Canine Massage & Epilepsy
I’ve written many posts about my belief that canine massage therapy has many more benefits than simply prevention or physical injury. Recently I have been involved with senior dogs and palliative care as well as relaxation and treating anxiety. This week I was asked to help someone who has a young dog suffering from idiopathic epilepsy (epilepsy without a known cause).
I did my usual geeking up on the subject and found some interesting articles (see Appendix for a sample). Most of the evidence based research has been performed on humans or using animal models but there are many sites available online with tips and advice about canine epilepsy and seizures ranging from the extremely clear and concise to the very full and thorough.
One of the research articles refers to the fact that most people who are willing to use massage therapy as an adjunct to conventional therapy and medication specifically for epilepsy have often used it before. This ties in with my current client who was willing to travel for 2 hours to come to me as he is a firm believer in holistic therapies.
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine and National Institutes of Health in the US reported in 2007 that mind–body relaxation interventions, massage, and herbal therapies are among the most commonly reported adjuncts to traditional therapy in patients who suffer from epilepsy. So it makes sense, to me, that offering a relaxing massage routine to a dog who also suffers from epilepsy and seizures could also be useful.
A study of children and their parents found that the use of complementary and alternative medicine in children ranges varies enormously, from 9% to 73%. Interestingly prayer was the most commonly used therapy but massage therapy was the second.
That same study found that, of the parents who use complementary therapy on their children, the highest use was for those with epilepsy (61.9%) with cancer and asthma closely following – all diseases where relaxation could help the symptoms. Compare this to the third of parents who said they use complementary therapy in general paediatrics.
While I was researching for canine articles I found a very interesting article which looked at a variety of studies on the possible benefits of incorporating physical exercise as a complementary therapy for epilepsy. This may sound odd as there may be a fear that exercise will cause seizures. However the authors wrote that “considering that exercise can exert beneficial actions such as reduction of seizure susceptibility, reduction of anxiety and depression, and consequently, improvement of quality of life of individuals with epilepsy, exercise could be a potential candidate as non-pharmacological treatment of epilepsy” which actually makes a whole lot of sense.
The authors referred to several articles that showed regular physical exercise programs could offer physiological and psychological benefits for people with epilepsy. They even found that people with epilepsy who participate in exercise programs present with fewer seizures than inactive subjects although neither the cause nor the effect has been clearly defined. It could be that epileptic sufferers frequently experience depression and anxiety disorders which can have a negative impact on quality of life. It is well documented that physical exercise affects the neurotransmitter systems, such as serotonin, so a regular exercise programme may help to reduce stress and depression and so help to reduce seizure susceptibility.
Another finding was that certain epilepsy medication can cause weight gain which can have its own health disadvantages. By adding a regular physical exercise routine, the weight gain could be managed.
What these findings repeatedly show is that, again, incorporating a massage routine into the treatment plan for someone, human or canine, with epilepsy could help to maintain their fitness making their physical exercise routine more enjoyable.
With dogs, they are likely to be as confused as humans during or after a seizure. Often owners of dogs can start to recognise when an attack is about to happen. Some dogs start to whine or pace around. So touching your dog and talking to them reassuringly (which we now know from other recent research, they can understand) will help. If the seizure still occurs, continuing to sooth the dog could help them with their confusion, reduce the severity and assist recovery.
During a seizure dogs can exhibit jerking limbs and stiffening muscles and, if the attack is severe, they can become very exhausted. So being able to give your dog a massage after an attack has to help with their physical recovery helping to remove any toxins that will build up as a result.
The dog I saw this weekend has only had a few attacks so we thought that it was best to start teaching the owner relaxation massage routines now so their dog becomes used to its soothing effects in the event of further seizures. And then if the dog does have another episode, massage afterwards could help residual muscle spasm and discomfort and help to soften the tissues and stimulate fresh nutrients through the circulatory systems.
Passive movements and stretches could also be employed to simulate regular exercise – strengthening the muscle in case of further spasms and seizures. Overcompensating surrounding muscles should also be worked on to prevent them becoming extra tense and possibly going into spasm themselves.
This is all quite an interesting additional use for canine massage and complementary therapy. I look forward to hearing how the dog and its owner get on with the routines I taught them.
Appendix
Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use in Children With Cancer and General and Specialty Pediatrics. Janice Post-White et al. Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing. (2009) Vol 26, No 1 (January-February): pp 7-15 7
Epilepsy and your pet. Cat Donnelly (http://www.alternativepets.com/epilepsy.htm)
Experimental and clinical findings from physical exercise as complementary therapy for epilepsy. Ricardo Mario Arida et al. Epilepsy Behavior. (2013). Mar 26 (3): pp 273-8
Holey, E. & Cook, E. (2011) Evidence-Based Therapeutic Massage. 3rd ed. Churchill Livingstone: Elsevier
How to help a dog who has canine epilepsy (http://m.wikihow.com/Help-a-Dog-Who-Has-Canine-Epilepsy)
Understanding Your Pet's Epilepsy. Dennis O'Brien, DVM, PhD (http://www.canine-epilepsy.net/basics/basics_main.html
Tuesday, 20 January 2015
Tuesday, 16 December 2014
I love research studies – especially when they prove me right
When we take our dogs to events and shows we always get comments like “They are so chilled” and “Aren’t they well behaved?” After I stop preening myself I think back to how we have always exercised them mentally as well as physically – they are collie / spaniels after all….brains the size of mini-planets (sometimes!).
Whenever I give my clients homework to do on their dogs after a treatment session, I typically add in some stretches or exercise they can do with their dog. It doesn’t have to be vigorous or expensive (see my previous post on how much fun you can have for £1). But is something you can control and means you take part in the healing process as well as helping you bond with your dog.
We were invited along to a book launch last week and interviewed about what we do and why. One of the questions I was asked was whether physical exercise is the only thing necessary in bringing up a dog. I recounted one the things Chris and I had to learn to get our two through the Good Citizen Dog Scheme Award for the Kennel Club when they were puppies when asked a similar question. We were taught that dogs need a suitable environment (place to live), diet (food and water), behaviour (to be able to be a dog), exercise, companionship and affection with the need to be protected from pain and suffering. We added in mental stimulation too as we had two puppies in lots of need of that.
One of the first games we were taught by Lee Lampert, who taught us how to bring up two bonkers brainy active puppies, was a simple game called “Go Find”. This involved a handkerchief which you had to rub somewhere over your body to pick up your smell. The original handkerchief had a 10p coin sewn in one corner. But we soon progressed (or regressed) to one of the many odd socks that seem to accumulate when I do the laundry. The idea is to get the dogs to sit, get them to sniff the handkerchief / sock and then get them to watch while you run round the house from room to room eventually placing the handkerchief / sock somewhere at eye level for them to find. On the cue of “Go Find” the kids would run like crazy from room to room to find it. They LOVED this game and now, 8 and a half years later, they still sit like demented things with tails wagging and body shivering in excitement when I tell them we are going to play Go Find. The game has increased in complexity as we now have more rooms to hide things in and also includes hiding the sock upstairs or downstairs. This means a single game can last for several minutes.
As well as exhausting me while I run around the house hiding the sock, the dogs get quite knackered simply going round the house sniffing happily trying to find it and outwitting Dad. I told the listeners last week about Go Find and a couple of people came up to me at the end to explain it. And at the seminar we gave this weekend I noticed a lot of people in the audience nodding when I spoke about the importance of mental exercise as well as physical. They clearly have the same sort of bonkers dog.
This week I read of a research study being undertaken at Bristol University which interviewed 4000 pet owners and found that games provided vital stimulation and exercise for most dogs. They found that if dogs don’t get their mental stimulation they often become anxious and even aggressive. They concluded that they can’t say unequivocally that playing less is directly to blame for disobedience but that games certainly do provide intellectual stimulation and exercise.
I was quite saddened that they found in their sample of 4000 only 1 in 5 owners play with their dogs six times a day. Half play two or three times and 10% only once a day. Goodness….Sam and Sarah would go crazy with that.
Mark Evans, former chief vet for the RSPCA, said that dogs are one of the few animals to play into adulthood and believed that ‘There is a clear association in the results. Owners report more potential behaviour problems in dogs that play less.’ He also said that the type of game owners play with their dog is important as you need to find ones they enjoy rather than one that is imposed. Sam and Sarah, for example, would not play a game that involves them wiping their muddy feet before they come in but now love the rubby-down game we have to play with the towel to get mud, sand and rain off them before they come indoors.
Emily Blackwell of Bristol University, who conducted the research, said dogs often enjoy playing so much that they slow down or change strategy to make the fun last longer. She said that they often slow down when playing chase allowing the owner to catch up with them. Our Sam does that. When we place chase, he waits until I am just within reaching distance before galloping off with a big fat grin on his face as though he is saying “Nya, nya nya…..you are too slow Dad” which is probably true. And when they play Go Find, if Sarah finds the sock first she will wait for her brother to catch up so as not to spoil the game.
I now feel vindicated that my mad dashing around the house shouting Go Find all these years has been scientifically proven as being beneficial and not the ravings of a Mad Dad….although Sam and Sarah don’t care about the evidence…they just love to play.
Whenever I give my clients homework to do on their dogs after a treatment session, I typically add in some stretches or exercise they can do with their dog. It doesn’t have to be vigorous or expensive (see my previous post on how much fun you can have for £1). But is something you can control and means you take part in the healing process as well as helping you bond with your dog.
We were invited along to a book launch last week and interviewed about what we do and why. One of the questions I was asked was whether physical exercise is the only thing necessary in bringing up a dog. I recounted one the things Chris and I had to learn to get our two through the Good Citizen Dog Scheme Award for the Kennel Club when they were puppies when asked a similar question. We were taught that dogs need a suitable environment (place to live), diet (food and water), behaviour (to be able to be a dog), exercise, companionship and affection with the need to be protected from pain and suffering. We added in mental stimulation too as we had two puppies in lots of need of that.
One of the first games we were taught by Lee Lampert, who taught us how to bring up two bonkers brainy active puppies, was a simple game called “Go Find”. This involved a handkerchief which you had to rub somewhere over your body to pick up your smell. The original handkerchief had a 10p coin sewn in one corner. But we soon progressed (or regressed) to one of the many odd socks that seem to accumulate when I do the laundry. The idea is to get the dogs to sit, get them to sniff the handkerchief / sock and then get them to watch while you run round the house from room to room eventually placing the handkerchief / sock somewhere at eye level for them to find. On the cue of “Go Find” the kids would run like crazy from room to room to find it. They LOVED this game and now, 8 and a half years later, they still sit like demented things with tails wagging and body shivering in excitement when I tell them we are going to play Go Find. The game has increased in complexity as we now have more rooms to hide things in and also includes hiding the sock upstairs or downstairs. This means a single game can last for several minutes.
As well as exhausting me while I run around the house hiding the sock, the dogs get quite knackered simply going round the house sniffing happily trying to find it and outwitting Dad. I told the listeners last week about Go Find and a couple of people came up to me at the end to explain it. And at the seminar we gave this weekend I noticed a lot of people in the audience nodding when I spoke about the importance of mental exercise as well as physical. They clearly have the same sort of bonkers dog.
This week I read of a research study being undertaken at Bristol University which interviewed 4000 pet owners and found that games provided vital stimulation and exercise for most dogs. They found that if dogs don’t get their mental stimulation they often become anxious and even aggressive. They concluded that they can’t say unequivocally that playing less is directly to blame for disobedience but that games certainly do provide intellectual stimulation and exercise.
I was quite saddened that they found in their sample of 4000 only 1 in 5 owners play with their dogs six times a day. Half play two or three times and 10% only once a day. Goodness….Sam and Sarah would go crazy with that.
Mark Evans, former chief vet for the RSPCA, said that dogs are one of the few animals to play into adulthood and believed that ‘There is a clear association in the results. Owners report more potential behaviour problems in dogs that play less.’ He also said that the type of game owners play with their dog is important as you need to find ones they enjoy rather than one that is imposed. Sam and Sarah, for example, would not play a game that involves them wiping their muddy feet before they come in but now love the rubby-down game we have to play with the towel to get mud, sand and rain off them before they come indoors.
Emily Blackwell of Bristol University, who conducted the research, said dogs often enjoy playing so much that they slow down or change strategy to make the fun last longer. She said that they often slow down when playing chase allowing the owner to catch up with them. Our Sam does that. When we place chase, he waits until I am just within reaching distance before galloping off with a big fat grin on his face as though he is saying “Nya, nya nya…..you are too slow Dad” which is probably true. And when they play Go Find, if Sarah finds the sock first she will wait for her brother to catch up so as not to spoil the game.
I now feel vindicated that my mad dashing around the house shouting Go Find all these years has been scientifically proven as being beneficial and not the ravings of a Mad Dad….although Sam and Sarah don’t care about the evidence…they just love to play.
 |
| "Did Dad hide it in the living room Sam?" asks Sarah |
Wednesday, 26 November 2014
If I could talk to the animals
I was referred to an article the other day which really fed my geek. It was by Theresa Fisher and entitled "Brain Scans Reveal What Dogs Really Think Of Us" (1). She referred to a research study on neuroimaging in dogs (2). Somehow the researchers had managed to train a cohort of dogs to stay motionless, unsedated and unrestrained in an MRI scanner - no mean feat I would have thought.
They presented a variety of smells to the dogs with the intention to identify which smells cause the greatest response. They concentrated on responses from the caudate nucleus as that area of the brain is associated with positive expectations. So the theory was that if that area exhibits stimulation, the dogs liked the smell.
The scents they used included the dog itself, a familiar dog, a familiar human, an unfamiliar dog and an unfamiliar human. The results indicated that the brain responded most positively to the smell of a familiar human. Interestingly the smell was not that of the dog’s owner but someone the dog knew.
The researchers concluded that “This.…provides important clues about the importance of humans in dogs’ lives” while Theresa Fisher said that this also means that “Dogs don't just seem to pick up on our subtle mood changes — they are actually physically wired to pick up on them”.
I love research like this and thank Stephen Flanagan for finding it for me. It means that when I talk to my doggy clients or when I sit them in my lap and they look at me trustingly, it is not hokum pokum but because there is a scientific rationale behind it. They like smelling me and are hard wired to relax.
Then I found another piece of research done locally at the University of Sussex (4) about how dogs really do understand human speech and that they process language in a similar way to us. The researchers placed a cohort of dogs between 2 speakers which played simple recorded commands. The tests suggested that the dogs are able to pick up on subtle aspects of human speech such as emotional tone, intonation and volume changes.
They concluded that is because dogs process language in the same way as we do. We have what is called a ‘hemispheric bias’ when it comes to communication, with different aspects of language favouring the left or right side of the brain and the test dogs appeared to respond in the same way. They concluded that this similarity in processing sounds may reflect convergent evolution for processing human speech as if dogs have been selected to respond to human vocal signals during domestication. In other words, like the previous study, they are hard-wired to our speech as well as our smell.
Now if I could only find myself an MRI scanner I could do all sorts of research on the value of playing music to dogs to bring about positive responses (like dear old Harry) or whether they really do understand “Now lift your left leg for me so I can massage your pectoral muscles” or if they just hear “woof...bark…woof…woof…bark”. But in the meantime I am more than happy knowing that tucking the kids under our blanket when they are anxious is not coddling but evidence based.
Appendix
1. http://mic.com/articles/104474/brain-scans-reveal-what-dogs-really-think-of-us
2. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0376635714000473
3. http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0107205
4. http://www.cell.com/current-biology/pdfExtended/S0960-9822%2814%2901339-6
They presented a variety of smells to the dogs with the intention to identify which smells cause the greatest response. They concentrated on responses from the caudate nucleus as that area of the brain is associated with positive expectations. So the theory was that if that area exhibits stimulation, the dogs liked the smell.
The scents they used included the dog itself, a familiar dog, a familiar human, an unfamiliar dog and an unfamiliar human. The results indicated that the brain responded most positively to the smell of a familiar human. Interestingly the smell was not that of the dog’s owner but someone the dog knew.
The researchers concluded that “This.…provides important clues about the importance of humans in dogs’ lives” while Theresa Fisher said that this also means that “Dogs don't just seem to pick up on our subtle mood changes — they are actually physically wired to pick up on them”.
I love research like this and thank Stephen Flanagan for finding it for me. It means that when I talk to my doggy clients or when I sit them in my lap and they look at me trustingly, it is not hokum pokum but because there is a scientific rationale behind it. They like smelling me and are hard wired to relax.
Then I found another piece of research done locally at the University of Sussex (4) about how dogs really do understand human speech and that they process language in a similar way to us. The researchers placed a cohort of dogs between 2 speakers which played simple recorded commands. The tests suggested that the dogs are able to pick up on subtle aspects of human speech such as emotional tone, intonation and volume changes.
They concluded that is because dogs process language in the same way as we do. We have what is called a ‘hemispheric bias’ when it comes to communication, with different aspects of language favouring the left or right side of the brain and the test dogs appeared to respond in the same way. They concluded that this similarity in processing sounds may reflect convergent evolution for processing human speech as if dogs have been selected to respond to human vocal signals during domestication. In other words, like the previous study, they are hard-wired to our speech as well as our smell.
Now if I could only find myself an MRI scanner I could do all sorts of research on the value of playing music to dogs to bring about positive responses (like dear old Harry) or whether they really do understand “Now lift your left leg for me so I can massage your pectoral muscles” or if they just hear “woof...bark…woof…woof…bark”. But in the meantime I am more than happy knowing that tucking the kids under our blanket when they are anxious is not coddling but evidence based.
 |
| Sam and Sarah being 'hard wired' |
Appendix
1. http://mic.com/articles/104474/brain-scans-reveal-what-dogs-really-think-of-us
2. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0376635714000473
3. http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0107205
4. http://www.cell.com/current-biology/pdfExtended/S0960-9822%2814%2901339-6
Friday, 21 November 2014
Canine Behaviour & Massage : A Holistic Approach
Alex and I held our first Canine Behaviour & Massage workshop at Earthed Barn, Fletching with the theme of 'Coping with Canine Anxiety'.
The Barn was full of dog lovers who were there to pick up some tips, learn a relaxing massage routine and to generally meet and chat in a cosy relaxed venue. Among those who attended were Dr Birgit Ahlemeyer, a holistic vet, Mandy Fischer, an oestopath, Alison Ridley, owner of Doggy Delights plus many caring dog owners who wanted to learn as much as possible to help their dogs.
Alex spoke about how :
I started my section of the workshop by asking everyone to stand up and look anxious. As expected, shoulders went up, jaws were clenched and bodies were held tense. This was to demonstrate how behaviour and posture are so closely related. In an anxious dog their back often bows, their tail may tuck in holding their back end stiff, their neck may shorten. Like their owners, being anxious makes their bodies tense.
So we demonstrated a quick routine that everyone could do on their dogs to help calm them donw during thunder or firework seasons.
It seems that this routine has already had an effect on at least one dog as I received an email saying "This evening my dog started his usual quivering (a loud fire alarm test upset him up the yard today when we were passing) and I decided to sit down calmly and do the massage stuff I learned last night at the anxious dog seminar.It really helped!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you so much. He seemed to like it and calmed completely....then fell deep asleep and I sat there calmly reading a mag until he woke 2 hours later"
Can't ask for better feedback than that.
 |
| Sarah & Sam arranging the chairs at the Barn |
The Barn was full of dog lovers who were there to pick up some tips, learn a relaxing massage routine and to generally meet and chat in a cosy relaxed venue. Among those who attended were Dr Birgit Ahlemeyer, a holistic vet, Mandy Fischer, an oestopath, Alison Ridley, owner of Doggy Delights plus many caring dog owners who wanted to learn as much as possible to help their dogs.
 |
| Some of the group at the Barn |
Alex spoke about how :
- Anxiety can be inherited or can derive from a deprived early environment perhaps nutritionally, physically or socially. Food consumed is linked to the ability to cope and learn for example
- Dogs cannot rationalise like humans or exercise escapism
- Inconsistency in their home environment can also lead to this behaviour
- The dog should not be forced to confront their fears and the environment should be made as relaxed as possible
- A routine should be established, anxious behaviour should be ignored where possible and normal behaviour rewarded
- Pairing the fearful situations with something positive
 |
| Sam showing how it is done to be a relaxed dog |
I started my section of the workshop by asking everyone to stand up and look anxious. As expected, shoulders went up, jaws were clenched and bodies were held tense. This was to demonstrate how behaviour and posture are so closely related. In an anxious dog their back often bows, their tail may tuck in holding their back end stiff, their neck may shorten. Like their owners, being anxious makes their bodies tense.
So we demonstrated a quick routine that everyone could do on their dogs to help calm them donw during thunder or firework seasons.
It seems that this routine has already had an effect on at least one dog as I received an email saying "This evening my dog started his usual quivering (a loud fire alarm test upset him up the yard today when we were passing) and I decided to sit down calmly and do the massage stuff I learned last night at the anxious dog seminar.It really helped!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you so much. He seemed to like it and calmed completely....then fell deep asleep and I sat there calmly reading a mag until he woke 2 hours later"
Can't ask for better feedback than that.
 |
| Everyone chatting at the end of the workshop |
Wednesday, 5 November 2014
Sometimes it is not just the dog you go to treat who needs help
As I wrote in my last post, I received a vet referral to go and help a couple of senior dogs. Sadly Harry could not fight his kidney failure and passed at the end of last week. His owner called me to say that the sessions I gave him during his final days were so very helpful to him. Each time she could see he was totally relaxed and without the pain of muscle and joint aches and strains. It also empowered her to be able to give him some massage rather than just waiting and watching for the inevitable.
Whenever I went round to help Harry, his sister would sit with me, right by her brother. I ended up with one handed massage on Harry and one handed massage on Tanya.
And sometimes even one of the five cats got involved in the session.
Earlier this week we went round to see the owner. Tanya had been missing her brother immensely and had not barked or played since. While I was chatting to the owner (in fact we were looking at photos on Facebook of Portuguese rescue dogs for her to adopt) Chris sat with Tanya quietly giving her some Reiki. He also worked calmly on their other dog who is very excitable.
The next day I received another call from the owner asking if Chris could come back to offer more Reiki as Tanya seemed a lot happier. She was back to barking at the postman (!) and eating more.
I’m not sure if the cat is next but it is heart warming how sometimes it is not just the dog you go to treat who needs help.
Whenever I went round to help Harry, his sister would sit with me, right by her brother. I ended up with one handed massage on Harry and one handed massage on Tanya.
And sometimes even one of the five cats got involved in the session.
Earlier this week we went round to see the owner. Tanya had been missing her brother immensely and had not barked or played since. While I was chatting to the owner (in fact we were looking at photos on Facebook of Portuguese rescue dogs for her to adopt) Chris sat with Tanya quietly giving her some Reiki. He also worked calmly on their other dog who is very excitable.
The next day I received another call from the owner asking if Chris could come back to offer more Reiki as Tanya seemed a lot happier. She was back to barking at the postman (!) and eating more.
I’m not sure if the cat is next but it is heart warming how sometimes it is not just the dog you go to treat who needs help.
Tuesday, 28 October 2014
Massage for Palliative Care in the Older Dog
It has been widely researched that massage and aromatherapy can help with palliative care in humans (see appendix for examples of scholarly articles). Most seem to concur that there is a statistically significant reduction in anxiety after massage, with or without essential oils, and levels of anxiety are reduced. They conclude that massage can improve physical and psychological symptoms, as well as overall quality of life. In several palliative care units massage therapy is offered as a complementary treatment for pain, discomfort, and emotional distress working in conjunction with the health care multi-disciplinary team.
In dogs there is less scholarly research regarding massage & palliative care but it is available (see appendix for examples). Dr Jessica Pierce states that using several different therapies, drugs and complementary therapies, can create a synergistic response which is more effective than a single therapy alone. Robin Downing states most dogs find massage to be very comforting and adds that massage can be performed by a trained provider, but many massage techniques can also be taught for use at home.
Alice Villalobos, DVM, former President of the American Association of Human Animal Bond Veterinarians (AAHABV), and founding member of the Veterinary Cancer Society, refers to hospice care in dogs as “pawspice”.
The event that set me thinking about palliative care and dogs was that I received two referrals the other week from a vet about a couple of elderly dogs. One was terminally ill with kidney failure, the other had suddenly started to struggle to walk. They were aged 14 and 13 years respectively and long-loved members of their families. Clearly I was not going to be able to make them puppies again but my aim was to help them with any muscle and joint aches and stiffness so they could hopefully be pain free to fight any other issues going on in their body – holistically helping them to heal themselves.
This took me back to my very first case study – an elderly dog who was also referred to me by the same vet. The dog was an old lady with progressive stiffness in her hind legs. She also had a cruciate injury on her right back leg but the veterinarian had recommended letting it heal itself rather than putting this elderly dog through potentially life-threatening surgery. Her owners had taken the dog to hydrotherapy and now wanted to try more targeted massage and myotherapy. When I first met her she was severely hunched and clearly in pain. During the first treatment the owners and I were surprised at how she simply lay down for me making ‘happy vocalisations’ with no protest at all. Effleurage around her neck, pectorals, front legs, back and hind legs resulted in the dog actually turning round and planting a big kiss on me which both the owners thought was amazing as this was the first time we had met.
After the first session I was sent a picture of a very relaxed dog sleeping happily for the rest of the day. When I walked through the door for the second session she immediately lay on the floor ready for the massage. Her owners said she had been ‘full of beans’ all week and was really looking forward to going out for her walks. In fact she was rather over-enthusiastic so they were taking it slowly as advised. It was also encouraging to see that they had also been doing the homework I had given them and that their dog was now actually coming to them and asking for it – she had turned into another massage diva. I can’t stress enough how giving owners the tools to help their own dog in return helps them too.
I had several sessions with this dog and her owners regularly brought her to meet us at local dog shows. 18 months later she still remembered that seeing me meant she should lie down for her massage.
Flash forward a couple of years to my latest ‘oldie’ referrals. The first was a very poorly dog who was suffering with kidney failure. My aim for the session was, at the very least, to help reduce the stresses, strains and stiffness that had built up in his limbs due to his immobility from his illness. Massage can help maintain the circulatory system, boost the immune system and relax the tired muscles. This should also help to quieten their mind allowing them to stretch out safely and concentrate on healing internally so they can continue in a dignified way for as long as possible. There is a double bonus too as the owner can also relax during the treatment session as they give the care of their dog over to me for a while.
As often happens on the first appointment, the dog was slightly unsure of what was happening but quickly lay down and let me perform a series of gentle warming massage strokes to his whole body and joints. In addition the dog has taken to lying in a bed that was clearly two sizes too small, possibly for security. So his hind limbs had become very shortened and bent. As he stretched for me during the session I was able to gently extend his legs ensuring his tendons did not become shortened. The owner and I also used a bit of stealth to replace his small bed with one that was more his size while he was sleeping off the massage so that the issue would not recur. There is no fooling some dogs though, even elderly ones. When he approached his new bed he looked at it suspiciously, looked at us, then flopped down in eventual resignation. But he was able to stretch out so the dirty looks from him was worth it to us. We made a plan to visit this dog every couple of days to continue with the relaxing massage. As the week went on, his eyes were becoming brighter and he bounded to the door to greet me.
We even introduced music into the therapy session. The dog had a ‘tune’ which the owner always used to sing to him at night. I downloaded that tune onto my phone and played it while giving him his massage. I’m sure he recognised his tune but even if he didn’t, the owner and I were singing along in a relaxed way. (Listen to "Harry" by Catherine Howe and try not to shed a tear with me. I'll be a blithering wreck when that comes on shuffle as I'm walking Sam & Sarah)
I had given the owner a short routine to use on the dog before his first walk and during the day. She felt that empowered her in the palliative care of her dog, helping him to maintain his dignity and gave her something to do rather than simply watch him fade away.
Senior referral number two was a dog who had become lame very quickly. The vet had diagnosed neurological degeneration and there was noticeable muscle wastage over his rear end. This dear dog decided immediately that he loved massage and lay down stretched out on his huge comfy bed for me. He even rolled over after 30 minutes so I could work on his other side – no prompting needed. We made a plan to visit this dog weekly at first to ease his muscular aches and pains and once more I gave the owners a short routine that to perform daily.
As I have stated in other articles, I would advocate that massage is not just for prevention or injury but has many uses. One being as a useful adjunct to more traditional treatments in palliative care helping to reduce pain, improve circulation and relax muscles. Psychologically it also helps to calm, and comfort the dog thus helping to relieve any anxiety. It has been shown to be of benefit in humans so should be equally effective in our dogs. Combining a regular routine from the owner with a longer maintenance session from the professional could help maintain and even improve their quality of life. The regular routine doesn’t need to be a long session - the session I gave both sets of owners would only be about 5 to 10 minutes - but enough to give both them and their cherished dog a few hours peace.
For advice on methods for treating elderly dogs, please contact me from the achypaw.com website.
Appendix
The American Massage Therapy Association. (Sept 2009). ‘Massage Therapy Can Improve the Quality of Life for Those in Hospice and Palliative Care’. http://www.amtamassage.org/statement5.html [accessed 28th October 2014]
Pierce. J. (2012) ‘Palliative Care for Pets’. http://www.seniorsresourceguide.com/articles/art01240.html [accessed 28th October 2014]
Rodier. L. (March 2010). Canine Hospice Care Options : Veterinary hospice care considerations for your canine companion. http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/13_3/features/Hospice-Care-For-Dogs_16206-1.html [accessed 28th October 2014]
VCA Animal Hospital based on material written by: Robin Downing ‘Palliative Care for Dogs’. http://www.vcahospitals.com/main/pet-health-information/article/animal-health/palliative-care-for-dogs/8179 [accessed 28th October 2014]
Wilkinson, S. et al (1999). ‘An evaluation of aromatherapy massage in palliative care’. Palliative Medicine. 5 pp 409-417
In dogs there is less scholarly research regarding massage & palliative care but it is available (see appendix for examples). Dr Jessica Pierce states that using several different therapies, drugs and complementary therapies, can create a synergistic response which is more effective than a single therapy alone. Robin Downing states most dogs find massage to be very comforting and adds that massage can be performed by a trained provider, but many massage techniques can also be taught for use at home.
Alice Villalobos, DVM, former President of the American Association of Human Animal Bond Veterinarians (AAHABV), and founding member of the Veterinary Cancer Society, refers to hospice care in dogs as “pawspice”.
The event that set me thinking about palliative care and dogs was that I received two referrals the other week from a vet about a couple of elderly dogs. One was terminally ill with kidney failure, the other had suddenly started to struggle to walk. They were aged 14 and 13 years respectively and long-loved members of their families. Clearly I was not going to be able to make them puppies again but my aim was to help them with any muscle and joint aches and stiffness so they could hopefully be pain free to fight any other issues going on in their body – holistically helping them to heal themselves.
This took me back to my very first case study – an elderly dog who was also referred to me by the same vet. The dog was an old lady with progressive stiffness in her hind legs. She also had a cruciate injury on her right back leg but the veterinarian had recommended letting it heal itself rather than putting this elderly dog through potentially life-threatening surgery. Her owners had taken the dog to hydrotherapy and now wanted to try more targeted massage and myotherapy. When I first met her she was severely hunched and clearly in pain. During the first treatment the owners and I were surprised at how she simply lay down for me making ‘happy vocalisations’ with no protest at all. Effleurage around her neck, pectorals, front legs, back and hind legs resulted in the dog actually turning round and planting a big kiss on me which both the owners thought was amazing as this was the first time we had met.
After the first session I was sent a picture of a very relaxed dog sleeping happily for the rest of the day. When I walked through the door for the second session she immediately lay on the floor ready for the massage. Her owners said she had been ‘full of beans’ all week and was really looking forward to going out for her walks. In fact she was rather over-enthusiastic so they were taking it slowly as advised. It was also encouraging to see that they had also been doing the homework I had given them and that their dog was now actually coming to them and asking for it – she had turned into another massage diva. I can’t stress enough how giving owners the tools to help their own dog in return helps them too.
I had several sessions with this dog and her owners regularly brought her to meet us at local dog shows. 18 months later she still remembered that seeing me meant she should lie down for her massage.
Flash forward a couple of years to my latest ‘oldie’ referrals. The first was a very poorly dog who was suffering with kidney failure. My aim for the session was, at the very least, to help reduce the stresses, strains and stiffness that had built up in his limbs due to his immobility from his illness. Massage can help maintain the circulatory system, boost the immune system and relax the tired muscles. This should also help to quieten their mind allowing them to stretch out safely and concentrate on healing internally so they can continue in a dignified way for as long as possible. There is a double bonus too as the owner can also relax during the treatment session as they give the care of their dog over to me for a while.
As often happens on the first appointment, the dog was slightly unsure of what was happening but quickly lay down and let me perform a series of gentle warming massage strokes to his whole body and joints. In addition the dog has taken to lying in a bed that was clearly two sizes too small, possibly for security. So his hind limbs had become very shortened and bent. As he stretched for me during the session I was able to gently extend his legs ensuring his tendons did not become shortened. The owner and I also used a bit of stealth to replace his small bed with one that was more his size while he was sleeping off the massage so that the issue would not recur. There is no fooling some dogs though, even elderly ones. When he approached his new bed he looked at it suspiciously, looked at us, then flopped down in eventual resignation. But he was able to stretch out so the dirty looks from him was worth it to us. We made a plan to visit this dog every couple of days to continue with the relaxing massage. As the week went on, his eyes were becoming brighter and he bounded to the door to greet me.
We even introduced music into the therapy session. The dog had a ‘tune’ which the owner always used to sing to him at night. I downloaded that tune onto my phone and played it while giving him his massage. I’m sure he recognised his tune but even if he didn’t, the owner and I were singing along in a relaxed way. (Listen to "Harry" by Catherine Howe and try not to shed a tear with me. I'll be a blithering wreck when that comes on shuffle as I'm walking Sam & Sarah)
I had given the owner a short routine to use on the dog before his first walk and during the day. She felt that empowered her in the palliative care of her dog, helping him to maintain his dignity and gave her something to do rather than simply watch him fade away.
Senior referral number two was a dog who had become lame very quickly. The vet had diagnosed neurological degeneration and there was noticeable muscle wastage over his rear end. This dear dog decided immediately that he loved massage and lay down stretched out on his huge comfy bed for me. He even rolled over after 30 minutes so I could work on his other side – no prompting needed. We made a plan to visit this dog weekly at first to ease his muscular aches and pains and once more I gave the owners a short routine that to perform daily.
As I have stated in other articles, I would advocate that massage is not just for prevention or injury but has many uses. One being as a useful adjunct to more traditional treatments in palliative care helping to reduce pain, improve circulation and relax muscles. Psychologically it also helps to calm, and comfort the dog thus helping to relieve any anxiety. It has been shown to be of benefit in humans so should be equally effective in our dogs. Combining a regular routine from the owner with a longer maintenance session from the professional could help maintain and even improve their quality of life. The regular routine doesn’t need to be a long session - the session I gave both sets of owners would only be about 5 to 10 minutes - but enough to give both them and their cherished dog a few hours peace.
For advice on methods for treating elderly dogs, please contact me from the achypaw.com website.
Appendix
The American Massage Therapy Association. (Sept 2009). ‘Massage Therapy Can Improve the Quality of Life for Those in Hospice and Palliative Care’. http://www.amtamassage.org/statement5.html [accessed 28th October 2014]
Pierce. J. (2012) ‘Palliative Care for Pets’. http://www.seniorsresourceguide.com/articles/art01240.html [accessed 28th October 2014]
Rodier. L. (March 2010). Canine Hospice Care Options : Veterinary hospice care considerations for your canine companion. http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/13_3/features/Hospice-Care-For-Dogs_16206-1.html [accessed 28th October 2014]
VCA Animal Hospital based on material written by: Robin Downing ‘Palliative Care for Dogs’. http://www.vcahospitals.com/main/pet-health-information/article/animal-health/palliative-care-for-dogs/8179 [accessed 28th October 2014]
Wilkinson, S. et al (1999). ‘An evaluation of aromatherapy massage in palliative care’. Palliative Medicine. 5 pp 409-417
Wednesday, 1 October 2014
Firework time of year – stress, anxiety or relaxation for you dog?
Our two collie spaniel crosses, Sam and Sarah, were bred as gun dogs. They were both from the same litter and inseparable – except around firework time of year when Sam spent much of the evenings trying to hide into the smallest place possible shivering and quaking. He clearly never realised his initial calling as a gun dog. His sister is totally not fazed by the bangs but gets upset to see her twin brother looking stressed.
We have tried everything over the years from CDs that have loud banging noises which you are meant to play to the dogs to get them used to the sounds (they didn’t work at all…the dogs just barked along in tune) to pheromone diffusers (which clearly we can’t smell so you never really know when they have run out).
But before we tried sometime new last year we thought we’d have a go at introducing a relaxation massage routine. It is well known that when a dog (or a human) feels in danger or stress, it places stress on their body systems. This can lead to an increase in muscle tension which can cause further problems. If we could rebuild Sam’s confidence with massage and touch, the hope was we could reduce his stress and generally help him through the firework season.
During my time working in canine therapy with my AchyPaw Dog Massage service, I know that some forms of massage helps to calm a dog down (repetitive, predicable, slow & rhythmic strokes) while others help to revitalise them (deep fast and kneading moves). When performing a relaxing massage session you do feel their heart rate calming and slowing down. It can also help to calm their nervous state – again something that is evident during a massage session where you see their eyes start to go ‘googly’ in their head and you suddenly get that deep long sigh. The ‘sigh’ helps to fully expel their breath allowing for a complete intake of fresh oxygen and nutrients. As an ex-academic I have looked through some literature and several research studies have been performed in humans (and dogs) to show how massage can reduce blood pressure and heart rate (research examples are given in the geeky-style appendix but there are plenty more) so trying this pre-firework massage routine made sense to me.
But massage also helps the therapist. It is such a joy to perform a relaxing holistic massage – I feel my own heart rate slowing and any tension disappearing. This has to be a double benefit. Again research evidence seems to back this up (more geeky appendices). Most behaviourists say that your dog can feel your tension – either down the leash or just by looking at you. Knowing that your dog is about to get all jumpy and agitated is stressful for the owner as well as the dog. So anything that can calm both parties down in one hit has to be good – until they develop a calming pheromone diffuser for the stressed owner!
So last year we decided to give regular and short holistic massage sessions to our Sam to calm him naturally a few weeks before the big bangs started. Three or four weeks before the season we started giving him 15 minute sessions ending up with wrapping him up warmly in a blanket – like a thunder shirt. Each night the sighs came earlier into the session and his eyes got googlier and googlier.
Halloween was clearly our first test. So he was massaged early and wrapped up while we waited for the first bangs of party nights. This time when he heard them, instead of him running round the house, he simply looked up, still aware of the noise, but lay back down again as though the effort of being stressed was actually too much like hard work. Yes he was aware but no he was not as nervous as he used to be before the massage routine.
So that was a success. But as an added extra, WE were relaxed too. Instead of us dreading the next big bang wondering what we could do to calm down our sensitive dog, we were able to get on with the normal evening things – like watching TV (which didn’t have to be on full blast to drown out the noises). His sister was also able to sleep through the bangs without worrying about her brother.
We continued the routine through the November 5th firework season with the same result – a much calmer Sam.
It is not just fireworks that worry Mr Sam but also thunder – he is a bit of a wuss but we wouldn't change a thing about him. He is just a 'sensitive soul'. We’ve had quite a few storms this year. Sam was aware of the noise but this time came up to have his special ‘Dad Massage’ and immediately fell asleep. It seems he is remembering that fireworks and loud bangs should be associated with massage rather than fear and anxiety.
Hopefully if we start the routines now, by Halloween we’ll have two chilled dogs.
If you want to learn more about this form of complementary therapy, feel free to contact me from my website @ achypaw.com or via our Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/achypaw). I can happily organise tailored training sessions to teach you how to massage your own dog. It certainly can’t do any harm and may help you and your dog.
Appendix :
Handlin L. et al (2011) ‘Short-Term Interaction between Dogs and Their Owners: Effects on Oxytocin, Cortisol, Insulin and Heart Rate - An Exploratory Study’. Anthrozoos: A Multidisciplinary Journal of The Interactions of People & Animals. Vol 24, No. 3, pp. 301-315
Hennessey M.B. et al (1998) ‘Influence of male and female petters on plasma cortisol and behaviour: can human interaction reduce the stress of dogs in a public animal shelter?’. Applied Animal Behaviour Science Vol 61, pp 63-77
Kaye et al. (2008) ‘The effect of deep-tissue massage therapy on blood pressure and heart rate’ J Altern Complement Med. Mar;14(2) pp 125-8.
We have tried everything over the years from CDs that have loud banging noises which you are meant to play to the dogs to get them used to the sounds (they didn’t work at all…the dogs just barked along in tune) to pheromone diffusers (which clearly we can’t smell so you never really know when they have run out).
But before we tried sometime new last year we thought we’d have a go at introducing a relaxation massage routine. It is well known that when a dog (or a human) feels in danger or stress, it places stress on their body systems. This can lead to an increase in muscle tension which can cause further problems. If we could rebuild Sam’s confidence with massage and touch, the hope was we could reduce his stress and generally help him through the firework season.
During my time working in canine therapy with my AchyPaw Dog Massage service, I know that some forms of massage helps to calm a dog down (repetitive, predicable, slow & rhythmic strokes) while others help to revitalise them (deep fast and kneading moves). When performing a relaxing massage session you do feel their heart rate calming and slowing down. It can also help to calm their nervous state – again something that is evident during a massage session where you see their eyes start to go ‘googly’ in their head and you suddenly get that deep long sigh. The ‘sigh’ helps to fully expel their breath allowing for a complete intake of fresh oxygen and nutrients. As an ex-academic I have looked through some literature and several research studies have been performed in humans (and dogs) to show how massage can reduce blood pressure and heart rate (research examples are given in the geeky-style appendix but there are plenty more) so trying this pre-firework massage routine made sense to me.
But massage also helps the therapist. It is such a joy to perform a relaxing holistic massage – I feel my own heart rate slowing and any tension disappearing. This has to be a double benefit. Again research evidence seems to back this up (more geeky appendices). Most behaviourists say that your dog can feel your tension – either down the leash or just by looking at you. Knowing that your dog is about to get all jumpy and agitated is stressful for the owner as well as the dog. So anything that can calm both parties down in one hit has to be good – until they develop a calming pheromone diffuser for the stressed owner!
So last year we decided to give regular and short holistic massage sessions to our Sam to calm him naturally a few weeks before the big bangs started. Three or four weeks before the season we started giving him 15 minute sessions ending up with wrapping him up warmly in a blanket – like a thunder shirt. Each night the sighs came earlier into the session and his eyes got googlier and googlier.
Halloween was clearly our first test. So he was massaged early and wrapped up while we waited for the first bangs of party nights. This time when he heard them, instead of him running round the house, he simply looked up, still aware of the noise, but lay back down again as though the effort of being stressed was actually too much like hard work. Yes he was aware but no he was not as nervous as he used to be before the massage routine.
So that was a success. But as an added extra, WE were relaxed too. Instead of us dreading the next big bang wondering what we could do to calm down our sensitive dog, we were able to get on with the normal evening things – like watching TV (which didn’t have to be on full blast to drown out the noises). His sister was also able to sleep through the bangs without worrying about her brother.
We continued the routine through the November 5th firework season with the same result – a much calmer Sam.
It is not just fireworks that worry Mr Sam but also thunder – he is a bit of a wuss but we wouldn't change a thing about him. He is just a 'sensitive soul'. We’ve had quite a few storms this year. Sam was aware of the noise but this time came up to have his special ‘Dad Massage’ and immediately fell asleep. It seems he is remembering that fireworks and loud bangs should be associated with massage rather than fear and anxiety.
Hopefully if we start the routines now, by Halloween we’ll have two chilled dogs.
If you want to learn more about this form of complementary therapy, feel free to contact me from my website @ achypaw.com or via our Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/achypaw). I can happily organise tailored training sessions to teach you how to massage your own dog. It certainly can’t do any harm and may help you and your dog.
Appendix :
Handlin L. et al (2011) ‘Short-Term Interaction between Dogs and Their Owners: Effects on Oxytocin, Cortisol, Insulin and Heart Rate - An Exploratory Study’. Anthrozoos: A Multidisciplinary Journal of The Interactions of People & Animals. Vol 24, No. 3, pp. 301-315
Hennessey M.B. et al (1998) ‘Influence of male and female petters on plasma cortisol and behaviour: can human interaction reduce the stress of dogs in a public animal shelter?’. Applied Animal Behaviour Science Vol 61, pp 63-77
Kaye et al. (2008) ‘The effect of deep-tissue massage therapy on blood pressure and heart rate’ J Altern Complement Med. Mar;14(2) pp 125-8.
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