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HOW TO CHOOSE A CANINE
MASSAGE THERAPIST
By Kim Jonah, Certified Canine
Massage Therapist
As massage for dogs becomes more popular, you will begin to see massage therapists at many events including Trails, Shows and at Canine Training Centers. As there is currently no mechanism in place in any state for the licensing or certification of animal massage therapists, how do you know if they are qualified?
EDUCATION
The first question to
ask is where they got their training. If they claim to be
certified, where was that certification earned? Anyone can
take a short workshop and receive a certificate of
completion and call themselves certified.
There are currently two schools that offer 200 hours or more of class work plus hands on massage instruction and are modeled after human massage schools. There are also several programs in the planning stages. These can be researched on the internet. The two current programs are:
Bancroft
School of Massage in Massachusetts
www.bancroftsmt.com
Lang Institute in Colorado
www.dogmassage.com
It is a good idea to look at the schools web site to find out more about what the program offers.
There are some exceptions to this such as a veterinarian who has had extensive hands on instruction in massage techniques, a vet tech/LMT or a Canine Physical Therapist who has had hands on massage instruction.
OTHER
THINGS TO LOOK FOR
Ask them what types
of massage they offer, their benefits, contra-indications
(when NOT to massage) and when to apply the different types
of massage. Even if they don’t offer all types, they should
be able to talk intelligently about them.
The most common type of massage is the Swedish or relaxation massage. There is also deep tissue massage, stress point, trigger point, origin/insertion technique and myofacial release to name a few. There are warm up massages and cool down massages as well as maintenance massages. A qualified massage therapist will be able to craft a massage out of all, or some, of these techniques that address the specific needs of your dog. However, very few massages will last more than ½ hour.
A typical warm up massage will be 5 to 10 minutes with about 5 minutes of walking before and range of motion stretches after the massage.
A typical cool down massage is about 15 minutes with range of motion stretches and a 5 minute walk after the massage.
Does the massage therapist continue learning by taking continuing educations courses? This is not required of animal massage therapists as it is of human massage therapists, but it shows a commitment to their work if they continue to seek knowledge in their field.
A qualified canine massage therapist will be able to observe your dogs gait, behavior and structure and let you know of current or potential problems. They will be able to show you basic massage work you can do at home, set up a series of appointments to address any problems that need professional massage care, or refer you to a Canine PT or Vet for further evaluation.
PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS BEHAVIOR
If you are at an
event, they may not ask for a medical history. If you are
seeing them at their office or at a Canine Training Center
that offers massage, they should take a complete medical
history and keep track of all of your visits.
Do they have liability insurance? It is rarely needed in massage work, but a professional canine massage therapist should have it. IAAMB is the organization that offers liability insurance for animal massage therapists.
Do they display flyers, cards, posters? Do they have handouts that help inform you about massage? Do they have a web site? These things let you know that they are serious and committed.
TRUST
Ask around! One way
to know if the massage therapist is qualified is if they
have satisfied customers. Do they display testimonials from
clients on their web site or in a hand out?
Does your dog trust them? You know the subtle signs that your dog will exhibit if he/she is uncomfortable. By the way, so should the massage therapist. They should recognize signs of discomfort and act accordingly.
Massage can be one of the most beneficial things you can give your dog, especially if he/she is an athlete. It can help prevent injury and aid them in growing older more comfortably. They deserve the best, and a qualified canine massage therapist can provide just that.
Well Beings • Kim Jonah •(860)
633-7516 • kjonah@wellbeingshome.com