Since becoming certified as a canine massage therapist in 2008, it became clear that a void existed for a proper table! Dogs would jump off of a human massage table causing it to crash and the therapist scrambling to contain both. As well, there are other modalities in animal healthcare – acupuncture/acupressure, cold laser therapy to name a few – who would benefit from an animal therapy table that would accomplish several things:
- Ensure the safety and comfort of both human and animal during the session
- Create a calm energy environment for both human and animal during the session
- Build on the new energy environment to increase the efficacy of the treatment itself for the animal
So I created one! My vision is that it will create a new paradigm in animal healthcare. Currently, animals are not considered to be partners in traditional veterinary medicine. Although they are more so in complementary healthcare practices such as massage, acupuncture and others. That can and does need to be changed. This table is a start, I think, in making what exists now, obsolete.
How it works:
Animal healthcare tables are made by humans for use by humans. The issue with that is it fails to recognize and take into account an important partner in animal healthcare – the Animals!
Most humans who work with Animals know the risks involved with the current table design: its height – while comfortable for human use – means potential fall injury to the Animals. Its shape – while comfortable for human use – means the Animal can’t turn around in an instinctual manner known as “tamping down the grass.”
The human response is to attempt to control Animal behavior rather than work with their partners. The Animal may then be restrained in some way that prohibits movement for them in an environment in which they may already be fearful. Any subsequent healing modality simply won’t have the same effect because the stress response in the Animal’s body is already activated. And that will work against the very modality that’s being offered to the body.
And can we talk about what moving the therapist up off the floor means?! No more sore knees or back from reaching and stretching out of alignment with their body. If the human is comfortable that creates a field of energy that makes the animal instinctually more comfortable as well. More comfort equals less reactive behavior – for both animal and human.
- The human can sit on a chair and have easy access to the animal during all parts of the session as the table is square and knee-height
- As the animal readjusts to the energy of the session – it happens – they can stand up, move around a bit and resettle (They tend to not stay lying down as humans do!) All the while the therapist remains safe and seated
- The human therapist can remain physically comfortable and able to respond quickly to any sudden shifts in movement by the animal
Updates regarding manufacturing and distribution coming soon!
Email if you’re interested in purchasing one for your practice.