Happy Dog Massage Bowen Therapy Eastern Suburbs Sydney
What is animal Bowen therapy?
Bowen therapy is a soft tissue therapy that involves gentle moves over certain muscles and ligaments at specific points on your dog or cat’s body to relax tight muscles. Fibres of connective tissue (known as fascia) become stuck/adhesed over time and can also thicken from age, inactivity or injury - resulting in a feeling of stiffness, soreness or pain. Bowen therapy helps to rehydrate the fascia, resulting in a more mobile animal. The treatment has an impact on the autonomic nervous system, allowing your dog or cat’s body to move into a state of relaxation and restoration.
Bowen therapy is great for older, arthritic dogs and cats as well as animals who have injured their muscles as a result of a fall or slip, for instance. Bowen therapy is also really helpful with conditions where there is a weakness in one limb, such as in the case of hip or elbow dysplasia, which can affect an animal’s mobility over time due to compensatory tension and tight muscles in the other limbs. (Please see below for a full list of the ways Bowen therapy can help your cat or dog).
Some signs that your dog or cat may be in need of a treatment include:
Stiffness or difficulty standing
Limping, skipping or ‘bunny hopping’ when walking or running
Reluctance to run, jump or play
Lethargy
Irritability when petted or touched
Difficulty posturing to go to the toilet
How can Canine/Feline Bowen therapy help your pet?
Helps stiff/limping older dogs and cats with degenerative conditions such as arthritis by relaxing the surrounding muscles to improve joint flexibility.
Assists in the healing process for dogs and cats who have suffered recent injuries, such as a fall or muscle strain. Please see your vet for diagnosis if your pet has recently been seriously injured (such as in cases of sudden lameness) and they will advise when soft tissue therapy rehab is appropriate.
Improvement of behavioural issues (such as anxiety/stress, irritability around other dogs and poor eating habits, etc.), especially when the behavioural issues are a reflection of physical pain/discomfort.
Helps animals who have developed musculoskeletal issues because of the way their body has been impacted by their movements over time. For instance, former racing dogs, agility dogs and animals who like to ‘beg’ on their hind legs may develop stress on their spine and joints as a result of their movements.
Assists with rehabilitation and recovery after surgical procedures and ‘prepping’ the body prior to surgery (please check with your vet in regards to when Bowen therapy treatment is appropriate for your dog/cat after surgery).
Assists with maintaining the function of the body for dogs and cats born with certain genetic conditions, such as elbow or hip dysplasia. This is because these conditions result in the development of compensatory patterns of use (whereby the muscles in the three unaffected limbs have to work extra hard to compensate for the weaker leg). Over time the muscles can become tighter and tighter, which starts to have an impact on the dog or cat’s mobility. This is also the case with ‘tripod’ cats and dogs, so ensuring that their legs and their back remain free from tension is the key to continuous free movement.
Helps improve performance for show, agility and working dogs.
General maintenance/wellbeing - just as you might have a massage (or even a Bowen therapy treatment!) for relaxation purposes.
Compassionate end of life support for dogs and cats in palliative care to assist with pain management and relaxation (home visits are available for pets in these circumstances).
What to expect with animal Bowen therapy?
While your pet settles in and gets used to their new surrounds, we’ll discuss their history and have a chat about your concerns. Your cat/dog’s gait will be observed and areas of tension in their body will be assessed. The Bowen therapy treatment is very gentle and involves a series of rolling-type movements over certain points of the muscles and tendons of your pet’s body. Most animals grow quite relaxed and will often sleep/rest after their treatment. Aftercare advice is provided to ensure that the treatment is as effective as possible.
The welfare of your pet is always of primary concern. Care is taken to ensure that your furry friend is never pushed past their comfort zone and is given time to process the treatment. As a result, cats and dogs generally love their Bowen therapy treatments and the relief it provides them. For shyer cats and dogs, the first treatment can be met with curiosity (as Bowen is very different from a trip to the vet’s and isn’t at all like a pat) but are much more enthusiastic with subsequent treatments as they remember how much they enjoyed their previous experience!
How much will it cost?
Bowen therapy for your cat or dog: $75.
Animal therapy treatments can last up to 45 minutes, depending on a range of factors (including how long it takes your dog or cat to settle in). Two to three treatments is often an ideal number to address most conditions - with the second treatment best about a week after the first, to help further build on the effects of the initial treatment. But of course you can always see how your furry friend finds their first visit and go from there!
Please ensure that your dog or cat is well on the day of the treatment and isn’t exhibiting signs of illness (such as excess coughing, diarrhoea or vomiting – a visit to their vet is advised if this is the case).
Happy Dog Rehab Bowen Therapy Eastern Suburbs Sydney
