Small Animal Massage Specialist
What could be more rewarding than making dogs feel better by improving an animal’s overall wellbeing with your touch? For the past 18 years, Nicola Way has provided therapeutic massage and rehabilitation for dogs experiencing muscular degeneration and neurological issues.
Nicola Way, age 50, Vancouver Animal Massage
First and foremost, my services are not a substitute for veterinary care. Vets refer dogs to me for muscular problems such as strains, sprains or trauma that have resulted in an injury. Referrals allow me to know exactly where to focus. Massage can also help when there has been damage to some part of the nervous system such as a herniated disc or spinal cord damage that results in neuropathy.
Massage also improves flexibility and relieves tension, and so it can also help with arthritis and age-related issues. While a veterinarian can help arthritis symptoms with pain management, gentle massage triggers blood flow and rids toxins in a certain area—you want to keep a dog supple as possible.
Like people, not all dogs like hands on them. If they have been in abusive situations or in extreme pain they may be fearful, but most dogs relax and enjoy. Someone may tell me their dog was fine last night but cannot get up today. I always advise them to call their vet first. A vet always refers me for a reason—not for Fluffy’s birthday.
Animal massage in the U.K. is common, and it was always my career choice. I moved to Canada from the U.K. in 1996 and there wasn’t anywhere offering courses so I went back to England and studied. I also took an 18-month course in cranial-sacral anatomy and internal workings in Oregon, a course taken by vets so the bar is high. And I took a one-year course with the Northwest School of Animal Massage in Washington State, became certified and advertised in the local newspaper. My phone rang immediately. I also offered my services at vet clinics, and the majority of my clients are vet-referred.