Clinical Canine Massage Therapy - Seeing is Believing
When I was training to become a Clinical Canine Massage Therapist we were required to complete 10 case studies to ensure that we were competently prepared to go out and treat paying client's dogs. This, however, wasn't the whole story - we did of course develop our skills by treating our own dogs throughout the course. By treating my dog, Star, I was able to see first-hand just how this therapy can change dogs' lives. I found myself in the relatively rare poistion of being able to experience the process as an Owner and a Therapist at the same time. I was able to venture out in to the 'case study' world, and later into the world as a fully trained Therapist, with an authentic belief in myself and the Therapy.
A Star is Born
At the time Star was my 12 year Border Collie who had captured my heart. She had lived with my older fear aggressive dog for all of those 12 years and had also helped welcome 2 crazy puppies into the household.
Star was often described as the 'fun police' as she wouldn't play with the puppies and took life really quite seriously. She was the dog that would stay with me when I was poorly and despite her constant growling / grumbling she would never dream of biting. Star was an agility dog up until the age of 9 when she retired as I felt that she was slowing down and not showing her usual passion for it.
During the Easter of 2019, 6 months after she had retired from agility, Star came in from the garden hopping on 3 legs. She was completely non-weight bearing on her Right Hind and yet there was no obvious reason why - there was no yelp, the dogs were not running around - yet Star was obviously seriously injured. After a trip to the vets the injury was treated with a short course of NSAIDs and restricted exercise, but unfortunately it did not get significantly better. X-rays and further palpation by the Veterinary Surgeon helped diagnose a Sprain, but not rupture, of Star's right Cranial Cruciate Ligament.
I was advised that if the Ligament was to rupture, Star would need surgery, however the Vet and I took the collaborative decision to treat the presenting injury with physiotherapy and hydrotherapy to see if the condition could be managed without surgery.
2 years on Star was living what I considered a lovely, relaxed retirement. She would have her 'stiff' days, but Hydrotherapy was making a huge difference for a few days afterwards. Star was enjoying going for 'OAP walks' with my other older dog and generally living a life of leisure.
Exit Emma the Owner and enter Emma the Therapist! I started to realise that I was selling Star short and that the techniques that I was learning could help with her pain management and mobility. I started to understand the effects that overcompensation was having on Star's other Muscles and Joints.
Seeing Stars
My initial assessement of Star, made through questioning myself as I would an Owner, hands on palpation, as well as posture and gait analysis, helped me note the following,
Star's lameness on her Right Hind would range from very slight to easily noticeable.
She would bear more weight through her Left Hind when standing, often with her Right Hind further forward and held out Laterally.
When sitting and laying down Star would often rest on her Left Hip, allowing her Right Leg to straighten as the Stifle Joint.
Star had Bilateral strains to her Longissimus Muscle in the Lumber area with associated Hypertonicity in the Muscles associated with the Hip and Stifle Joints.
Star would often ask to have her lower back scratched, which would result in her tapping her Left Hind Leg on the floor.
As an owner I had also noticed that she would find it uncomfortable when I lifted her up into the higher van crates, specifically when putting my hands on her Coccygeal and Hamstrings area.
The Star Treatment
I had previously attempted to treat Star after I had been on the Beginners Canine Massage Course, run by the Canine Massage Therapy Centre. Star, however, had other ideas and would not tolerate being treated, constantly moving away. Through my training on the Practitioner Course I can now understand that Star was experiencing too much discomfort from dysfunctional Fascia and sore Muscles to be able to appreciate the type of massage that I was performing, namely Feathering and other forms of Effleurage.
So now I cracked on with preparing the muscles through deeper techniques including petrissage, specifically kneading and compressions, as well as wringing. I was then able to treat Star's dysfunctional Fasica through applying the Direct Fasical Release Protocols that I had been trained in. This allowed my to directly release the bound Fascia, in particular around the Right Quadriceps and Hamstring Muscles that are directly associated with the Stifle Joint.
I was also able to treat the areas of Star's Musculoskeletal System that had been picking up the slack, mainly in the Left Hind, but also in the Neck and Shoulders.
Through this no-nonsence, let's get on with it approach, I was able to convince Star that I was no longer 'prodding and poking' as her owner, but that I was purposely treating her with knowledge, compassion and understanging, as a Therapist. Her trust in me became apparent when, even though she experience therapeutic discomfort, she allowed me to continue with her to rehabilitate her dysfunctional tissue.
Shining Bright
One of the key concepts of the Clinical Canine Massage Therapy is that if the therapy is going to work, it should be evident in 1 to 3 sessions. The changes in Star after just 1 session was undeniable.
I could see significant improvement in her pain levels with tangibile evidence,
She was less stiff with little to no signs of Right Hind Lameness
Her posture improved in all positions
Star was happier to be lifted into the van again
She had a happier demeanour, was more accepting of the younger dogs' behaviour and was more willing to go for walks.
Following the 2nd and 3rd treatment sessions, I started to witness further improvements. Star started to do things that I hadn't even realised she had stopped doing, for example being able to jump on the bed. Star would often hit the kitchen stair gate when I was preparing her dinner. This would always be with the Right Fore, but now she had started to do this with alternate Fore Legs, meaning that she was now happier to bear weight through her Right Hind when lifting her Left Fore. Although nice to see, we did try to discourage this behaviour!
Star was also able to do more at Hydrotherapy and as a result was getting more benefit from this therapy also. How loverly to be in a 'Virtuous Cycle' for a change. I soon considered her in the position where I would be happy to start introducing some structured Canine Conditioning exercises to further help her, by strengthing her Inner Core Unit.
Then some crazy things started to happen! My aloof, fun-police girl started to want to join in with the younger dogs at play time, instead of her usual telling them off. She felt comfortable cuddling up with my youngest girl on the sofa, something that she had NEVER done before with any of my other do dogs.
Not only that, but Star also started to make it clear that she was no longer content with going on the aforementioned 'OAP walks' and let her feelings be known that she did not appreciate being left behind. She then started to join in on the longer walks with the younger girls instead.
Star of the Future
But it didn't end there. Star went on to benefit from regular maintenance massage treatements, usually every 4 to 6 weeks. Through seeing such significant changes, I was able to observe when these signs were starting to deminish and so Star would start to benefit from a follow up treatment.
After witnessing first-hand the positive impact on a dog's quality life Clinical Canine Massage Therapy can provide, I became a sincere, genuine therapist who has the utmost faith in the treatement that I provide. I was also the owner of a very happy Star for another 3 years.
In loving memory of Star, my Soulmate.
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