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Contraindication for Animal Massage

As massage therapists we learn contraindication and indications for massage before we learn massage techniques. Can we come up with a thorough list of contraindications both general and local? How can we organize the list of contraindications? By animal type? Pathological conditions? Modalities or All of the above? Would you review and add to this beginning list and add your own knowledge bases please so we can protect the animals from our unintentional ignorance?

Attachments:

Contraindicationstoanimalmassage.pdf, 29 KB
ZoonosesInfectiousDiseasesDogCat.pdf, 30 KB
IntakeQuestionnaireColorAnimal.pdf, 375 KB

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Martha C. Long on August 2, 2009 at 4:01pm

Looks to me like your covered all the basis. It is best to first check with the vet before performing massage on any animal, just like a human. If there are contraindications that need to be addressed then massage is not an option.
I am a CMT and a licensed Physical therapist assistant. The rule of thumb is basically what your list says, but to always check with the vet/doctor first.
I was confused about the broken bones..as I believe it is a contraindication not to massage a bone that is broken...and in humans it's 6-8 weeks to heal the upper extremities and 8-10 for the lower...not sure about an animal as they are on all 4's most of the time.
I like your intake form, very professional and complete.
Thanks again for all your input.
As for Doser, we sent her back to her owner, a little lighter and able to walk a little better..but advising them to take her to the doc to see if there is something amiss in the lower limbs

Permalink Reply by Marilyn St.John on September 13, 2009 at 8:40am

These references seem to me to cover it. The only area that could become murky is with zoonoses as relates to massage, since the Merck Manual doesn't really cover the very important aspect of HOW a disease is transmitted. For example, one item on the feline section of the list stated that toxoplasmosis is spread by sand fleas, but that's only how a feline may be exposed: We humans, however, are exposed by contact exposure to the feline feces; similarly, rabies is spread by saliva. The list is complete but for a couple little things left out (like exposure to parasites besides giardia, which I know first-hand), so I think it's necessary to also include very clear routes of transmission for any disease listed so we can hold it in our awareness as we focus on massage.

Permalink Reply by Megan Ayrault on November 23, 2010 at 6:37pm

Hi Nickie,
I was just looking through your attached documents again, with the thought of sharing info with my non-professional on-line audience. I have much simplified info for them now in my books and e-book, but am thinking of offering them more. I might want to adapt a few things before sharing though, mainly to make more clear the difference between a contraindication and a precaution. For example, I want to be sure not to scare people away from offering their senior dogs massage, or dogs with cancer. (I need to look up more info on this, I seem to hear contradictory info about how cautious to be with cancer.) Though I would still keep the recommendation to check with their vet first!
My thought at the moment (see how soon I get to it!), is to take your work here and modify it slightly for my own purposes, and then run it by you. If you find it still something you feel comfortable putting your name to, I would love to pass it along, citing you as the initial source, and with a link to your site (whatever link you'd prefer).
Does that sound OK to you?