Equissage

[DogChic]

I visited the equissage website a few days ago... it was mentioned in another post. I requested information & they sent me a bunch of stuff - including a dvd of equissage as featured on an nbc show.

the course is done at home ... and is expensive, but not terribly so. I really want to do this! what a great thing to add to a grooming salon - I can see people using this service - as you could advertise with vets, obedience & agility clubs.

I would even be interested in doing their equine theraputic massage program -you can do this course at home, or at a horse farm in virginia for 1 week intensive.

ok now i'm really saving my tip $!

-sheila

[ejmj30]

I just hired a girl who does human massage, and she's getting into canine massage. I can't wait for her to take this class and then start offering it at my shop. If it goes over well, I'm going to take the class too, so I can fill in if she ever leaves.

[RevWind]

Be cautious of advertising. Make sure it's allowed in your state. I've got human and canine massage training and I can't legally use it in my state, although there are some people who do practice it. I don't feel comfortable riding that fine line and having my reputation tarnished. I teach it for pet owners and the private use on their pwn pets. That's all I can do.
I totally agree that it's a great service to offer, but it's not one that's widely accepted by veterinarians. Do your research. There are also 2 schools of animal massage in Ohio. Petmassage and Integrated Touch Therapy. I can vouch for the latter as I've taken their courses.

[DogChic]

Be cautious of advertising. Make sure it's allowed in your state. I've got human and canine massage training and I can't legally use it in my state, although there are some people who do practice it. I don't feel comfortable riding that fine line and having my reputation tarnished. I teach it for pet owners and the private use on their pwn pets. That's all I can do.
I totally agree that it's a great service to offer, but it's not one that's widely accepted by veterinarians. Do your research. There are also 2 schools of animal massage in Ohio. Petmassage and Integrated Touch Therapy. I can vouch for the latter as I've taken their courses.

revwind -

i never even thought of that - how would i find out? i live in NY - I wonder why in ohio they would not allow it (or any state really). I know for a fact that equine massage is widely used here - especially at the saratoga racetrack - it seems as if a lot of veterinarians reccommend it for horses at least. I don't know about dogs.

[ejmj30]

Here in CT I'm pretty sure it's legal. I've not checked the laws, though I will, but I've seen it advertised several places.

[luckydog]

I had thought about this until going to a seminar by a practicing human and canine massage therapist at groomclassic last year. Totally would not be worth the hassle for just a couple of clients

[DogChic]

I had thought about this until going to a seminar by a practicing human and canine massage therapist at groomclassic last year. Totally would not be worth the hassle for just a couple of clients

lukydog -

just curious - why did you see it to be such a hassle? and no, it wouldn't be worth it for a couple of clients ... but it seems as if you could build up quite a base, especially from an already established grooming business.

[RevWind]

revwind -

i never even thought of that - how would i find out? i live in NY - I wonder why in ohio they would not allow it (or any state really). I know for a fact that equine massage is widely used here - especially at the saratoga racetrack - it seems as if a lot of veterinarians reccommend it for horses at least. I don't know about dogs.

There are a few animal bodywork associations out there, but what they say are the legalities of massage in each state isn't necessarily accurate. I was told through the human massage school I attended and also through the dean of the veterinary technology at the same college. In Ohio, they do (by vet referral I think) but in MD they do not. There are practicing canine massage people in my state, but it doesn't mean they're really allowed to do it. I think the vets who know about them are of the "if I don't see it, it isn't happening" mentality.

Human massage therapists at one point had the exact same problem with Physical Therapists and Doctors several decades ago.
Conservative minds and the fear of competition were parts of the issue. I think the conservative minds is more of an issue with the vets.