What to expect at your consultation?
Before you attend for your dog’s first Clinical Canine Massage treatment, you will be asked to obtain Veterinary consent from your vet. We work strictly in accordance with the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 and the Exemption Order 2015 and this prior consent is a legal requirement. A form will be supplied for this purpose. A written report will be sent to your vet after the 3 treatments confirming any findings, treatments, and update the vet on your dog’s improvements.
Your dog’s initial consultation will last approx. 1½ hours and will consist of :
- Questions about your dog’s medical history, activities of daily living, diet, supplements (if any), your main area of concern and any other relevant information. Also included in this will be confirmation that your dog has no condition that is contraindicated to massage (where massage would be unwise)
- Your dog will be asked to be moved at different paces to enable a full gait analysis to be done. A postural (static) analysis will also be carried out.
- This will be followed by a full palpation analysis which helps to identify areas of tenderness, injury, the tonicity of the muscle, its temperature and also its state.
- The treatment consists of a blend of 3 types of deep tissue massage, plus warming and soothing Swedish massage techniques which assist blood circulation and venous return. An important part of the treatment is the Lenton Method®, a scientific and clinically proven set of techniques that achieve amazing results in a very short time scale.
- The treatment itself will last 40 – 50 minutes depending on the size of the dog.
- The ‘Herxheimer Reaction’ or Healing Crisis will be explained to you so that you are aware of the initial stages of recovery post massage. Also, you will be provided with an individualised maintenance sheet, which may include exercises, light massage techniques, stretches and a list of Do’s and Don’ts!!
- Depending on what is found, you are likely to be asked to be seen a maximum of 3 times initially, although some dogs may only need one appointment if it is for maintenance or an ‘MOT’. Each dog is individual and your dog will be individually assessed to ensure the best possible treatment, route and outcome for them.
- We work to ‘Best Practice’, so if any area of concern is found with your dog that massage is unsuitable for, you will be immediately referred back to your vet, or another modality of therapy may be recommended, as appropriate.
- You can rest assured that the welfare, benefit, health and best practice for your dog is always paramount in its treatment.