Merriam-Webster defines it as “manipulation of tissues (as by rubbing, kneading, or tapping) with the hand or an instrument for therapeutic purposes”. The Oxford English Dictionary says “To apply massage to (a person or a part of the body); to treat by means of or in the manner of massage.” I describe it as “The gentle practice of manipulating the body’s tissues in order to soothe and heal.” However you define it, massage a wonderful health maintenance tool that I think everyone should try, at least once, both for themselves and their pets.

Do you have a pet rabbit? If so, treat her to a massage session, or even better, give her a massage yourself. Bunnies love massages, and while you might have to stick to her back, face and ears the first couple of times, eventually she will allow you to work her entire body. It’s a good idea to spend some time stroking her ears from the base to the tip – the ears have many acupressure points and your touch will both calm your bunny and support her health.

Most, but not all. Just like some people dislike strangers touching them, so do animals. Many pets are also a bit wary the first time they receive a massage; it is a different feeling from just being petted, and they are a bit unsure of what’s going on. But after the first session, most look forward to it. Cats can be tricky to massage, the ones that really enjoy it are usually the very cuddly ones, or older cats with arthritis and other types of joint pain.

In the past few years, several well-known massage schools have added animal massage courses to their curriculum, and there are also several that focus solely on animal massage. If you decide you want to apply to one of their programs, I suggest interviewing some of their earlier graduates to make sure you’ve picked the right school for you. There are also many that offer distance learning, which I am not so sure is the right way to go. For the theoretical part, sure, but in my opinion, you do need the hands-on training under the supervision of a professional massage therapist.

Even if you are not a trained massage therapist (for humans or pets), taking a weekend workshop or other non-certification course to learn the basics of animal massage can be of great benefit for both you and your pet. Massaging your pet is a wonderful way to bond, and if you do it on a regular basis, you will immediately notice if anything out of the ordinary pops up, such as a hot spot, bumps or bruises.