How to Massage My Older Dog

97 Pages·2015·2.26 MB·English

by  Jonathan Rudinger

How to Massage My Older Dog
Jonathan Rudinger – First edition Includes bibliographical references 1. Pet Care 2. Pet Grieving 3.
Holistic Animal Care 4. Massage Dog 5. Pet Massage 6. Alternative Veterinary 7. Complementary and
alternative medicine 8. Acupressure 9. Animal Communication 10. Dogs—Social Aspects—Anecdotes 11.
Dogs—Therapeutic—Anecdotes 12. Human Animal Relationships 13. Geriatric Massage 14.
PetMassage Training & Research Institute Cover Design Jonathan Rudinger: Back cover photo on the
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print version, by Cheryl Hall Photography Photographs throughout the book by Jonathan Rudinger Editor,
Anastasia Rudinger, VP PetMassage Training and Research Institute How to Massage My Older Dog
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Copyright©2015Jonathan Rudinger. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of
this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,
including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the
permission in writing from the author.
PetMassage and its logo, the stylized image of a person massaging a dog on the suggestion of a table, on
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a rectangular background, are the Registered Trademarks of PetMassage , Ltd., 2950 Douglas Rd,
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Toledo, OH 43606 USA.
Visit www.PetMassage.com
For information, contact PetMassage Media c/o PetMassage, Ltd.
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2950 Douglas Rd.
Toledo, OH 43606
USA.
Rudinger, Jonathan
PetMassage Media
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EBook
ISBN 978-0-9822102-5-3
0-9822102-5-6

About the author
Jonathan Rudinger, RN, and Massage Therapist, Licensed by the Ohio State
Medical Board, has been instrumental in the development and acceptance of
canine massage since the mid-1990’s. Recognized as an authority on massage
for dogs he has been interviewed on many major radio and television and cable
networks. He has been featured in Whole Dog Journal, Dog Fancy Magazine,
Natural Dog, Cosmopolitan, AARP, Glamour, Massage Magazine, Animal
Wellness Magazine, Massage Today and Massage Therapy Journal. Jonathan's
contribution to the animal massage and bodywork field is his personal
interpretation of canine massage, PetMassage . The PetMassage technique
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is included as a uniquely specific practice in the massage therapy textbook,
TouchAbilities.
Jonathan's vision for the canine massage industry expands beyond this school.
He is often called upon for interviews in national media, invited to lecture about
animal massage, and is recognized as a lobbyist supporting the rights for animal
massage practitioners to practice legally. Jonathan is the founder and president
of the International Association of Animal Massage and Bodywork, and also
president of the Association of Canine Water Therapy. www.iaamb.org
One of Jonathan’s goals is to increase public awareness of PetMassage and
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educate the public that PetMassage can be a beneficial modality and a
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successful and joyously gratifying vocation.
Jonathan recently represented the animal massage vocation as a featured speaker
Jonathan recently represented the animal massage vocation as a featured speaker
at H. H. Backer Pet Industry Trade Shows in Chicago and Baltimore, and the
AHVMA, American Holistic Veterinary Association Conference in Kansas City,
MO. He teaches internationally, as well. In 2010, he was a guest instructor for a
Massag Canin workshop in Angers, France. He returned to teach in Paris France
in 2014.
His monthly training workshops at the PetMassage Training and Research
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Institute in Ohio have attracted people from all professional avenues and animal
healthcare professionals from all over the world. PetMassage home-study
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courses have helped many thousands of pet lovers, and their lucky dogs achieve
balance.
Jonathan is often interviewed for his perspective as one of the pioneers and
leaders of the canine massage industry.
Recently, Jonathan was a featured guest of Dr. Karen Becker’s – Dr. Mercola’s
Healthy Pets Newsletter, See the video and read the August 2014 Healthy Pets
Newsletter: Remove Disease from Your Pet’s Body Using Only Your Hands.
Here’s your link to Jonathan’s Skype and written interview:
http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2099/12/31/petmassage-
therapy.aspx and please visit the website: http://petmassage.com/
Introduction
To many of us, dogs are soul mates, trusted companions for many years. When I
tell people what I do, I usually see a big smile and listen as they tell me, “I
massage my dog all the time. She loves it; especially (pick one) when I rub her
butt squeeze her shoulders scratch her belly / dig in around her ears.”
Everyone has a naturally intuitive way of massaging their dogs. You already
give basic massage to your dogs. It's a talent that comes naturally.
Does day-to-day petting count as massage? Massage in the broadest sense, yes.
PetMassage? No.
PetMassage is a deliberate and focused skill set for touching your dog. It
provides benefits to dogs that are so much more profound than they could get
from affectionate petting, exercise or play.
To give your dog the gift of PetMassage, is to reward him/her for a lifetime of
companionship and friendship.
If you accept the premises that
1) most diseases and dysfunctional behaviors are caused by stress, and that 2)
PetMassage induces relaxation and reduces stress, you can join with me in
understanding how PetMassage works.
No one can see for another, not one.
No one can feel for another, not one.
No one can hear for another, not one.
No one can experience for another, not one.
No one can achieve for another, not one.
No one can grow for another, not one.
No one can live for another, not one.
However…
You can help another interpret what they see.
You can help another gain sensitivity in touch.
You can help another understand what they hear.
You can set the stage for experience.
You can help another make the most of what they have.
You can help create a climate for growth.
You can help create a climate for growth.
You can help make life more worth living.
- Anonymous
Disclaimer
PetMassage is used along with conventional and complementary health care as
well as proper dog handling techniques to enable your dog to perform at an
optimum level. By itself, PetMassage does not attempt to cure anything. By
reducing restrictions and encouraging movement, it creates an ambient
environment within the canine body that is more conducive to the states of
wellness and healing.
Working with any animal involves inherent risk. While general massage
techniques and animal handling are all to be applied lovingly and gently, any
animal or human will react negatively to impressions or contact that may feel
abusive, invasive, or inappropriate.
The reader should regularly consult with a veterinarian in matters relating to a
condition or behavior that may require diagnosis or medical attention. If you
have any questions regarding the efficacy of the techniques shown in this video
please consult with your veterinarian or qualified animal massage practitioner.
Older dog PetMassage
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What makes a dog an “older?” What does older mean?
Older is not always a factor of chronological age. Some dogs are older when
they are 3 years old. Some dogs are still puppies at 10. Oldership is based on the
dog’s breed and breeding, personality, metabolism age and life experiences.
The older dog is the dog that is mature. He may occasionally act like a puppy;
and he has moved past that predominant behavior. Now he is more thoughtful,
more careful, and more cautious in the way he moves and acts.
The older dog is the dog that has lived. He is still active. But, having lived a full
life, he may have acquired some aches and pains. There may be current
compromises in his muscles, joints, and skin. There may be residual weaknesses
from old injuries. He may have developed chronic physical issues that restrict
his movements or that elicit bizarre emotional behaviors. All his physical and
emotional calluses have been patiently waiting for you to learn to give him his
PetMassage .
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The Cycle of Aging follows predictable and inevitable patterns. Your dog
initially displays lethargy, reduced energy. He looses will to move his body.
While your dog is becoming more sedentary, he is moving into his wisdom
stage. He considers before he moves. He thinks, is the amount of effort I need to
expend worth it?
I watch our older boxer, Lola playing with our younger boxer, Camille. Cami is
seven years her junior. Cami will race round and round the yard; dashing near,
sometimes over, Lola. Of course Lola is hardwired to track anything that moves
quickly. It’s the Chase Reflex part of her reptilian brain. She has to follow.
Lola finds the short cuts, though. When Camille circles, Lola moves in straight
Lola finds the short cuts, though. When Camille circles, Lola moves in straight
lines. When Camille scampers across the yard, around the brick fire pit on one
corner of the lawn back to the trees on the other side, Lola slowly pirouettes in
the center. She’s watchful, anticipating. When Camille runs by, she takes a few
quick steps pulled by the wake of the puppy’s energy, and watches as the puppy
races round and round.
Lola’s movement is thoughtful, considered, and conserved. Her exercise is self
limited. She knows her body and realizes her limitations. Lola stays within the
comfort zone she has established for herself. It is not her only choice; it is the
one she is making here.
Several years ago I had the opportunity to visit the Kukulkan Pyramid in
Chichen-Itza, Mexico. Our guide had to show me how to climb the steep steps
leading up to the entrance of the temple. The steps are so shallow and so steep
that the only way you can climb up and descend safely is to walk them in a
zigzag pattern. It’s a long bumpy way down if you misstep. You move across
them rather than up them. Moving at angles, your whole foot can fit on the step.
It is much more balanced and secure.
For the past couple of years, Lola, climbing up the open backed steps from our
basement to the first floor, has moved up the steps Mayan style, from side to
side.
We recently installed a treadmill for the dogs in our basement. It is interesting to
note that after Lola trots for 15 minutes, which is equivalent in cardio to about a
quarter of a massage, she forgets she ‘s compromised, and instead of pulling
herself slowly up the basement steps in the zigzag pattern, she jogs straight up
the center of the steps.
When your dog doesn’t have the “luxury” of exercise and massage, he slows
down; his muscles lose their strength and tone. The loss of muscle strength and
tone can happen over an extended period of time, or it can happen in a day.
You’ve heard the principle of "use it or lose it." Have you ever noticed how
weak your legs and back are after staying in bed for a day nursing a cold? Lack
of movement has an immediate effect on the body. Even after sitting for just an
hour at the computer, your joints get stiff. You can feel it in your neck and
shoulders, lower back, hips and legs.
Older –or elder-has the status of being a member of a family, tribal group, or