Making a difference

It is very difficult to explain to some people the benefits of massage; until you
do bodywork on their pet who may have arthritis or some joint or muscle dysfunction.
I had the pleasure of working on Sailor, a ten year old border collie cross this afternoon.
I believe there may have been a little skepticism from a family member as I took him
outside for an assessment of gait and structure. He has a hard time walking, and tries to trot
immediately, probably in effort to compensate for his painful rear end. The current
owners have had him from two years of age; after he was hit by a car. He has arthritis
in both hips.
When I first put my hands on his rear he was tense and unreceptive, afraid to be touched.
As I spoke quietly and moved away, back to the front he calmed. Eventually through the
session I was able to warm and loosen his lumbar sacral (lower in people) back and work both
his left and right hind. At the end of the session I was able to do minimal extension of the right
rear and he had improved range of motion.
The best part was we sat and discussed how "mom" could help to improve his comfort level until my next visit. A few minutes a day of simple back and proprioception exercises and walkin with the bike.
Sailor smiled when I left and so did I, because I made a difference for a lucky dog whose family wants to make a difference to him.

Thank you,