All About Animal Massage

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Comment by Beverly Adams on April 7, 2010 at 11:11am

Hi Nickie and Megan - thanks for your help. I'll know more when I actually see the dog and get hands-on. Right now the owner reports that the dog is doing well and is quite mobile. In fact, she may be getting too much exercise. No physical therapist in Missoula, but I do know that the dog has been working with one of the local vets on an underwater treadmill. We also have a caine hydrotherapist in town who has built an "endless pool" onto her house (indoors, warm water), but the vet has recommended no free swimming so as not to overstretch the psoas. The owner thinks the original injury resulted from a spraddle on the ice a few months ago. As I said, I'll know more after Saturday, and I'll report back then. Thanks again for your help.

Comment by Megan Ayrault on April 6, 2010 at 9:18pm

I'll offer an idea of one version of an MFR psoas release I've used some, and originally learned from PT Ruth Mitchell. Basically position your hands, one as high as possible on adductors and one over greater troch., so you're as close as you can get to having the hip joint centered between your palms. Feel for the ext/int rotation of the CST rhythm and just follow it. (If you're familar with CST, you can play around with inducing a still point and see what you get.)
Another approach would be some very slow linear friction (which I sometimes call "MFR-ish") from just below the greater troch diagonally up towards the point of haunch, following the line of the iliacus.
Let us know how things progress, or what you learn!

Comment by Beverly Adams on April 6, 2010 at 4:27pm

Hi all - this is a re-post of the email that I sent to the group. Please forgive the newbie for not being smarter than the message board! Thanks - Bev

Hello all. I am a new member - so glad to see this group going. I have an active canine massage practice in Missoula MT. This week I'll be seeing a new client whose six-year-old Labrador has been diagnosed (at WSU Vet School) with a bilateral iliopsoas tear/sprain. The dog has already undergone some rehab, and the owner now wants to add massage. This is my first experience with this injury - just wondering who else may have dealt with, and how. Thanks for the input - Bev Adams

Comment by Beverly Adams on April 6, 2010 at 1:43pm

Hi Megan. This dog, a Labrador who participated in retriever trials, came up a little lame, not wanting to use its hindlimbs to full effect, several months ago. After local veterinary care was unable to diagnose the problem, the dog was taken to Washington State University Vet School and put through a bevy of tests. There was no definitive diagnosis, and the owner was told that it was probably an early ACL injury, and basically to wait until it got worse (!), which of course it did. When she returned to WSU the second time, the dog was seen by a different orthopedist, who took one look at the dog's gait and knew instantly what the problem was. I believe that imaging was done. I do not know whether they specified iliacus or psoas; the owner was told "bilateral iliopsoas injury, possible tear, possible strain." The main rehab that has occurred so far is underwater treadmill therapy. The owner was warned off swimming her dog too much (good luck with that, with a black Lab!) as that might overstretch the affected muscle. We don't have an animal P.T. in Missoula, but we do have a veterinary chiropractor and a certifed canine hydrotherapist. I see the dog this week; I'm curious too!

Comment by Megan Ayrault on April 6, 2010 at 6:53am

Only finding Beverly's message to us all about a Lab's iliopsoas strain/tear in my e-mail inbox, but I guess I might as well answer that I have not worked with this condition, and would love to hear how your case progresses. I'm curious about how it was diagnosed. Ultrasound? Any other imaging? Of course, there's a big difference between strain and tear, so I'm curious about that. And whether they know iliacus vs. psoas or both. And do you know anything about the rehab that's already happened, and when/how the injury happened?

Comment by Megan Ayrault on March 2, 2010 at 10:41pm

Hi All,
I've recently started a blog, AllAboutEquineMassage.com.
In the future I'll see about getting blogs going for dogs and eventually for cats....

Comment by Megan Ayrault on March 2, 2010 at 10:38pm

Hi Rachael,
Another suggestion, if you don't find a connection through here, is to contact some animal massage schools and ask whether they have grads in the area. One list of schools is on my website, http://allaboutanimalmassage.com/education/schools-certification/ , and of course you can also do a google search for more.

Comment by CH Lore Eidson on February 21, 2010 at 7:55pm

Looking forward to learning more from your work and suggestions! With a sincere loving heart! Lore

Comment by Daniel Stroup on February 2, 2010 at 9:51am

Thanks for the comments Megan. So far about the only thing I have found to reduce the static electricity is the anti-static dryer sheets for laundry. Different types of clothing haven't been of much help. although cotton seems better than wool or any synthetics I have tried. So far, the horses have been pretty tolerant of the static shocks. I know they feel it, but they haven't been reactive so far. I'm sure the day is coming when I one who is reactive, so i try to be extra vigilant.

Comment by Megan Ayrault on February 2, 2010 at 12:00am

Regarding cold temperatures, etc...
The coldest I've done horse massages is about 30*, but I'm lucky that it's not colder than that often where I live (by Seattle). If it is colder, I reschedule more for my sake than the horse's. I don't know of any reason it would be contraindicated for their part, though it may be less effective than usual if it's inhibiting their ability to relax. Their responses should tell you quite a lot about what they're getting out of it, though not necessarily everything.
When it's anywhere near freezing, or even up to around 50* if they're clipped, I keep the blankets on and just undo the straps and work under them, which also keeps my hands warm, at least for most of the session. If there are hind leg straps, I hook them up again so they're not hanging down while I have them off from around the legs.
One issue that does come up with cold, dry weather and blankets can be static electricity. Depending on the horse, this may make the massage totally counterproductive or not. You have to judge their reactions to the shocks individually. I know that putting lotion on your hands before the massage can help, but I also know it's not usually enough for me. I'd love to know if others have found ways to decrease static effectively. Keep in mind that the static shocks can become a major safety issue if the horse is scared by them (and if you ever take/put on blankets over their head, this can be especially scary for them to get shocked on the face/ears).
I haven't ever asked for either extra or less exercise due to the weather, though some exercise before could certainly help, especially if they're clipped and not adequately blanketed. (In this case, massage could be used to help warm them up, but if they were exercised first, more significant work might be more accessible during the session.)
For my own warmth, I also LOVE the toe warmers (activated carbon, or any version). If my feet stay warm, the rest of me does well, including not getting tight in the shoulders from tensing/shivering. I realize this may not help your hands, but may help someone with cold generally. Depending on the style of work you do, you may be able to use the fingerless gloves and keep a hand warmer in the palm of your hand?

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