The Physiological Benefits of Massage for your Dog or Cat

Massage benefits all systems of the body. It helps improve circulation, eliminate toxins and provide emotional calmness. It is a good thing to do to support the overall health and well-being of your dog or cat. Professional massage is “touch with intent” using a specific protocol of techniques, pressures, and joint movements which involves manipulating and stretching all the body’s soft tissues. Massage has the ability to facilitate healing within our pets.

The following is an overview of the impact of massage by each system of the body of your pet.

Circulatory System: Massage encourages development of stronger cardiac muscle, improves oxygen supply to the brain, and can decrease blood pressure.

Digestive System: Massage relaxes the intestinal muscles, improves blood flow to the digestive tract, stimulates liver and kidney function, and can improve appetite.

Muscular System: Massage relaxes or stimulates muscles to relieve soreness, tension, stiffness and weakness. It mobilizes the soft tissues, and improves joint flexibility.

Nervous System: Massage can help relieve pain, stimulate motor nerves, relieve restlessness and sleep disturbances, and improve proprioception (awareness of the movement of the body).

Respiratory System: Massage can improve respiration.

Lymphatic System: Massage can drain stagnant lymph nodes, and stimulate movement of the lymphatic fluid.

Integumentary System (Skin): Massage improves tone and elasticity of skin, stimulates follicular oils and sebaceous glands which improves the quality of the coat, and removes dead skin and loose hair.

Skeletal System: Massage can improve alignment of skeletal muscles without force, and is wonderful done in conjunction with chiropractic care.

And in all the systems, it helps to remove toxins which helps the body to stay healthy and functioning at the highest level. If massage can do all this, why not invest in a monthly maintenance massage for your pet. Paws and Relax Pet Massage offers complimentary assessments before developing a massage plan, so connect with us today at pawsandrelaxpm@gmail.com.