What is veterinary consent?
Click buttons below to download a vet consent form and terms and conditions.
Veterinary Consent
Forest Canine Massage acknowledges the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 and Exemptions Order 2015, therefore before I can massage your dog you will need to obtain a signed veterinary consent form. This is not only a legal requirement but also informs me of any contraindications to massage.
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There will also need to be a 2 week period after your dog has had any vaccinations, flea/tock spot on treatments or given a blood donation.
What are your Credentials?
I am a fully insured Canine Massage therapist and a member of the Canine Massage Guild & International Association of Animal Therapists.
My Credentials
My name is Jessica Barton and I am the proud owner of ‘Forest Canine Massage’ based in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire.
I am a fully insured canine massage practitioner having completed the intensive 2-year Clinical Canine Massage Practitioner Programme with the Canine Massage Therapy Centre (Externally accredited by Lantra). During this time I was taught a unique blend of techniques including Swedish, Sports and Deep Tissue Massage, Myofascial release (both Direct & Indirect) and the Lenton Method.
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I am a member of the Canine Massage Guild (a network of highly skilled professional Canine Massage therapists specialising in soft tissue rehabilitation) and the International Association of Animal Therapists IAAT, where their primary objective is to promote excellence in animal therapy. These associations promotes high standards, safe practice and Continued Professional Development (CPD).
What will happen during my dog's first treatment?
IÂ offer a full consultation during your first appointment. This includes full palpation, gait and postural analysis, full body massage and aftercare advice.
First Appointment
First appointments last around 1.5 hours and will include:
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Full consultation – I will ask you various questions about your dog’s lifestyle, Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), diet and medical history. Your dog’s personality, behaviour and how they like to be handled will also be discussed, along with your intentions and expectations of the treatment.
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Gait Analysis – I will watch the way your dog walks, trots and canters to ascertain if there are any gait irregularities, areas of over-compensation, discomfort or stiffness.
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Postural Analysis – I will look at the way your dog stands, sits and lies down to assess for any irregularities and patterns of tension.
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Palpation – Using my fingers I will do a hands-on assessment of the muscle tissue to identify any injuries or issues.
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Full body massage – I will give your dog a full body massage and tailor my treatment to the needs of your dog. Each dog is individual some prefer treatment on the floor, others may prefer the massage table or sofa. Some dogs lie still for the duration of the treatment and others like to have a wriggle about. I will adapt the massage to suit your dog and the situation.
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Aftercare advice – I will give you detailed aftercare instructions and recommendations.
How many treatments will my dog need?
Canine Massage therapy is a results driven therapy where results can be see in 1-3 sessions
Subsequent treatments
Subsequent treatments will last around 1 hour and I usually work on 3 sessions over 3/5 weeks as this produces the best results. If your dog has a course of 3 treatments, I will write a report and send it to your veterinarian for their records. Forest Canine Massage works best practice. In the unlikely event that after 3 sessions your dog has not responded to treatment, I will refer your dog back to your vet for further investigation.
What are maintenance massages?
Maintenance Massage
Maintenance sessions can help active working/sporting dogs improve their performance, mobility and flexibility, by detecting and treating underlining problems early before they become an issue. Elderly dogs and those with orthopaedic conditions such as Arthritis can also benefit as maintenance sessions help to improve your dog's mobility and comfort levels.
What is a free muscular health check?
FREE muscular health check
A muscular health check is a skilled hands-on assessment that takes around 10 min.It is the only accurate way to identify if your dog is harbouring silent pain or carrying a soft tissue injury.
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How does it work?
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I use a unique set of advanced palpation skills to examine around 40 different pairs of superficial muscles in your dog's body.
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I use a developed sense of touch to search for deviations in the muscles natural tone, temperature, texture and tenderness (known as the 4Ts).
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i utilise the '3 Interconnected Qualities of Fascia' model (Luchau 2015) to assess your dog's soft tissue and fascial planes.
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I can help determine the health of your dog's soft tissue by detecting injuries, areas of pain or dysfunction.
Get in touch today to book a free muscular health check or come and find me at events and shows I will be attending during the Summer months.
How much does a massage cost?
Prices
First treatment - £45
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Subsequent sessions - £40
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Maintenance massage - £40
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Muscular health check - FREE
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Hands off assessment (online) - £20
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Fuel Charge - 50p per mile (after the first 10 miles)
FAQs
What is Silent pain?
What are the signs of silent pain?
What are the different types of muscular injuries?
I have written a 6 part series talking about the different types of muscular injuries your dog may have in their life time along with with help advice and tips to prevent injury.
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Why do check out my first blog in the series What are Muscular Injuries?
How can I prevent my dog getting injured on a walk?
During the winter months your dog is at greater risk of sustaining an injury whilst out on a dog walk.
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My blog Winter Walks - How to Prevent Injury explains why and is full of helpful tips and advice.
