Soft Tissue Mobilization

Dog Massage - by Gone to the Dogs AlaskaWe focus on normalizing soft tissue using gentle hands-on techniques.  The end results are enhanced muscle tone, accelerated healing, freedom of motion and relaxation. This will optimize your dogs performance.

We can help with muscle spasms, swelling, range of motion and stimulating the release of endorphins (the body’s natural painkillers). We can also improve the patient’s conscious awareness of his/her body and promote mental and physical relaxation. Also helping with newly formed scar tissue to prevent adhesions and promote collagen deposition in a configuration that allows for freer movement.

Indications:  Soft Tissue Mobilization is appropriate for dogs: recovering from an injury, with arthritis, joint and neurological problems.  It can also be beneficial for calming dogs with nervous temperaments, aiding the ability of your athletic dog and increasing your bond with your pet.

Myofascial Release – Fascia is a thin tissue that covers all of the organs of the body including every muscle and every fiber within each muscle. When muscle fibers are injured, the fibers and the fascia surrounding them becomes short and tight.  this uneven stress can be transmitted through the fascia to other parts of the body. Myofascial will release symptoms by releasing the uneven tightness in the injured tissue. Myofascial release is not massage. It works with the dog not on the dog. Light stretch is applied to an area of tightness and then the therapist waits for the tissue to relax before the stretch is increased.  feedback from the dog’s body tells the therapist how much force to use, the direction of the stretch and how long to stretch.

(The treatment plan will be approved by the referring veterinarian before it’s implementation.)