I received a phone call one morning from a woman with an aging Dachshund, referred to me by a local veterinarian. The dog had spent a week at that vet’s office, and had undergone numerous x-rays and tests, with nothing specific being found. There was arthritis in the spine, and some degeneration of the spine, but nothing to produce the symptoms he was exhibiting. He would begin walking and then simply collapse onto his side, unable to carry any weight on the rear, left leg. The vet felt that there was nothing more that he could do other than prescribe steroids. The owner wasn’t sure that she wanted her dogs on steroids, since it was treating the symptom and not the problem. After talking at length with her vet, he agreed that she might try an alternative therapy, and that massage therapy couldn’t hurt.

And so it was that I came to meet Ernie. Ernie is a ten year old, overweight, long-haired Dachshund. He was terrified when I first met him. His owner brought him in, wrapped in a towel, and laid him on my table. Within minutes of my first touching him, Ernie quit panting. His breath became slow and relaxed, and he let me check out his symptoms. I could feel the arthritic areas along his spine, as the muscles there were rigid and tight. His hindquarters were beginning to atrophy, with little muscle tone. His joints were a bit tender to the touch from years of carrying around excess body weight.

I slowly worked my way down his back, along the spine, and down to the hindquarters. I worked on Ernie for about 30 minutes, ensuring that I had massaged everywhere that was affected. I finished the session with some slow, easy stretches, and only took the range of motion as far as Ernie would comfortably let me.

His owner called me the next morning and said that her boy was now doing much better. He was actually walking some without collapsing. After two more sessions, Ernie now rarely collapses and is apparently on the road to recovery. As he ages and the degeneration of the spine increases, he will probably continue the pattern as the excess weight put much strain on his joints, but massage will help him remain comfortable for as long as possible.

As in my earlier articles, I would like to reiterate that canine massage does not take the place of conventional veterinarian care. However, it is a wonderful compliment to good veterinary care, as it promotes well-being and a strong bond between dog and human. In this particular situation, the dog had already been under a vet’s care, who felt that nothing further could be done unless the dog was kept on medicine for the rest of his life. He was willing to take a chance that something else might be done for this dog.

Canine massage is a non-invasive and completely natural way to help ease your dog’s discomfort. It helps release the body’s natural painkillers (endorphins) into the system, which in turn, help ease the pain. In Ernie’s situation, the painful, problematic areas of the hindquarters were due to spinal problems, which are quite common in Dachshunds. Canine massage therapy can be very beneficial for the skeletal system.

The major benefits of massage therapy on the skeletal system include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Increases flow of nutrients to bones.

2. Increases retention of phosphorous and nitrogen for increased bone strength.

3. Helps maintain posture and body balance.

Obviously, the skeletal system for the canine is a major area for problems. Some breeds, such as Great Danes, can experience problems with growing too quickly. Other breeds, such as the Dachshund, are known for spinal problems due to their conformation. With an older dog that has arthritis or bone problems, massage is very much indicated.

As in other body systems, the bones of the skeleton also need oxygen and blood, rich with red blood cells, in order to heal. Massage increases the flow of these nutrients to the bones. Additionally, with an older dog, bone density can decrease. Research has shown that regular massage helps increase the retention of both phosphorous and nitrogen by the bones, which in turn keeps the bones strong. And, massage to your dog helps maintain that correct posture and body balance, which helps with movement.

Massage can be of great benefit to all dog breeds, as it further aids in bringing the canine’s body back to that homeostasis, or balance, which is required for optimum health. As you can see, canine massage is beneficial to any dog, whether it has arthritis due to age, bone problems due to growing too quickly, or pain due to injury.

The next article on canine massage will discuss the circulatory system.

Note From The Editor:
Pullen is licensed in Arkansas as a Master Massage Therapist, is Nationally Certified in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, and is a member of the American Massage Therapy Association. She has a part-time massage practice for humans and canines, and also offers seminars on "How to Massage Your Dog."