We can use heat or cold to increase or decrease blood flow through an area, to locally ease pain or to reduce inflammation.
Heat applied to an area will open vessels and allow blood and nutrients to flood into the soft tissues, whereas applying cold to an area will cause the blood flow to temporarily decrease as the vessels constrict (vasoconstriction).
As a massage therapist, hot and cold therapy compliments my treatment very effectively.
Heating up areas of your dog’s body will allow me to soften the tissues, and especially in tight areas this enables me to work at a deeper level as the tissue begins to let down.
Vascular Flush is a really great way to manually assist the movement of fluid through the tissues. Alternating between cold and heat has the effect of closing and opening the vessels.
The opening and closing of the vessels create a kind of pumping action when done correctly, if we think of a sponge, when we open the vessels using heat (vasodilation) we allow the sponge to soak up liquid, then when we constrict the vessels using ice (vasoconstriction) it has the effect of squeezing the liquid out of the sponge. With repeated filling and squeezing of the tissues we are effectively rinsing and flushing them of stagnant waste and in return, flooding them with fresh, nutrient-filled fluids.
Heat as a therapy on its own can bring comfort and relief to arthritic joints, helping to reduce pain and nociceptive activity and promote muscular relaxation.
Ice can be used in the acute or at the immediate time of injury to reduce swelling and a numbing effect on pain. If ice is left on the skin for a period of longer than about ten minutes, after this time the vessels will dilate in order to allow the flow of nutrients and blood back in, preventing hypoxic damage from occurring.
It’s a good idea to take note of your dog’s preferences, do they naturally seek out comfort in warm or cool areas? For example, does your dog prefer to rest on cool, tiled surfaces or do they seek out the warmth of the sun or a fire. Your dog can’t tell you in words which they prefer but if you are observant, you can find the answers to these questions.
Contact me
If you would like to discuss your dog’s issues to see if they may benefit from Clinical Canine Massage, please get in touch with me via email: clinic@seekak9massage.co.uk
Or visit my website: www.seekak9massage.co.uk
Or find me on facebook: Seeka K9 Massage