Not All Canine Therapist Are the Same: Understanding the Different Tools in Canine Therapy

Terminology gets so confusing, not only for owners but for us professionals, so I have tried to simplify it for everyone.

Some of the terms you have probably herd are “Canine therapist”, “bodyworker”, “myotherapist”, “dog massage”, “rehab therapist”, etc. can describe very different training and approaches.

Two people can both say they “treat muscles” while doing completely different approaches.

Canine Myotherapy / Remedial Soft-Tissue Therapy

• Visual gait assessment and palpation assessment

• Muscles, fascia and soft tissue manipulation

• ROM and movement assessment

• Hands-on techniques – occasional tools

• Goal: identify and address muscular/soft-tissue dysfunction

Veterinary Rehabilitation / Physiotherapy

• Function and recovery of body movement

• Strength, proprioception, gait, ROM and conditioning

• Particularly useful after injury/surgery or with neurological/orthopaedic problems

• Often incorporates several other technologicalmodalities

Massage / Sports Massage

• Relaxation, circulation, muscle preparation/recovery and soft-tissue comfort

• Can overlap considerably with myotherapy depending on practitioner training

Bowen

• Gentle, specific soft-tissue inputs

• Emphasis on neuromuscular response rather than deep tissue manipulation or fascial release

• Often very relaxing

Emmett

• Very light, specific points/techniques

• Focus on movement and neuromuscular response

• Different philosophy from conventional remedial massage/myotherapy

• Useful tool especially for anxious, nervous or pain animals, but not the same thing as deep soft-tissue treatment

Chiropractic / VSMT

• Primarily joint/spinal manipulation.

• Different target from muscular soft-tissue therapy.

• Often short sharp movements.

Acupuncture / Dry Needling

• Needle-based interventions

• Different mechanisms and applications from massage/manual therapy

• Acupressure is a non invasive version

Hydrotherapy & water based Rehabilitation

• Training the dog to move better.

• Strength, conditioning, balance, proprioception and gait.

• Good for post operation or injury.

Conditioning and Fitness

• Exercise tools are incorporated into a step by step program to increase Strength, flexibility, balance, proprioception and gait.

• Encourages correct usage of muscles.

• Good for maintaining health, post operation or injury recovery, ongoing practical chronic illness muscle conditioning.

• Pups to seniors, all ages benefit

• Able to be conducted by owner.

• ROM assessments and tracking.

Technology modalities

• Red/NIR/PBM

• PEMF

• Heat/cold

• TENS/NMES

• Ultrasound/shockwave

• Accell mat

These are technologies that have scientific evidence to validate their uses and positive effects on the muscles and joints.

Kinesiology Taping

• Elastic therapeutic tape applied to the skin to provide gentle sensory and mechanical input.

• Can be used to support movement, proprioception, soft-tissue/joint support.

• Generally used as an adjunct to hands-on treatment and rehabilitation, rather than as a stand-alone treatment.

The important bit:

All of these modalities can complement each other.

A dog might benefit from:

assessment → hands-on treatment → PEMF → appropriate exercise → reassessment rather than having to pick a single modality.

What should you as an owner ask?

• Are you insured?

• What qualification do you hold?

• What does that qualification actually train you to do?

• Do you assess the dog before treatment?

• What are you actually treating?

• How do you measure whether treatment helped?

• Do you collaborate with other professionals or vets?

• When would you refer to a vet/physio/other professional?

So, you are probably wondering, ok Chevelle, so you are a Canine Myo manipulative functional therapist, where do you fit in?

Well, I actually cover a range of the above, Myotherapy and Remedial, Massage / Sports, Conditioning and Fitness, Acupressure, Technology-PEMF, Redlight and NIR, Heat/cold.

This actually makes me more of a one stop shop for your dogs physical health, and if I can not do it, I will refer on to the most appropriate modality for your dogs needs

LLPetsHealth also has nutrition advice and Supplements support range.

Thanks for reading

Chevelle Williams CMFT, HCN, CCFC