Canine Massage & Acupressure

Canine Massage

Dogs, just like humans, get muscle tension, tightness and sprains that can lead to pain, headaches and decreased mobility. Dogs don’t complain or ask for a Tylenol. Instead they compensate by using other muscle groups. Often we don’t notice the sometimes subtle changes in movement, and/or behavior, caused by hidden muscle problems. Trauma and emotional stress also affects your dog, causing its body to tense up. In time the decreased blood flow through the muscles can lead to a less effective immune system and make the dog more prone to infections. Massage increases the circulation and helps the body to get rid of toxins and boosts the immune system.

Many older dogs suffer from arthritis, stiff joints and cramping. They quite often have a hard time getting around and as a result of that, the muscles grow weak. Massage increases their mobility by reducing stiffness and lets the dog move about more easily. It improves the tone of the muscles and can replace some of the exercise that the dog isn’t getting otherwise. Dogs with heart or kidney problems benefit from massages, also. The increased circulation brings nutrients to the extremities and releases endorphins, the body’s own “feel good” drug. The increased circulation helps the body get rid of toxins that easily build up in the tissue. Massage therapy is a wonderful and very effective supplement to the course of care that you and our vets decide on.

Acupressure Therapy

The foundation of Eastern Medicine is based on the balance between mind, body and spirit. All three come together as one and an imbalance in one part of the equation will create problems in the other two. The key is to deal with the cause of the issue and not only taking care of the symptoms. According to Eastern Medicine we all, humans and animals alike, have a system of 12 meridians, or energy highways, running through our bodies. When our bodies are balanced the flow of energy (chi) moves freely within these meridians.

About Christina Hardinger

Christina Hardinger is the owner of Skillful Paws LLC and a Certified Canine Massage Practitioner and Large & Small Animal Acupressure Therapist from the Rocky Mountain School of Animal Acupressure and Massage and has worked with more than 200 dogs over the past couple of years. Christina comes to us from Denmark where she was a licensed massage therapist for humans having years of experience in the field of sports injuries, therapeutic and deep tissue massage. When not working with horses and dogs, she enjoys photography, staying fit, anything outdoors, and volunteers her services with several dog rescues in Austin. One of her future projects is to add a Harley Sportster to the list of fun. Christina lives in NW Austin with her son, two chocolate Labs named Happy and Shiner, and Shaymin the hedgehog.

Member of IAAMB – the International Association of Animal Body Workers.

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