Canine Massage Benefits – Inflammation in Your Dog

146 – July, 2010

To improve your palpation skills, to develop a better “finesse” of touch, it is important for you to recognize the various signs of an inflammation that might be present in the tissue you are working.

What are the Classical Signs of Inflammation?

The information provided here is to help inform you how to recognize the characteristic cardinal signs of inflammation, which are:

• Heat
• Swelling
• Redness
• Pain
• Loss of function

What is an inflammation?

It is equally important to understand the natural process of inflammation that is present in the tissue. An inflammation is the body’s natural protective response to either some tissue damage from natural wear and tear or erosion, from injury, an overuse of the tissue (over-exercise), chemicals, heat, an irritation (infection by bacteria), or any other phenomenon. The inflammation process serves to destroy, dilute, or wall off both the injurious agent and the injured tissues so that repair may be effective. The classical signs of an inflammation are: pain, heat, redness, swelling, and loss of function (immobility).

How does inflammation work?

An inflammation develops in three basic phases: First, the inflammatory process begins with a short vaso-constriction quickly followed by dilation, with an increase in vascular permeability (swelling).

Second, the vascular permeability is sustained with phagocytes (cells which ingest and destroy microbes & debris) to migrate to the injury site causing an increase in swelling, an oxidation of fluid from the vessels, clustering of local sites along the vessel wall, phagocytosis of micro-organisms, disposal of the accumulated toxins and debris by macrophage.

Third, repair begins with the deposition of fibrin in the vessels, the migration of fibroclast cells to the area and the development of new, normal tissue cells, also known as scar. This process evolves over several hours, eventually days depending on the severity of the inflammatory problem.

For example, within minutes after an injury, the dilation of the arterioles and the increased permeability produce heat, edema and redness (unfortunately not seen through the coat). The large amount of warm blood flowing through the area produces both heat and redness. As the local temperature rises slightly, the various metabolic reactions proceed more rapidly and release additional heat. Excess edema results from increased permeability of blood vessels, which permits more fluid to move from blood to tissue spaces. Pain, whether immediate or delayed, is a cardinal symptom of inflammation and is responsible for limited movement if not complete immobility. Pain can result from the injury of nerve fibers, from irritation by toxic chemicals from micro-organisms, or from the increased pressure from excessive edema.

Although healing is initiated by local inflammation, excessive or prolonged inflammation may delay the healing and increase the scar formation potential. The severity, timing, and local character of any particular inflammatory response depends on its cause, the area affected, and the condition of the dog (nutrition, exercise, age).

What are the “Stages” of inflammation?

When talking of muscle strain or of ligament sprain, we commonly refer to the following three stages:

• The acute stage of the injury is the first 12 to 24 hours.
• The sub-acute stage is the next 24 to 72 hours.
• The chronic stage is beyond 72 hours.

What is a “chronic” inflammation?

A chronic inflammatory process is a prolonged and persistent low-grade inflammation marked chiefly by new connective tissue formation, and occasional flair-up (with increased swelling). Over a long period of time, several weeks or months, a chronic inflammation can result in several “inflammatory cascade problems”. In the worst environment, it might trigger complimentary degradation symptoms such as a general tenderness in the adjacent tissues (muscle groups, joint structures), compensatory muscle tension, and mood swings due to overall aching feeling when moving. Sometimes it is accompanied by loss of function.

Can heat/cold application help an inflammation?

Cold hydrotherapy is very beneficial in the acute stage of inflammation, especially the ice-cup massage technique (see article and video at animalawareness.com).

Photo – Ice cup massage to ease soreness of inflammation

Vascular flush is good for the sub-acute stage. The application of cold/heat/cold is used closer to the acute stage, where the application of heat/cold/heat is used closer to the chronic stage.

Heat is very efficient for the chronic stage. Note that some chronic inflammations, especially when there is a flare-up, benefit also from the use of cold application.

Can massage help an inflammation?

Massage therapy is very beneficial to an inflammation. Massage is usually contraindicated in the acute stage. You can use the cold application such as the ice-cup massage technique to numb the nerve endings, providing an analgesic relief, and to cause a vaso-constriction to flush excessive amount of fluids.

After 24 hours and depending on the severity of symptoms, the swelling massage technique can be applied. It is very efficient in the sub-acute and chronic stages of inflammations to further disperse excess fluids build-up.

Keep in mind that, whatever its location, and proportional to its degree of severity, an inflammation will cause pain, from mild to severe, occasionally causing complete lameness.  So always proceed with a very light touch, starting with only a pound or two of pressure, and gradually increasing to 3 or 5 depending on location. Keep assessing the animal’s eyes to monitor your pressure

1. Palpating the back muscles
2. Palpating the hip
3. Palpating the hind leg
4. Palpating the shoulder
5. Palpating the paw
6. Palpating the neck muscles
7. Palpating the temporo-mandibular area

In the chronic stage, excessive scar tissue may be formed causing more restrictions, and often sustaining the inflammatory stage. The myofascial technique is good to loosen the contracted fascia, and the gentle to deep friction technique is efficient to relieve the new scar tissue formation. Again, start light and slowly progress with your pressure.

Remedies such as histamine, kinin, and various other substances such as aloe vera gel, comfrey gel, echinacea or lavender essential oils, mediate the inflammatory process.

Massage can greatly assist your dog during recovery from various injuries or common musculoskeletal problems. Combined with heat/cold applications and gentle stretching exercises, you will maximize the body’s natural healing ability and contribute to speed-up recovery process.

Always consult your veterinarian first for proper diagnosis in any situation and check the list of contraindications (see article) before applying any form of massage.

For more information on how you can actively participate in the health and well-being of your dog(s), visit www.animalawareness.com.

For now, stay well..

Jean-Pierre Hourdebaigt, LMT

Recommended DVD Downloads

The application of the “Swelling Massage Technique” (CV009) combined with the use of various “Hydrotherapy Modalities” (CV008) and with gentle “Stretching Exercises” (CV007) will maximize the benefits of your home-care program onto your dog’s inflammation problem.

The “Trigger Point Massage Technique” (CV010) , the “Stress Point Massage Technique” (CV011) and the “Origin/Insertion Massage Technique” (CV012) are strongly recommended to assist the muscular compensation often seen throughout the dog as the result of discomfort cause by the pain of the inflammation.

If you are just starting with your home-care program, consider our “Introduction to Animal Massage” package, a 20% discount value on the first 7 DVDs, to secure a sound foundation in your canine massage skills. Then take advantage of our other packages to increase your knowledge of home-care protocols for the benefit of your dog(s).

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Posted by admin on Aug 26 2011. Filed under Health & Training. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.