FAQ's

Can all dogs benefit from canine massage?

Canine Massage is suitable for dogs of all ages from sporting dogs who are recovering from lameness, dogs who are slowing down or seem stiff and ageing before their time, for pain management in more senior and arthritic dogs and dogs that have orthopaedic or neurological conditions. Looking after your dog’s musculo-skeletal health reduces the chances of injury. 

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How effective is canine massage?

Improvements are often achieved when a dog has between just one and three sessions of this results-driven therapy.

After massage most owners report their dog’s pain has disappeared or has significantly reduced. The are moving easier and more freely, they are coping better with their arthritic pain and are  more social and enjoying life again.

Where are you based?

Canine Connection SW is based in Feniton, East Devon.

Do you have any professional qualifications?

Sharon has trained for two years with the Canine Massage Therapy Centre and is a member of the professional association, the Canine Massage Guild.

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Will my pet insurance pay for the massage therapy?

If you want your insurance to cover the cost of the therapy you should always check with your insurance company before booking any sessions.

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How do I book an appointment with you?

Please contact Sharon by email at Canineconnectionsw@outlook.com or give her a call on 07805 705043.

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Do I really need my vet to sign a consent form?

Yes, in order to comply with the Veterinary Act 1966 and Veterinary Exemption Order 2015, I am unable to treat your dog without the consent of your vet. Massage may not always be the right treatment for your dog and your vet may be aware of a contraindication. It also helps to ensure that there is communication between the group of professionals treating your dog and so continuity of care is maintained. You can download a copy of the veterinary consent here.

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My vet has refused to sign the consent form, what can I do?

Your vet may have refused consent because your dog has a condition which means massage is contraindicated. These can include:

Pregnancy, cancer (although I can provide palliative care for some cancers), skin conditions, open wounds, temperature or fever, acute injury or trauma (muscle / tendon /  ligament tears or broken bones, regular or uncontrolled epileptic fits, shock, recent surgery, acute sprain, acute arthritis, neuropathy, neuralgia, inflammatory conditions, or heat stroke.

Your vet may also feel that a different course of action is more appropriate at this time, or may need to know more about clinical canine massage. If your vet would like to discuss your dogs condition or would like to know more about what the treatment involves, I am very happy to talk to them.

My dog doesn’t have any injuries or conditions, would massage still benefit them?

Dogs are very good at hiding issues from us, not all injuries or conditions can be seen until they get more severe. Most dogs will carry injuries caused by wear and tear from everyday activities,  if we can treat these at an early stage then it can help to avoid them becoming painful or serious problems. Massage can also help to relax and calm an anxious dog. Many sporting dogs can benefit from regular maintenance treatments to keep them performing at the best possible level.

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How many sessions should I expect my dog to need?

The best results are usually seen in just 1 – 3 sessions. Muscle fibres can take more than one session to relax and let down which then allows a deeper massage, three sessions over three weeks are the gold standard in clinical massage treatment.

As Guild therapists work to best practise, if you have not seen an improvement in your dog after 3 sessions, you will be referred back to your vet for further investigation.

Maintenance massages on a regular basis can be very beneficial for dogs with known conditions or regularly active dogs such as sporting or working dogs. The frequency of maintenance massage depends on your dog but is often every 4-6 weeks. Younger, active dogs may also benefit from massage 3 or 4 times per year to keep them in good condition and enable us to treat minor issues before they become problems.

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Does it hurt?

There can be a short therapeutic level of discomfort during deep tissue massage, but this is minimised by a thorough warming up of the muscle and by using different techniques to interrupt any pain responses. Your dog and their comfort is always my number one priority.

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Can I stay with my dog?

Yes. Dogs will usually settle much quicker and feel much more relaxed if they know their owner is close by.

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What is a muscular health check and what does it involve?

A muscular health check is advanced palpation of your dog's muscles using hands and fingers. Over 80 muscles (or 40 pairs of muscles) are checked and assessed. I use the muscular health check to pinpoint muscle strains and trigger points etc. which helps me to tailor the treatment to the dog.

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I don’t think my dog will settle or lie down, can you still treat him?

I allow the dog to have a chance to relax whilst we carry out the initial consultation, your dog may surprise you with how well they settle, many do relax and lie down once they get used to the treatment. If necessary I can adapt my techniques accordingly if your dog decides that they prefer to be treated in a sit. 

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Will my dog suffer from any side effects following treatment?

Your dog may experience a healing crisis otherwise known as the Herxheimer Reaction. Following treatment the body will clear the waste and toxins at a higher than normal rate as it begins to heal itself, and as a result your dog can feel slightly worse for 24-48 hours while they recover. They can appear quiet or lethargic, drink more, have a loss of appetite, urinate more and in some cases appear stiffer than before. This is all perfectly normal and I will discuss this in more detail at your dogs first appointment, but if you have any concerns following your dogs treatment please do get in touch. Some dogs will show no symptoms, or will immediately appear full of energy which is fine as every dog is different.

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What if my dog doesn't like being touched?

Dogs not wanting to be touched or groomed can be a sign of pain and discomfort, massage may be very appropriate in this case. 

Can the massage therapist diagnose orthopaedic conditions?

No, most massage therapists are not trained vets, so we will always refer you back to your vet if we have any concerns. We can assess and treat the muscular condition of your dog, but diagnosis of other conditions can only be made by your vet.​