Hands4Paws canine massage therapy - First AppointmenT

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Prepare your dog for a massage therapy appointment by ensuring that your dog has stopped eating at least 60 minutes prior to their scheduled appointment and your dog has gone on a walk or outside to relieve themselves.  

You will be asked to sign a consent form for your dog to receive massage therapy and complete a detailed health history form.  We will review the health history form together in order to assist me with  understanding your dog's current health and your reasons for booking an appointment. Based on the information provided you may need a veterinarian's recommendation prior to your dog recieving  massage therapy.

Once it has been determined that massage therapy will be beneficial for your dog, I will complete an initial assessment including observing your dog's posture, watching your dog perform everyday movements (walking, running, sitting/standing, laying down/getting up, climbing/descending stairs, etc.) and a hands-on assessment (known as the 4 T’s) to feel for any areas of inflammation (temperature), muscle stiffness (tension), sensitivity (tenderness) and changes in skin and hair (texture).  After the initial assessment, I will go over the findings with you and discuss the best massage therapy plan for your dog.

During a massage I will uses various massage therapy techiques to address the areas of concern noted during the initial assessment.  I will pay close attention to all non verbal cues from your dog (licking, panting, moving, whining, wagging tail, smiling, etc.) during the entire massage to ensure your dog is comfortable.  I will always prioritize your dog's comfort!

After a massage the I may suggeest a few things you can do between sessions to assist in improving and maintaining your dog's wellbeing (hydrotherapy, stretches, etc.).  Immediately after a massage it is recommended that your dog hydrates, goes on a short walk and relieves themselves.