Animal Massage Guide » dog

New Additions To School Lists

cattie — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 00:04:24 +0000

I have added quite a few more schools, workshops and classes to the animal massage school lists. This is a short synopsis of the additions – more information is on the list for each country.

I have also updated the visiting classes and workshops for 2011 on each list, however, not all practitioners have finalized their schedules for next year yet, so keep checking back.

Additions to the US school list

Ordered by state

Canine Rehabilitation Institute, Wellington, FL
Northwest School of Animal Massage, Lihue, HI
Heart To Heart Communications, Sherborn, MA
University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV), Las Vegas, NV
The Integrated Animal, Newberg, OR
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
Tonglen Healing Arts for Animals, Issaquah, WA
Mary Getter, Olympia, WA
Blue Sky Education Foundation, Fredonia, WI

Go to the US school list

Canada

Visiting Classes & Workshops

Jin Shin Jyutsu for Animals – 2011 classes in Toronto and Calgary

Go to the Canadian school list

Emma Overend, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire
Emotional Health, Ltd, Ilkley, West Yorkshire
Greyfriars Rehabilitation and Hydrotherapy Centre, Guildford, Surrey
Ingraham Academy of Zoopharmacognosy, Clifton, Bristol
Kate Prowse, Roxwell, Essex
Learning Equine Touch, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire
Shiatsu for Horses, Bucknell, Shropshire

Visiting Classes & Workshops

Canine Rehabilitation Institute, Wellington, FL – Canine Rehabilitation Therapist certification program for Veterinary Surgeons and Physiotherapists at the University of Glasgow, Scotland (starting in 2011)

Go to the UK school list

Europe

AUSTRIA

Animal Massage & Movement Education, Linz
Dieter Pouzar, Wiener Neudorf
Doris Pirker, Bischofshofen
Institut für Tiermassage / Institute of Animal Massage, Altenmarkt
Gesundheitsakademie Wien, Vienna
Schule für Tier-Verständnis / School of Animal Understanding, Vienna
Yasmine Dörflinger, Altenmarkt

DENMARK

Hippo-Logic Training, Viborg

FRANCE

Animal Physiotherapy Centre, Paris
Chien Zen, Paris
L’association Française de Physiothérapie et d’Hydrothérapie Canine (AFPHC), Paris

GERMANY

AIM – Aloha-Institut Munich, Munich
Anja Trude, Braunschweig
GAIT, Dusseldorf
Maria Hubert, Feldkirchen-Westerham
Naturheilkunde für Tiere, Berlin-Charlottenburg
QiAcademy, Gangelt
Sonja Harbich, Mühlacker

ITALY

L’Accademia Internazionale per lo studio della Comunicazione con il Cane, Bracciano

THE NETHERLANDS

Academy of Natural Healing, Meppel
Arna Janssen, Dorst, Noord-Brabant
College of Veterinary Homeopathy Netherlands (VHCN), Lochem
MOMODOGS Hydrotherapy, Aalten
School voor Homeopathie, Amersfoort
Silverlinde , Breda
Stichting Educatie Holistische Diergeneeskunde (STEHD), De Bilt
Woef-chi, Toldijk

NORWAY

AquaDog, Sanvika
AquaDog Bergen AS, Fyllingsdalen
Nordisk Hundemassasje Skole AS, Nes på Hedmark
Sigrasentert, Horten

SPAIN

Animales del Sol, Malaga

SWEDEN

Hästpedagogen Sverige, Skurup

SWITZERLAND

Animal Medical Center, Uzwil
Homöopathie Verband Schweiz, Zeihen
Massage und Akupressur für Pferde, Antoni
Samuel Hahnemann School GmbH, Aarau
SHI Homöopathie Schule, Zug

Visiting Classes & Workshops

Camelidynamics, USA – TTEAM for camelids
The Integrated Animal, USA – Animal communication and TTouch workshops
Lisa Leicht, Switzerland – TTouch for dogs and companion animals in Switzerland and France

Go to the European school list

Australia

Animal Equilibrium, Bringelly (Sydney), NSW
Animal Talk, Lane Cove, NSW
Equine Angel, Bargo, NSW
Stillness Institute, Lisarow NSW
Animal Physiotherapy Solutions, Wellers Hill, QLD
Natural Animal Care, Brisbane, QLD
School of Equus, Yarra Glen, Victoria
Smart Bowen Therapy International College, Lancefield, Victoria

Go to the Australian school list

New Zealand

Naturopathic College of New Zealand Ltd, New Plymouth

Go to the New Zealand school list

South Africa

Visiting Classes & Workshops

Animal Talk – Animal communication workshops

Go to the South African school list

Additions & Updates To The School Lists I’ve been doing a little bit of holiday cleaning here...
Even More Additions To School Lists And Events I’ve just added even more schools to some of the...
More Additions To Massage School Lists & New Feature I have recently added a whole bunch of new schools...

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Canine Hydrotherapy

cattie — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 13:23:11 +0000

Today’s featured alternative health modality is canine hydrotherapy (a.k.a. canine water therapy). Different forms of hydrotherapy for humans have been around for thousands of years – ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans all used it to improve their health, spirits and general well-being.

Equine hydrotherapy, in particular using cold sea water on leg injuries, has been practiced for centuries, then it was picked up by the greyhound racing community, and now, hydrotherapy for all kinds of dogs (working, show, pets, etc.) is becoming more and more popular.

What Is Canine Hydrotherapy?

Canine Hydrotherapy is swimming, or using an underwater treadmill, for dogs, often combined with other therapies such as massage, stretching and balance exercises. Some pools have jets to provide different levels of resistance, and the therapist can adjust the strength of the jets to fit each dog. Dog owners are usually not allowed to get in the pool, but the therapist will be there with your dog (who may or may not wear a life vest) and assist while he/she swims.

How Does Swimming Help?
The buoyancy of the water allows the patient to move freely and use his/her full range of motion without putting stress on joints and bones. This, combined with the resistance of the water, helps restore mobility and build muscle mass in dogs who have undergone surgery, been injured, are disabled, or are suffering from arthritis and other age related mobility issues.

The pressure of the water also increases lymphatic drainage and can help reduce pain, swelling and inflammation.

Other conditions that benefit from hydrotherapy include:

Hip and Elbow Dysplasia
Degenerative Myelopathy
Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD)
Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD)
Neurological problems and spinal injuries
Circulatory problems
Pre-op
Obesity

And just as for us humans, swimming is a relaxing way for your dog to get some exercise and have fun in a warm, soothing environment.

To find a practitioner in the US, visit The Association of Canine Water Therapy’s website. In the UK, check out the Canine Hydrotherapy Association.

Meet Terri Steely

Terri Steely is the founder and owner of Paddling Paws in Summerville, South Carolina. Terri, a registered nurse, became interested in canine hydrotherapy when her 16-week old pug Molly became lame. She knew how beneficial swimming in warm water was for humans and decided to give it a try with Molly.

After seeing the success she had with Molly, Terri started dreaming about opening her own canine hydrotherapy facility. She began studying human aquatic therapy, canine behavior, canine massage and canine water therapy, and in February of 2007 she opened the doors to Paddling Paws.

Today’s case study features Sophie, a Weimaraner with Degenerative Myelopathy (DM). Thanks to a combination of several alternative therapies (including hydrotherapy), she has not only survived way past the 6 months dogs diagnosed with DM are projected to live, but has maintained a wonderful quality of life. This is a great example of how important it is to never give up and keep looking for different solutions when faced with a devastating diagnosis by your vet.

Sophie’s Story
as told by her owner

Sophie is a 14 1/2 year old Weimaraner. She has been a part of our family since she was 4 weeks old. During her first 13 or so years she had regular vet checkups and had no unusual health problems – except normal breed behavior doing such things as eating half a roll of tissue or eating a full bottle of vitamins (and then receiving a half cup of hydrogen peroxide to purge the pills).

In January 2008 at a wellness check up at our vet, we were told that Sophie had Degenerative Myelopathy (DM), a degenerative nerve disease described to us as similar to MS in people. Five months later her back legs gave out and her hind quarters had to be held up with a towel or lift to walk. She was put on Prednisone for a short quick fix. Dogs usually have a life expectancy of 6 months with DM. We didn’t settle for the prognosis.

We did research on the DM website and found that Dr. R. M. Clemmons, a veterinary neurological researcher at University of Florida had done studies on DM dogs and had identified several meds to give dogs with DM to stall or delay neurological deterioration. We asked our vet about this course of treatment. He said the research was not accepted by many conventional vets (limited to no control studies) but it was worth a try. Through our vet we were able to order Dr. Clemmons meds by Rx through Westlab Pharmacy, an online compounding pharmacy in Florida. The meds Sophie was given included Acetylcysteine, Aminocaproic acid, and Antiox-Q. (We later changed from Antiox-Q to Basic Nutrients by Thorne.)

Sophie’s legs were weak from the DM and she had difficulty walking. We read that swimming is a stress free exercise to build up the leg muscles. She had never swum before. After some research we found Paddling Paws in Summerville, S.C., owned by Terri Steely, now Sophie’s swim instructor and good friend. We gave the water therapy a try and were amazed by the results. We now travel three hours two times a week for swimming and it has made a big difference in her strength, walking, muscle mass, and coordination, and she loves it. She would not be walking today without it.

At the time we started the water therapy we tried acupuncture, having found evidence in our research that this could stimulate nerve health. After more research we found Dr. Holley Cone of Bees Ferry Vet Hospital in Charleston, S.C. Dr. Cone does acupuncture, acupressure massage, supplements, and herbs. Our experience has been that acupuncture has increased the impact of water therapy and the collective increased energy level and mobility gained. It is not unusual now for Sophie to trot around the back yard, jump on the couch, and at times act like a one year old puppy running through the house like a rabbit – a characteristic of the breed any owner would recognize.

Shortly after starting the meds, acupuncture, and water therapy, Sophie bloated and had to have emergency surgery. Sophie has benefited from having excellent conventional vet care complimented with awesome holistic vet care, the combined coordinated impact is greater than the sum of the individual parts. She has bloated twice since the first time but the vets were able to decompress her without surgery since her stomach was attached during the first bloat surgery. During recovery from bloat her meds are changed to heal her stomach and gastrointestinal system. Dogs with DM appear to be prone to bloat.

Sophie had her tail amputated because of a cancerous growth and she was later bitten by a Copperhead snake. She has been able to endure and recover from each of these life episodes we believe because of the contribution of episode treatment, and accumulative benefit of meds, acupuncture, and water therapy – coupled with a healthy diet with no junk food.

Sophie has bouts of colitis every few months which we are told is not uncommon in older dogs with her history, and we treat with Metronidazole and Pro Pectalin. If we catch it early enough we start on Sulfasalazine to treat the inflammation.

Sophie also has arthritis of the spine and neck – issues that affect her legs. She takes Trixsyn, a diet supplement, and Adequan injections for joint health. She is fed Mila (chia seed mix) as a pure (no mercury) source of omega 3 for her joints.

Sophie is walking better today than she was two years ago. She takes short walks almost every day along with her swimming. We’re convinced that had we not started the combined treatment of water therapy, holistic vet care with acupuncture, and diet management with supplements, Sophie would have lived no longer than the original projected 6 months and her health and quality of life would have been terrible. Instead, Sophie has experienced two quality years of life and we have had two years (going on three) of enjoyment and companionship knowing we have been responsible caretakers.

What’s important to us is that she is happy, her health and physical function very good, and her overall quality of life is unbelievable – as she remains a very special best friend and companion.

This is a list of some of the meds and supplements that she is taking:
Acetylcysteine
Mila (chia)
Aminocaproic acid
Hemp seed
Basic Nutrients by Thorne (instead of Antiox-Q )
Chinese herbs as needed
Gastriplex by Thorne
Gas X when needed
Probiotic from Mercola
Milk Thistle
Glucosamine, Chondrointin, MSM
Karbo Essentials
Armour (natural thyroid)
Banana flakes for diarrhea
Gabapentin
Proin (PPA)
Trixsyn
Adequan injections every 2 weeks
Cranberry 475 mg

Slippery elm, L -Glutamen, marshmallow root and bentonite clay to heal and rid toxins after colitis

Animal Massage Guide Guest Post Series: Good Dog Aquatic Fitness Today’s guest post comes from Luis and Mary Carillo, owners...

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TTouch – Light Bodywork With Amazing Results

cattie — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 13:17:11 +0000

Today’s spotlight is on TTouch, a type of bodywork that helps animals with all kinds of problems, both physical and psychological.

I took a weekend workshop in TTouch for dogs at Bancroft School of Massage a few years ago (with Leea, who is our featured practitioner today), and I was really amazed at the effect it had on all the animals in the class.

I had just gotten my dog the week before, and we had had a bit of a rough first week with housetraining (even though she was 6 years old) and getting to know each other, but we really bonded during this class. I will never forget how, at the end of the second day, as Leea was wrapping things up and we were all sitting on the floor, Sadie (my dog) came over to me, stared at me for a while (she’s a Scottie), then made a little content grunt, climbed up into my lap, curled up and went to sleep. I had been accepted as her new pack member!

While I was still working as an animal massage therapist, I used these techniques many times on fearful dogs that did not want me to do a “proper” massage, and it calmed them down immediately. I heard more than once from owners “oh wow, he/she usually never lets a stranger get that close.” TTouch definitely works.

What Is TTouch?
by Leea Foran

Tellington TTouch consists of light, non-invasive bodywork – circular, sliding and lifting strokes – guided movement exercises, and unique tools including the bodywrap and the Confidence Course. TTouch is a positive approach to training that affects the body’s nervous system, resulting in increased awareness and range of motion, tension and pain reduction, and a repatterning of habitual ways of holding the body – all of which can have a profound effect on behavior and wellness.

TTouch exercises improve an animal’s confidence, balance and focus, relieve stress and fear, and allow an animal to think before reacting, thus breaking the cycle of repetitive behavior patterns. TTouch is an effective way for pet owners and professionals to quickly build trust and deepen their relationship with their companions while solving challenging or frustrating problems.

Developed more than 30 years ago by internationally renowned equestrian trainer, Linda Tellington-Jones, Ph.D. (Hon), TTouch has been actively utilized in all areas of animal training, shelter and zoo enrichment programs, sports activities and health care. The TTouch method builds cooperation and respect between the animal and handler and the results have been shown effective for:

Puppies and kittens who are very mouthy, lack focus or don’t like to
be handled or groomed

Adolescent dogs who are over stimulated, rambunctious and hard
to control on leash

Aggression issues in dogs, cats and birds

Separation anxiety, noise sensitivity, shyness and other fears
and phobias

Motion sickness

Excessive barking

Service, show or athletic animals who underperform due to
nervousness or lack of confidence

Animals who are recovering from injury or illness

Issues related to aging… and much more.

Workshops and private consultations led by Certified Practitioners are available world-wide for anyone wishing to learn the basic TTouch methodology. Certification training programs are offered annually to become a Certified Tellington TTouch Practitioner. There are branches of the Tellington TTouch work for horses, companion animals and humans.

Meet Leea Foran

Today’s featured practitioner is Leea Foran, Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT), Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC), Certified Tellington TTouch Practitioner, Reiki Practitioner, a Canine Good Citizen Evaluator with the American Kennel Club, and an American Red Cross Pet First Aid Instructor.

Leea is the founder and owner of Foranimals in Lenox, MA, where she practices Reiki and TTouch and holds group and private classes in behavior, obedience, agility, pet first aid and TTouch. She also offers TTouch classes in other locations; upcoming events include May 2 at Bancroft in Worcester, MA and June 6 at the Monadnock Humane Society in West Swanzey, NH (for more, see the Events & Workshops listings and Leea’s website).

I asked Leea what it was that drew her to her chosen career, and she said:

“I always intended to work with animals. As a child I found and mended stray animals routinely and I went to the Bronx Zoo every week and dreamed about becoming a zoo veterinarian. I got my BS in Zoology/Animal Behavior and was planning to attend vet school when life took me in an altogether different direction and I spent the next 20 years as a resident staff-founding member of Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health.

Although there were no pets at Kripalu, I was never without a cat, dog, bird or some wild creature. My years at Kripalu taught me patience, compassion, a holistic view of life, and skillfulness in working with people, very necessary components for supporting animal guardians in their process with their dogs and cats.

After leaving Kripalu I headed straight back to my childhood passion and finding the Tellington TTouch Method was my first step. From this platform my training, consulting and assisting people and their companion animals has grown. And although I never became a veterinarian as I originally envisioned, I am quite content with the work I have created.”

TTouch Case Study – Helping A Dog With Separation Anxiety
by Leea Foran

In the 14 years I have been using the Tellington TTouch in my work with dogs and cats, I never cease to marvel at what a profound impact it can have on changing, and in some cases saving lives.

Several years ago I got a call from Bob about his 5 year old Beagle mix, Max. Bob was at his wits end trying to help Max overcome his separation anxiety and fears of loud noises and car travel. Max’s anxiety at home was getting worse – house soiling; tearing up carpets, doors, clothing; pacing and heavy panting – very distressed much of the time, especially when Bob had to be out of the house or when he had to take Max somewhere. Bob was not exaggerating. On my first home visit, I quickly saw the damage and the distress – shredded carpets, woodwork and cabinets gouged out from hours of clawing and chewing, and a man and dog who clearly loved each other but had a problem bigger than they could resolve.

Bob found me thanks to his veterinarian. He had already tried months of drug therapy with no improvement, so sadly he had taken Max in to be euthanized, believing this to be the kindest solution he had to offer the suffering dog. His doctor knew me and was familiar with TTouch and recommended Bob call to see if anything I did might improve the dog’s condition.

Over the next 3 months I met with Bob and Max every 2 weeks in their home. In the first session I introduced them to the Bodywrap – a great TTouch tool that helps reduce anxiety and stress -along with several circular and sliding strokes. We also discussed the importance of reducing Bob’s anxiety as he anticipated leaving the house. (He actually did a little TTouch on himself each morning after working on Max.) Combining the TTouch with some behavior modification exercises, Max showed improvement in the first 2 weeks.

Bob had unsuccessfully done the same behavior modification exercises alone or in combination with drug therapy before meeting me, but now with the addition of the daily TTouch grounding/balancing exercises, bodywraps and bodywork, the process was working. By our fifth session Max was relaxed and calm when Bob left the house and there was no more destruction or house soiling. When there was an occasional resurfacing of the old behavior, Bob could easily pin point what change had triggered the behavior and make adjustments.

Although we had not directly worked with Max’s other issues, Bob reported that he had used the bodywrap in the car and Max barked and panted much less when wearing it and he was less fearful of strangers they passed on their walks.

Does TTouch “cure” separation anxiety? No, but in this case I believe the work allowed Max and Bob to relax and rebalance enough for a shift in thinking and learning to happen and new choices to be made, free of the chronic fear and behavior patterns. Max got a second chance and lived happily with Bob for the remaining 4 years of his life.

Read my review of Getting In TTouch With Your Dog.

Getting In TTouch With Your Dog – Book Reivew Getting in TTouch with Your Dog: An Easy, Gentle...

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