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FOR INFORMATION ON INTEGRATED TOUCH THERAPY, INC. WORKSHOPS AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, VISIT WWW.INTEGRATEDTOUCHTHERAPY.COM. sessions, as all the compensatory tender and trigger points will return. One last area to address is the caudal vertebra within the body and beyond, known as the tail. Since the tail is so instrumental in balance and communication, I do not want to omit it. The caudal vertebra have attachments for the biceps femoris and semitendinosus, two powerful hamstring muscles in the quadraped for extension of the hip and stifle functions. A simple approach might be to use digital kneading along the vertebra in the body and then effleurage and compression on the rest of the tail. Even dogs that have naturally docked tails and those with docked tails for breed standards have caudal vertebra within their body from the sacrum to the edge of their bodies and then some. As a practitioner, you cannot see if you are leaving a bruise on most animals, as the skin is dark under all that hair or fur, so work carefully. Tapotements do have some applications during animal massage and range- of-motion techniques can be helpful as well. After an area is treated, flush it out with effleurage again and close the massage, perhaps with stroking. During, and most certainly after, the massage, I have the dog walk in a straight line and turn to the right and the left, watching to see if it places its feet under itself equally and bends through its body. I am looking for even weight-loading and foot placement and an even bend side to side, from head to tail. One of the most interesting aspects of massage on a quadraped is that any one of those areas of treatment could have held the answer to the soft- tissue lameness. It is a most interesting puzzle, presented to us by a concerned keeper who has already gone though the veterinary channels to clear the animal of any acute diagnosis. The animal knows the area hurts, or that in some way the injury has the potential to lower their status in the pack. connect with your colleagues on massageprofessionals.com 61 THE REWARDS So how do we know that our massage is effective? We will see a relaxed body posture, the tissues will soften and become hydrated, and most often, range of motion will be increased. It may be able to use its body more fully such as jump higher, run faster, or be more willing to participate in an activity without resistance. Its coat may shine, its behavior may change, and time required to heal from a surgery may be reduced. If your goal is to be a facilitator in the relationship between the animal and caregiver/keeper, you may be able to empower the keepers to make changes or decisions about the animal and its welfare that they might otherwise not have recognized or been able to make. Being part of a team of professionals who work together for the best possible outcome for the animals is terrific. It takes the veterinarian, keeper, trainer, and massage and bodywork practitioner to achieve that best possible outcome. I cannot guarantee I will find the source of the imbalance, but when I do, it is a great day and everyone wins—animal, keeper, and practitioner. APP, RCST, is the primary instructor for Integrated Touch Therapy, Inc., and has been teaching equine, canine, and feline massage for more than 16 years at Synergy Farm in Circleville, Ohio. Whalen-Shaw has written and published three books, two videos, and two DVDs as instructional guides for massaging dogs, cats, and horses. Contact her at wshaw1@bright.net. Patricia Whalen-Shaw, LMT, NCTMB,