excerpted from Canine Massage for the Athlete in Every Dog ©2013
C. Sue Furman, Ph.D.
The canine body is made up of eleven different organ systems. Each has a special set of jobs to perform, yet none can function efficiently alone. A healthy dog is evidence that in the face of millions of internal chemical reactions occurring every moment all of the organ systems are working hand-in-hand to maintain a well functioning body. Massage and acupressure have positive effects on each of the organ systems. Following is a brief summary of the structure and function of the integumentary system.
The common integument is the term used to describe the skin and its appendages, which include the hair, nails and skin glands (Fig. 5). We can see the dog's skin, hair and nails, but we can't see many of the components of the skin. It is important to appreciate their many functions. The common integument protects the body, regulates body temperature, senses the environment, synthesizes vitamin D, serves as a blood reservoir, and excretes wastes.
The skin is an organ directly influenced by the touch of massage. Because massage increases circulation to the skin it can improve skin and coat health and decrease or eliminate constant discomfort and scratching due to poor skin condition or infection.
The skin, while thin, is the body's interface with the outside world. It protects the dog from external threats like bacteria and prevents him from losing body water and heat. In the average adult human, the skin has a surface area of 1.5 to 2 square yards and weighs 9 to 11 pounds, which means it accounts for seven percent of the total body weight. These numbers are roughly comparable for our Irish Wolfhound, Great Dane, Mastiff, and other giant breed friends. While the actual values decrease with the size of the breed, they remain proportionally similar. For example, the skin of a Dachshund weighs only one or two pounds but still accounts for approximately seven percent of the dog's body weight (16 to 32 pounds).
The numbers become even more interesting when you consider what you cannot see. It has been estimated that in every square centimeter (a little less than 0.5 square inch) of human skin there are 28 inches of blood vessels, 22 inches of nerves, 100 sweat glands, 15 oil glands, and 230 nervous system sensory receptors that sense touch, temperature, and pain. In addition, there are about half a million skin cells that are continually dying and being replaced. Similar estimates apply to the contents of a square centimeter of surface area of the skin of a dog. Too often, this amazing organ, rich in vessels, nerves, and glands is highly underrated.
The skin is composed of three distinctive layers (Fig. 6). Cells in deepest layer of the epidermis or outer layer of the skin constantly divide. New cells are pushed toward the surface, are keratinized, die and are sloughed. The dermis is a strong connective layer of the skin. It binds the entire body together like a body stocking. The dermis contains blood vessels, lymph vessels, sensory receptors, nerves, and sweat glands. This is where the hair follicles and their associated arrector pili (hair raiser) muscles are found. Extreme cold or fear can stimulate these smooth muscle bundles to contract and the dog's hair literally stands on end. The hypodermis or subcutis is a loose connective tissue layer that contains loads of fat cells and blood vessels, nerves and white blood cells.
Remember, the more you know about the functions of the 11 organ systems, the better you can understand how massage and acupressure work to comfort and encourage healing in your dog.
Text and photos are Copyright © 2013 C. Sue Furman, Ph.D. and Holistic Touch Therapy
c.suefurman@gmail.com
This article originally appeared in the July 2013 edition of the Holistic Touch Therapy Newsletter.
Dr. Abby Deuel, Veterinarian
by Dr. C. Sue Furman
Before we begin, while it's not strictly a part of our first aid article (at least we hope you won't need it) something to keep in mind all year, and this time of the year especially, is to make sure your canine does not eat any chocolate. Chocolate contains theobromine, which is closely related to caffeine. While not present in large enough amounts to do harm to humans, canines can easily overdose. There are many articles on the subject which you can readily find using a search engine of your choosing.
The start of summer is often marked by severe weather, flooding, and tornadoes. It is crucial to have a plan for your animals to make sure you are prepared for a possibility of an emergency. In addition, some animals have an underlying phobia of storms which can make for a stressful season for you and your pet. Below are some tips for combating storm-related anxiety and being as prepared as possible for the coming storms.
Slow, relaxing music provides an additional benefit by setting the tempo of the massage. To be most effective, massage strokes should flow in a continuous pattern so that the transition from one stroke to another is like a finely choreographed ballet. There should be no long hesitations or abrupt shifts between strokes. Similarly, movement from one part of the body to another should be smooth and flowing. The intent is to balance the body and bring all individual elements to oneness-a whole. If massage movements are jerky and sporadic, the dog's nervous system will respond in kind. A canine massage therapist can use slow, relaxing background music to set the rhythm for a massage and to maintain slow-paced, fluid movements.
Dogs' noses are used to search for many things from medical conditions to bed bugs. Their abilities are very amazing to me every time I watch them. I volunteer with my labs to find people in wilderness situations. I will be writing from my experiences in Wilderness work. My first lab, Phoebe, and I learned from the start together. She is now gone and I am working with Freyja, now twenty months old.
by Dr. Abby Deuel, Veterinarian