Canine massage therapy catching on among pet owners

[Crossfire Bulldogs]

BY Rebecca Kivak - Staff Writer - The Citizens Voice

Pet owners will spend an estimated $38.4 billion on their pets this year, according to figures released by the American Pet Producers Manufacturers Association.

The figure includes money spent on services like grooming and massage, services which people are also likely to purchase for themselves or family members — which means the practice of massage is going to the dogs.

Literally.

“Massage therapy is good for all dogs,” said Drums resident Diane Paranac, a certified canine massage therapist. “Dogs love a human touch.”

Canine massage is an alternative therapy that can be used to promote a dog’s general health and well-being.

Massages relieve tension in the body that may result from stress, muscular problems, joint stiffness or symptoms related to several medical conditions, Paranac said.

The different types of strokes used and the sequence can increase blood circulation to muscles and joints, increasing the dog’s flexibility and movement, she said.

Paranac opened her practice, D’s Relaxed Paws Canine Massage Therapy, this summer out of her home in Drums.

An initial consultation and massage with Paranac takes 60 to 90 minutes and costs $50. Follow-up sessions last 30 to 50 minutes and cost $40.

Paranac received her certification in canine massage therapy from Equissage, a home study certificate program. To achieve certification, she had to pass a written test and perform a massage on a dog exactly the way she was taught.

“You have to prove you can do it,” she said.

Paranac is certified to work with dogs only. But massage therapy can also be used on horses and cats, she said.

Canine massage can be used with traditional veterinary care, but does not replace the need for it, she said. She stressed pet owners should see a veterinarian for specific medical diagnoses and treatment.

Paranac said that although the therapy is beneficial for dogs in general, massages should not be given when a dog is suffering from fever, shock, most skin diseases or when the dog has abscesses or tumors.

Dr. Kristin Edwards of Plains Animal Hospital recognizes the benefits of canine massage therapy. She is a regular, small-animal veterinarian who also practices canine acupuncture.

Edwards said that when alternative therapies like canine massage and acupuncture are used with traditional veterinary care, more often the combination will yield better results.

“Sometimes you can’t progress past a certain point with Western medicine,” Edwards said. “Massage and acupuncture can give you another way to approach” the pet’s condition, she said.

Most dog owners shopping Sunday afternoon at Pet Supplies Plus in Wilkes-Barre Township said they would spend money on massage therapy for their pets.

Michelle Desiderio of Wilkes-Barre has four dogs at home. She said she would pay for her pets to receive the therapy, but “only if the veterinarian recommended it.”

Stacey Rogers of Plains Township and Scott Gaetano of Mountain Top agreed they would get massages for Rogers’ Shitzu, nearly a year old.

“If you love your pets, what’s a few extra dollars to spend on them?” Gaetano said.