Massage for Senior Pets

One day you are playing with a puppy and all too soon your furry friend is showing signs of aging. Different breeds and sizes of dogs age at different rates, but most breeds reach middle age at about age 7 and proceed into their senior years. Giant breeds begin middle age even earlier. Changes do not occur over night. They creep in slowly and may go almost unnoticed until one day you realize something just doesn't seem right with your pet.

According to the AVMA, approximately 40% of dogs seen by veterinarians are 6 years or older. Old age is a condition not an illness or a disease, but some of the signs and symptoms require veterinary attention. Stiff joints and difficulty getting up are changes that are common in many dogs. Your veterinarian may offer medications to limit discomfort, but you too can help your pet. You can provide massage, a therapy recommended by many veterinarians, to soothe your pets achy joints, increase range of motion, and maintain flexibility. Stretches are excellent for aging pets as well as younger dogs. Stretches relax muscles, increase flexibility and range of motion, improve muscle tone, increase elasticity of muscles, tendons and ligaments, and enhance circulation.

A lateral stretch, or stretch to the side, stretches the muscles of the neck, shoulder and trunk and maintains flexibility of the muscles and joints in the spinal column. Reach in front of the dog and let him sniff a treat or see and hear a squeaky toy. Once you have his attention, guide his head toward his hindquarters using the treat or toy as bait (see Fig. 1).

Figure 1	Figure 2

Use your hand or leg to anchor the dog's hindquarters so he stretches toward the rear but does not circle in a tail-chasing motion! Move to the dog's other side and repeat (see Fig. 2).

As the dog's nose follows the treat in your hand, he stretches the muscles of the neck, shoulder, rib cage, and trunk. The first few times you try this technique, the stretch should last at least five seconds. Once the dog understands that the stretch will result in a treat, encourage him to hold the stretch at least 10 to 15 seconds before releasing the treat. Remember, the benefit the dog derives from the stretch relies on your ability to entice him to hold the stretch for several seconds. Always stretch both sides of the dog!

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