1. Introduction to Pet Massage
- Concepts of pet massage and massage therapy
- History and development of massage
- Interaction between the therapist and the animal
- Effects and potential benefits of massage

 

2. Purposes and Applications of Massage
- Massage in relation to muscles and musculoskeletal conditions
- Muscle tension, spasms, pain and inflammation
- Joint flexibility, muscle strength and endurance
- Coordination, balance and movement
- Healing, scar tissue and rehabilitation-related topics

 

3. Contraindications to Massage
- Conditions in which massage may not be appropriate
- Skin diseases
- Gastrointestinal diseases
- Urinary diseases
- Cancer and other health conditions covered in the course

 

4. Canine Anatomy
- Skeletal structure of cats and dogs
- Muscular structure of cats and dogs
- Nervous system
- Urinary system, including the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra
- Anatomical illustrations relevant to massage

 

5. Basic Massage Techniques
- Stroking
- Kneading
- Percussion and cupped-hand percussion
- Transverse friction
- Circular pressure techniques
- Basic considerations when applying different massage methods

 

6. Lymphatic System and Lymphatic Massage
- Introduction to the lymphatic system
- Distribution of lymphatic vessels and lymph nodes
- Locations of major lymph nodes
- Lymphatic circulation concepts
- Whole-body lymphatic massage

 

7. Acupressure and Relaxation
- Basic acupressure concepts
- Acupressure points discussed in the course
- Relaxation-related applications
- Practical massage exercises

 

8. Aromatherapy
- Introduction to aromatherapy
- Proposed applications in animal care
- Considerations when using complementary approaches