – Some dogs can get stressed or anxious quite easily. This can be caused by loud noises, presence of cats and many other things. Whatever the reason for anxiety is, a nice massage can relieve your dog of tension and help him relax.
- Improves Body Functions – Many of your dog’s body functions can be improved by massages. For example, a massage can improve your dog’s circulation, strengthen your dog’s immune system, decrease his blood pressure, improve and aid digestion, help with breathing problems, etc.
- Provide Healing Aid – Dog massages can help with pain relief, reduce swelling, heal sprains and strains faster and reduce scar tissue. Generally, massages are a great way to help your dog rehabilitate but you should discuss this with your vet first and ask him for advice.
- Improves Your Relationship – While your dog may be vary of massages at first, once he gets used to them he will certainly love it. So, each time you give your dog a massage, you will improve and strengthen your bond.
How to Massage a Dog?
First of all, massaging your dog is not the same as massaging another person. Second, there are a few different techniques to dog massages, depending on the reason for massage. For example, a massage to help your dog alleviate pain will not be the same as the massage you give to him to reduce stress and anxiety.
However, there are a few things you can do if you want to give your dog a regular massage:
- Start the massage by petting your pooch all over the body.
- Talk softly to your dog to ensure he remains calm and relaxed.
- Make circular motions when you massage your dog’s neck and remember to apply pressure gently.
- Keep making circular motions as you continue going down. Massage your dog’s shoulders, chest, front legs and his back. Some dogs may not like when you massage their legs, so stop doing it if you notice that your dog is not comfortable.
Perhaps the best way to learn how to properly massage your dog is to watch a couple of videos and follow the instructions from experts. We have selected a few of the best dog massage videos for you, so let’s take a look at them.
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6 Best Dog Massage Videos
Massaging Your Dog
Teacher's Pet With Victoria Stilwell
Victoria Stilwell is a well-known author, television presenter and dog trainer. You may know her as a judge from the CBS show Greatest American Dog or as a host on the TV show It's Me or the Dog that aired on Animal Planet.
In this video, Victoria will introduce you to Melanie Phillips, a certified dog trainer and dog massage specialist. She will explain how to properly massage your dog in order to help him relax or speed up his recovery after an injury.
Melanie demonstrates her massage technique on Gage, a sweet rescue mastiff. In addition to learning how to properly massage a dog, you will see firsthand how enjoyable a massage can be for dogs, which will be more than obvious when you see Gage’s reactions.
Easy DIY Dog Arthritis Massage at Home
Marc Smith DVM
This video features Dr. Marc Smith of Natchez Trace Veterinary Services in Nashville and Franklin, Tennessee. Dr. Smith will demonstrate how you can alleviate some of your dog’s pain from arthritis with a simple dog massage you can perform at home.
Dr. Smith demonstrates his technique on Stella, who is not a typical dog that suffers from arthritis since she is a young dog. Dr. Smith explains that the first thing you need to focus on is the stifle, or the dog’s knee.
After the stifle, the next region to massage is the hip and then the dog’s back. Dr. Smith explains in this video how to react if your dog is not comfortable or in too much pain.
Dog Acupressure for Hip Dysplasia
Dog Massage for Hip Dysplasia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRPuvCUqycQ
This is a very short, one-minute video about the importance of massage for hip dysplasia. This is a common condition in dogs and the most severe cases can lead to crippling lameness of the joints.
While the video is just a part of instructions related to dog acupressure for hip dysplasia, it still gives very helpful advice on how to massage your dog’s legs if he suffers from this health condition.
Canine Massage
In this video, Dr. Narda Robinson, DVM, explains how to massage your dog at home using a few helpful techniques. Thanks to these techniques, you can help your dog relax and deal with pain but you can also identify any trouble spots you can later bring to your vet’s attention.
Some of the techniques that Dr. Robinson covers in this video include compression (gentle limb squeezing), effleurage (long, soothing strokes) and petrissage (kneading or rolling motions).
Dog Massage Demonstration
This is another helpful and engaging dog massage demonstration video. It only lasts for about 5 minutes but thanks to Lisa Speaker of Rocky Mountain School of Animal Acupressure, you will learn a lot about the proper dog massage technique.
Some of the useful tips Lisa provides include:
- Speak soothing words of encouragement
- Keep one hand on the dog at all times
- Remember to breathe
You will also learn what pars of your dog’s body require special attention and how to massage your dog the right way.
Dogs Get Massages For the First Time
Unlike previous videos on our list, in which you could get detailed instructions for dog massages, this short video is basically a compilation of different dogs getting massages accompanied by soothing and relaxing music.
In addition to this, you will also hear about some of the most important benefits of dog massages. These benefits are listed by Pam Holt, a registered veterinary technician and a certified animal massage therapist.
Summary
Dog massages have many health benefits for your pooch. A massage can help you reduce your dog’s anxiety and stress levels, help with pain relief, improve his circulation, boost his immune system, etc. In addition to these health benefits, massaging your dog can also strengthen your bond with him.
With all this in mind, we hope that our selection of best dog massage videos was helpful and that we have provided you with useful instructions on how to give the best dog massages.
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