About Canine Massage
Emily Cushion Clinical Canine Massage aims to support your dog, whether it be from injury, surgery, chronic pain or performance support.
We are based in Suffolk and predominantly cover mid Suffolk and south Norfolk, but please get in contact if you are outside these areas as we still may be able to help.
On this page you can find out more about me and my services:
About your therapist
Why did I study clinical canine massage?
Well, it was all down to my dog Saru who was diagnosed with elbow dysplasia. I have been working in academia for over a decade in the area of exercise science so I became interested in how this translates to canines.
After much research I decided to complete the clinical canine massage practitioner programme run by Natalie Lenton of the Canine Massage Therapy Centre. The two-year programme included 1200 hours of study covering many topics including:
- canine anatomy and physiology
- massage theory and law
- gait analysis
- orthopaedic pathologies
- muscular pathologies
- neurological pathologies
- clinical skills
- four disciplines of massage – Swedish, deep tissues, sports and myofascial release (direct/indirect)
I am also trained in using the Lenton Method® which provides a three tier scientific approach to assessment and treatment. This has provided me with in depth anatomical knowledge and practical skills to both assess and address specific issues your dog may be presenting. The Lenton Method has undergone clinical trails showing beneficial effects of massage for reducing pain and improving mobility. The study can be found here.
Proud member of the Canine Massage Guild
The Canine Massage Guild is a professional association of over 100 therapists and requires a minimum of 25 hours of continual professional development every year. I am fully insured and in accordance with the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 and Exemption Order 2015 I will not treat a dog without prior veterinary consent.
What is clinical canine massage?
Clinical canine massage can help your dog by releasing tight, sore muscles, remove debilitating ‘Knots’ or trigger points that cause referred pain and help rehabilitate injuries by breaking down restrictive scar tissue caused by daily activities that may be responsible for your dog’s discomfort.
As a clinical canine massage therapist I am trained in the art of palpation. This means I am able to feel for soft tissues issues and injuries.
When palpating your dog I am feeling for conditions such as strains, sprains, wide radiating myofascial pain, trigger points and hypertonicity. This allows me to address specific areas and tailor treatment most relevant for your dog.
Is Clinical Canine Massage suitable for my dog?
There are many benefits of massage for all dogs, whether they are young, old, working or performance dogs, but it may be especially beneficial for dogs who suffer with the following conditions, displays these symptoms, or would benefit from any of the subsequent results.
Conditions
- Hip dysplasia
- Elbow dysplasia
- Arthritis
- Spondylosis
- IVDD
- Cruciate disease
- Luxating patella
- Muscular injuries
- Soft tissue injuries, such as strains and sprains
- Myofascial pain
- Lame/Limping
- Osteoarthritis
- Spondylosis
- Chronic pain
- Amputee
- CDRM
- Post Operative Care
- Aging dogs
- Anxious or stressed dogs
Symptoms
- Lameness/Limping
- Stiffness
- Difficulty going up/down stairs
- Quicker recovery from operations/injury e.g., Cruciate
- Signs of Ageing
- Back/Neck/Shoulder Pain
- Performance Issues e.g., Agility, knocking poles, Obedience; send away
- Arthritis, Hip/Elbow Dysplasia
- Reluctant on walks
- Disinterested in life
- Twitching down back
- Old before their time
- Gait/Posture Irregularities e.g., roaching/swayback
- Nervous/Anxious/Touch Shy
- Quivering of the skin
- Nibbling at back end
- Crying/Yelping in pain
The benefits
- Better movement
- Reduced stiffness
- Significantly reduced pain levels
- Resolution or significant reduction of lameness
- A ‘younger’ dog
- An improved mood,
- Happy to go on and enjoying walks again
- Able to go up/down stairs,
- Able to get in/out of car
- Got their ‘zest’ back for life,
- Coping better with Arthritis
- Improved working/agility performance e.g., not knocking poles, good contacts and weave entry,
- Better posture e.g., no more swayback or roaching
- More fluid, effortless gait
Get started with Clinical Canine Massage
“Tia is like a new and younger dog! Since receiving massage Tia has reduced stiffness, is much livelier and wants to run around a lot more. Emily was very professional and obviously cared a lot about Tia and doing what she could to improve her mobility and comfort.“
– Patricia and Tia
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