Why canine massage? From puppy to adult, most dogs live a very active life, participating in play, exercise, athletic activities, competition and possibly working as a guide or rescue dog. Strength and flexibility are essential for keeping a dog’s (or human’s) body vigorous and healthy for a lifetime. When dogs engage in repetitive activities, their muscles contract over and over again. If the muscles are not stretched and lengthened from time to time, they have a tendency to tighten and shorten. This can cause problems not only for the muscles, but also the surrounding tendons and joints. Routine, preventive massaging and stretching of a dog’s muscles helps keep him limber and strong. By decreasing muscular tension and maintaining strength and flexibility, dogs can remain active through their senior years. Can puppies and young dogs benefit from massage? The answer is yes. For young dogs and puppies the process of observing, handling, touching, interacting and communicating helps with socialization and training. Creating a base of health information early gives the owner a valuable benchmark as the dog ages. 
Senior dogs Dogs are living longer now than ever before. Many years ago few dogs lived long enough to suffer from old age. Older dogs lose elasticity in their muscles and are prone to degenerative joint diseases such as arthritis. Osteoarthritis is the number one cause of chronic pain in dogs, affecting one in five adult dogs.
Warming the muscles of a senior dog by massaging before and after exercise can help prevent tight muscles and chronic stiffness while increasing circulation. Also, massage can be a great comfort to senior dogs, releasing endorphins that ease pain and emotional stress. At any age, a dog can benefit from the physiological and psychological benefits of massage. Throughout a dog’s full life, massage therapy can serve both preventive and rehabilitative roles. | 
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