This is a very comprehensive book on canine massage – and the canine body as a whole. It teaches us that, like us humans, massage can be used to help our canine companions relax, condition our canine athletes, improve health and fitness, assist them in recovery from injuries or surgery and to ease chronic pain.
B-0418 - Canine Massage. A Complete Reference Manual
By Jean Pierre Hourdebaight, L.M.T.
The methods described are based on human massage techniques but are adapted for our canine companions. The book is full of illustrations and photographs which help guide the reader through the techniques explained and the various systems described.
Chapters include: an overview of canine massage theory – approach and initial contact with a new canine subject, canine body language and feedback signs, positions and duration of a massage, when to massage and when to not massage; canine kinesiology – how and why a dog moves the way they do and the muscles and joints involved; canine anatomy and physiology – the nine principal systems of the dog, including detailed descriptions and diagrams of the canine skeletal and muscular systems; concepts of massage – skills, posture, sensitivity, pressure and rhythm of the hands; the movements, techniques and routines of canine massage - including relaxation, maintenance and recuperation routines, warm up and cool down massage routine, frequency of treatments, trigger & stress points and their techniques; stretching - its, benefits, types, when and how to stretch, and the stretch routines; hydrotherapy – also includes sections on ice and heat treatments; injuries and common problems; massage recommendations for particular breeds and activities. The substantial chapter on Common Stress Areas will be of particular interest to the guardians of canine athletes, as their bodies often come under more stress than average. Through multiple diagrams this chapter describes in detail the common stress points, their associated muscles, tendons and ligaments, how
they work and the treatments for each.
It is a book that would benefit anyone, professional or amateur, who is interested in their canine companion's overall anatomy, musculoskeletal system, canine massage and how it can benefit their canine companions.
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