The Canine Athlete: How Clinical Canine Massage Supports Agility Dogs

Dogs are natural athletes, but some take their physical abilities to the next level. Agility dogs, with their impressive speed, precision, and stamina, compete in a fast-paced sport that requires them to navigate jumps, tunnels, weave poles, and contact obstacles with accuracy and enthusiasm. However, just like human athletes, these high-performing dogs are at risk of injury. Fortunately, clinical canine massage can play a crucial role in injury prevention, rehabilitation, and overall

performance enhancement.

Common Injuries in Agility Dogs

Agility dogs push their bodies to the limit, often making tight turns, sudden stops, and explosive movements. These actions can lead to various musculoskeletal injuries, including:

• Muscle Strains and Sprains: Overexertion can cause tears in muscles and tendons, particularly in the shoulders and back muscles. The shoulders are a highly mobile joint which is great for aiding a dog through weaves etc however the flipside of this is that they can injure very easily.

• Ligament Injuries: Repetitive stress on joints can lead to conditions such as cranial cruciate ligament disease (CCL) and instability of the joints. This in turn can lead to osteoarthritis. It is not uncommon for agility dogs to have osteoarthritis in their digits and carpal (wrist) joints.

• Lumbar and Spinal Issues: The intense twisting and jumping can put undue stresses through the spine, leading to discomfort and reduced flexibility. Injuries can be relatively minor such as a strain to a back muscle or severe such a prolapsed intervertebral disc (IVDD).

• Paw and Pad Injuries: Landing improperly or running on rough terrain can lead abrasions on the paw pads, torn claws etc.

• Impact Injuries: Colliding with equipment or landing incorrectly can cause bruising, inflammation and pain to various muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints.

The Role of Clinical Canine Massage in Agility Dogs

The Importance of Proper Warm-Ups and Cool-Downs

Just like human athletes, agility dogs must prepare their bodies for exertion and recover properly afterward. Incorporating a structured warm-up and cool-down routine can significantly reduce the risk of injury and aid recovery.

• Warm-Up Massages are used to improve the blood flow to the muscles which improves their flexibility and elasticity. This in turn helps to increase joint range of motion. The value of a pre run warm up cannot be overlooked. As well as a dog’s handler wanting to get the best out of their dogs a pre run warm up goes a long way to helping to prevent muscular injuries

• Following a run Cool-Down Massages help to reduce the recovery time. They aid in the removal of metabolic waste, such as lactic acid, induced by the burst of sudden exercise, thereby helping to reduce the risk of DOMS – delayed onset muscle soreness. Cool down massages therefore help ease muscular tension, stiffness and fatigue.

 Beyond the warm-up and cool down, regular maintenance Clinical Canine Massage aids in:

• Injury Prevention: Regular massage keeps muscles supple, reduces tension, and improve flexibility, helping to prevent strains and sprains.

• Pain Relief: Massage helps alleviate discomfort by releasing muscle tightness, reducing inflammation, treating trigger points and stimulating endorphin release.

• Improved Performance: Increased flexibility and muscle function enable better movement efficiency, allowing the dog to perform at its best.

• Stress Reduction: Agility training and competition can be mentally and physically demanding. Massage helps relax the nervous system, reducing stress and anxiety.

  
  

  

  
  

  And, should an injury occur massage aids a Faster Recovery: If an injury occurs, massage enhances blood circulation, promoting quicker healing by delivering oxygen and nutrients to damaged tissues. It also aids in the management of scar tissue. Scar tissue is composed of collagen fibres and in the early stages of an injury it is very haphazard in the way the collagen fibres are laid down. During the early stages the priority is to bridge the gap of the torn muscle. As the recovery progresses, massage helps the scar tissue by realigning the collagen fibres in line with the surrounding, undamaged tissue which helps to improve tissue flexibility, elasticity and ultimately movement. Clinical Canine Massage also helps to break down and reduce adhesions which may occur at the injured area – the different tissues “stick together” which is detrimental to a full recovery.

Conclusion

Agility dogs are elite athletes who require dedicated care to maintain peak performance and prevent injuries. Clinical canine massage is an invaluable tool for keeping these dogs in top condition, whether as a preventive measure, a rehabilitation technique, or a way to optimize movement. Combined with proper warm-ups and cool-downs, massage therapy ensures that agility dogs can continue to enjoy the sport they love while staying healthy and pain-free. If you have an agility dog, consider adding clinical massage to their routine - it could make all the difference in their performance and well-being!

Images with the kind permission of Fiona @ Four Borders Canine Massage Therapy, Hampshire