What do a dog’s muscles do?

They allow the dog to be on all 4’s; to move; to breath; to digest; to eliminate waste; to maintain body temperature; to affect and regulate blood flow, and to hold the skeleton together. In reality, they create movement - flexing, extending, rotating, contracting, abduction, adduction. Muscles also get excited - they talk to other muscles to get things going. Muscles work in pairs.

Does that give you an idea of how complex a muscle is? Well, then, what is it made up of? - water, fibres, connective tissue, nerves, blood vessels.

Why do the muscles injure...

...thus requiring their owners to employ me? They injure because of a blow; overuse; a tear; faulty conformation (different breeds uniting and producing a pup with, for example, bowed legs at the front and thin spindly legs at the back or a big buffy chest and a dainty rear end); poor nutrition (both in development stage and newly born); incorrect preparation prior to a race (greyhounds are a classic example). Muscles also tighten because of over-extension (greyhounds again); over-exertion (throwing a frisbee and dog jumping up); and overload (too much of the good life - too much food).

When muscles are tight or stressed, they shorten causing the joints to ride closer together, thus restricting movement and hence the limping; dragging of the feet, wearing out / filing down the toe nails and poor elevation of the limb.

How do you know when a muscle is injured?

(Beside the obvious limping) - there will be redness (or some form of discolouration); swelling; hot or cold spots; decrease in range of movement; dog will be non-weight bearing; the affected muscle may be wasting away; the hair will be standing upright.

So your dog has an injury or is limping...

You can call me to find out what the benefits of massage are: an increase in the dog’s range of movement; increase in fluid in a tight muscle; increase in blood circulation; increase in flexibility; increase in length of connective tissue; decrease in pain; decrease in inflammation; decrease in toxins in the poor chap’s body, to name a few. An added benefit of a massage is that the dog receives a free groom - There will be a lot - even dogs that don’t normally shed will shed during a massage. Thankfully we masseurs do not get fur balls from our clients!

Always consult a vet first when there is excessive swelling; excessive heat and obvious weight bearing lameness.

Copyright: M-A Lynch, Animal Masseuse 2008