Just like humans, dogs can experience intense stress and nervousness which can lead to chronic anxiety.

Some dogs can have a general anxious personality or perhaps it was a traumatic event that happened sometime in their life that caused their anxiety.

As with humans animals face stress everyday, and like us, those stresses affect them in lots of different ways.

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A dogs nervous system has only two possible modes: fight/flight and rest/relaxation.

These two states are constantly in flux and vary by degree.

In fight/flight mode the body automatically responds by raising the heart rate, raising blood pressure, increasing stress related hormones (cortisol), constricting blood vessels and inhibiting the immune system and other healing mechanisms. This occurs even when the body is experiencing only a low state of alarm or stress.

The good news is that during rest and relaxation these affects are all reversed.

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Psychological stressors such as anxiety in a dog will affect the dog physiologically ie: if a dog is stressed or fearful the response to that stressor will manifest itself in a physical way, such as tense muscles, elevated heart rate, inability to move and slowing down or shutting down of physiological processes.

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How can massage help?

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Canine Massage Therapy stimulates the release of hormones that act in opposition to the stress hormone Cortisol.

Dopamine, Serotonin and Endorphins contribute to calmness and pain relief for a more relaxed happy animal.

This is why l choose to be a mobile service so that l can massage your dog in the comfort of it's own home environment. Here l can help to reduce your dog's stress levels over time helping them to return to a more balanced emotional state.

Massage is touch with intent, which can bring comfort to the ill or weary, joy to the sad, and a feeling of safety to those who are fearful or anxious.

Trust and relationship building are some the most powerful outcomes of this therapy.

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