Tel: 07805 705043
What to Expect
I have a home clinic based in Feniton, East Devon. In some situations I am able to provide a home visit service, treating dogs in their own homes.
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Appointments are available weekday daytime, with some weekday evenings and weekends appointments available.
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For any enquiries or to book your dog in for Clinical Canine Massage at Canine Connection SW, please do not hesitate to contact Sharon today.
Before your first Appointment
Canine Connection SW works in accordance to the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 and Exemptions Order 2015 by never working upon an animal without gaining prior veterinary consent. Please download a vet consent form by clicking here.
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This is to protect your dog and ensure that they have no underlying conditions that clinical massage may worsen.
Please note the following conditions are contraindicated for massage and therefore if you know or suspect any of the following please let me know prior to treatment: Pregnancy, epilepsy, shock, fever, cancer (discuss with vet as I can offer palliative care), open wounds, acute injury or trauma (muscle / tendon / ligament tears or broken bones), recent surgery, diarrhoea, skin infections/diseases, acute sprain, acute arthritis, neuropathy, neuralgia, inflammatory conditions, high temperature or heat stroke.
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Your dog will need a 2 week period after any vaccine or spot on treatment before any massage treatments can continue. Do not hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions regarding this.
Day of Appointment
Do not forget your signed Vet Consent Form
Your dog should not have been fed immediately before a treatment or be overdue for their next meal.
Before the session, please make sure that your dog has been to the toilet.
Do not exercise your dog immediately before a treatment.
Have a lead to hand for the gait analysis.
If your dog is used to a muzzle, have the to hand as they will be more relaxed using their own familiar one if required.
Leave enough time to travel so you and your dog do not arrive feeling stressed.
For your first visit I will meet and greet you outside on the pavement.​
I may ask you to walk and trot your dog up and down the pavement to assess their gait.
We will then go through my carport and garden to my summerhouse clinic.
For the first visit, all dogs are treated on the floor, this will be reviewed for subsequent visits.
​If this is a home visit, I will carry out treatment in the comfort of your own home.
Have a quiet space for us to work.
Enough room to set up a mat or vet bedding to work off the floor.
Have a space free from distractions.
Please no toys or treats whilst the session is taking place.
Book a time when your dog is more relaxed. For example, it may be best not to book the time when you would normally take your walk or at meal times as it is unlikely your dog will settle.
This will give your dog permission to lay down and relax
Initial Consultation
At your first appointment please ensure you bring your Veterinary Consent Form filled out in full and signed by your vet.
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The initial session will last up to 90 minutes, it includes:
Consultation to discuss your dogs’ medical history, activities of daily living, diet & supplements and main areas of concern with your dog.
Gait and Posture Analysis, I will ask you to walk, trot and canter your dog while I assess the gait pattern if the weather allows. I may use slow motion video as this tends to make it easier to see subtle areas of concern.
Full body advanced palpation and muscular health check, this is a 5 minutes routine that lets the dog get used to my touch and allows me to pick up any key areas that we will then work on during the massage.
Massage tailored to the needs of your dog approx. 40 – 50 minutes treating the whole dog, not just the primary area of concern. I will use a range of techniques from Swedish, Sports, Deep Tissue, Myofascial Release and the Lenton Method, responding to your dogs individual needs, we may work on the floor or couch depending on the dog.
After care advice, after the treatment I will explain what I’ve found, and discuss an aftercare and treatment plan with you such as:
Same Day - no walks for the rest of the day AND a half portion dinner to be given at least 2.5 hrs after the end of the massage.
Following Day - 2 small lead walks and no playing with sticks or ball throwers!,
I will also discuss 'The Healing Crisis' which is natural response, please see more information below in AFTER THE TREATMENT.
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We will ideally see your dog weekly for three weeks and will then step back to assess how they are doing.
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All dogs will be assessed for potential bite response. Therefore for my safety and the mental wellbeing of your dog – I may request your dog to be muzzled, this is not because we immediately think of your dog as being aggressive. Some techniques can be uncomfortable for them, a dog’s reflex response may to try and nip if we find a sore spot! Be assured that your dog’s safety and comfort remain uppermost at all times.
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£50 per session (additional traveling costs may apply for home visits)
Subsequent Treatments
Follow up treatments last up to 60 minutes, they include a review of progress. Clinical canine massage is a results driven therapy with improvements generally being seen in 1 to 3 treatments.
A block of 3 treatments are usually carried out with a a minimum 7 – 10 days between each session, this gives your dog’s body the time it needs to adapt and change after treatments. It allows the tissues to fully ‘let down’ for easier manipulation and deeper massage. It also affords me more opportunity to build trust with your dog. An initial consultation with 2 follow up sessions are the gold standard for clinical massage.
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As part of a block of treatments, the sessions will include a full body massage and discussion and review of any progress over the course of the treatments.
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Guild therapists work to best practise. If you have not seen any results after a course of 3 treatments, your dog may be referred back to your vet for further investigation.
Following your dogs third treatment I will write a report to your vet. Guild therapists work to best practice, in the event that your dog has not made any improvement after the third visit, I will refer you back to your vet for further investigation.
I am very happy to stay in touch for you to report any concerns or improvements.
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Some dogs with orthopaedic conditions as well as sporting or senior dogs may benefit from regular maintenance sessions.
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£45 per session (additional traveling costs may apply for home visits)
After the Treatment
Massage encourages the natural healing process and can initiate what is known as the healing crisis or 'Herxheimer Reaction'.
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Massage encourages the release and removal of metabolic waste and toxins which have been trapped within the muscle. The release of metabolic waste into the bloodstream can cause your pet to appear under the weather, however. If this happens, do not worry as this is a perfectly natural response and can last for a few days.
Symptoms of the healing crisis include:
Increased thirst
Reduced appetite
Increased urination
Diarrhoea
Lethargy
Muscle soreness/ Stiffness
Runny nose
Fever
If you have any concerns regarding the healing crisis or about your pet, please do not hesitate to contact me if there’s anything you want to ask. My mobile is 07805705043 or your can email me on canineconnectionsw@outlook.com.
Maintenance Sessions
Maintenance massages are only bookable after an initial consultation.
Lasting for up to 60 minutes, they include:
A consultation to discuss any medical, dietary or lifestyle changes since your dog’s last treatment.
Gait and postural analysis.
A muscular assessment and health check.
Full body massage incorporating Swedish, deep tissue, sports, myofascial release and the Lenton method.
Post treatment advice and aftercare discussion.
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Maintenance sessions are recommended every 3 to 4 months to to your dog comfortable through any seasonal changes and challenges.
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£45 per session (additional traveling costs may apply for home visits)
Introduction to Massage
20 - 30 minute session to build confidence without treatment
These appointments are aimed at dogs who would benefit from a confidence building session (or sessions) to feel comfortable in visiting my clinic, getting used to settling on the mat, bonding with me and experiencing some basic massage techniques through stress free and cooperative sessions.
£25 per session (home clinic only)
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We do not assess for orthopaedic or neurological issues.
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Free Muscular Health Checks
You may see me on a trade stand at local shows where I carry out FREE Muscular Health Checks, and for EXISTING Clients, a Pre-Event Warm up and Post Event Cool Down - particularly beneficial to your dog prior to going in the ring.
Why not book a muscular health check for your dog? You don’t need a consent/referral form for this!
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A muscular health check is the advanced palpation of your dog’s muscles using hands and fingers. Over 80 muscles (40 pairs) are assessed during this nose to tail check to discover any issues such as muscle strains, trigger points, myofascial pain and hypertonicity (tightness). Although this sounds like a lot of muscles to cover, a massage would work on many more muscles than this!
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As this is palpation and not massage, a vet consent is not required.
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This appointment would include the muscular health check, a discussion on findings and lasts around 15 minutes.
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We do not assess for orthopaedic or neurological issues.
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£FREE
Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD)
What is Manual Lymphatic Drainage
Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) is a treatment that stimulates the lymph vessels that lie under your dogs skin. The technique is very gentle and superficial. The treatment helps the lymph vessels to work harder and transport the flow of lymph away from swollen or congested areas.
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The touch for delivering a MLD treatment is very different to standard treatments, the movements are very light and very relaxing and it is normal for your dog to sleep through the treatment.
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Benefits of MLD:
MLD can help to restore balance back to the dogs body, by helping to restore the function of the lymphatic system
Rehabilitates the immune system after surgery
Helps to reduce oedemas (swollen areas)
Using the parasympathetic system to calm the dog and reduce anxiety
Increases the removal of toxins and other waste products from the body
MLD can help dogs with:
Post surgery
Arthritis
Oedemas
Stress / anxiety
MLD is not suitable for dogs suffering from any of the following conditions:
Heart Conditions
Lymphoma
Acute renal failure
Kidney disease
Acute inflammation