Clinical Canine Massage: What’s my vet got to do with it?
Great question! I thoroughly enjoy chatting with potential clients as to why we have to involve their dog’s vet; it really reiterates just how beneficial Clinical Canine Massage can be and where we sit within the veterinary medical profession.
Canine Massage Therapy
First of all a quick round up on what a canine massage therapist, who has registered with the Canine Massage Guild, can do for your dog. A Guild registered therapist has been trained for two years in canine anatomy, gait analysis, clinical skills, palpation techniques, four types of massage techniques (including in-depth assessment and treatment known as the Lenton Method) and laws surrounding dogs and therapy. With all this under their belt they are able to assist to rehabilitate soft tissue injuries, which may present as limping or lameness, and can help ease some orthopaedic issues, such as luxating patella and arthritis.
In veterinary terms this makes a Guild registered canine massage therapist a paraprofessional, alongside hydrotherapists, osteopaths, chiropractors, farriers e.t.c., and as such we need to work within the laws of the veterinary world.
Animal Welfare
Your dog’s vet has studied for at least five years and has probably completed many further years in practice. They have to be a member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) and have sworn an oath saying that they will work to ensure that the animal in their care does not suffer in any way by providing necessary treatment and pain relief.
As a canine massage therapist we work within the Veterinary Act 1966 and Veterinary Exemption Order 2015. This states that only registered RCVS vets are legally allowed to practise veterinary surgery, with the only exception being for emergency first aid to get the animal to the vet. The Exemption Order (and this is the important one here) states that massage can only be undertaken if a registered vet has given permission for the therapy to happen.
So really what has the vet got to do with it? Well, welfare of your dog is paramount. The laws in the UK, and we have some of the best animal welfare laws in the world, state that as your dog cannot sign a consent form your dog’s vet is the only one who can. This can be difficult to understand as you are your dog’s owner; your dog is part of your family. However, to keep ALL animals safe, from llamas to gerbils, the legal stuff has been passed to veterinary surgeons, which includes signing forms for medical treatment for your family dog.
Vet Consent
For a canine massage therapist getting your vet to sign a form is actually a bit of a blessing! We can ask for more medical information about the issue, we can find out what drugs your dog is on, we can piece together if other diagnosed problems are actually the cause. The vet will also let us know if there are any contraindications as to why massage may not be the best therapy for your dog. A contraindication is a specific reason to withhold treatment due to the harm it might cause your dog. You, as the owner, may not realise that not letting the therapist know that your dog has an unstable heart condition could do more harm than good. Your vet should be aware of any issues and will work with the canine massage therapist in the best interests of your dog.
When you make first contact with a Guild registered canine massage therapist they will talk with you about what issues you may be seeing in your dog. They will then give you a Veterinary Consent Form, which you will need to get your vet to sign. It is at this point that you may realise that canine massage therapy is not a ‘spa day’ but an actual treatment! The Consent Form will allow the canine massage therapist to start treating your dog; without your vet’s signature the therapist cannot treat. This document may also ask if there is anything else that the canine massage therapist should know, any contraindications. If your dog hasn’t been seen by the vet in a while your vet may ask you to bring your dog to the surgery for a consultation; just to make sure that your dog is as healthy as he or she was when they last visited as it is always good to get a check up every now and again!
As in human medicine, veterinary medicine is constantly changing; every day is unique bringing unexpected situations in your vet’s life! Clinical Canine Massage is a growing therapy, which is currently undergoing clinical trials, and as such your vet may not be aware of this potential aid to rehabilitation. Your canine massage therapist will be happy to chat with your vet to make sure that massage therapy is right for your dog.
A Guild registered canine massage therapist will undertake an initial course of three session over three weeks, which should show positive results in your dog. It takes this amount of time for muscles and fascia to ‘let down’ or yield allowing the therapist to move further into soft tissue to detect, and treat, the underlying cause. After these three sessions the therapist will produce a Veterinary Report, which will feed back to your vet all the information about what happened in the sessions; what was found, how your dog reacted to massage and how your dog is now. This Report will then go on your dog’s medical record.
What’s love (or your vet) got to do with it?
The immortal Tina Turner starts her hit song with the line ‘You must understand through the touch of your hand…’, which is very apt for any discussion regarding canine massage!
But seriously, what has my vet got to do with it? When it comes to canine massage therapy the answer is - a lot! Like you, your vet and your canine massage therapist want your best friend to get the treatment required in a way that keeps your dog safe and well. We all want your dog to continue to have their best day ever. Clinical Canine Massage Therapy - results you can see and your dog can feel.