The below is from an interview from the Oregonian with the Maddy Turner, a massage therapist for people and pets:

"It makes sense," Turner says, "that dogs are athletes, and they're asking their bodies to use energy and compete. Those demands on their bodies sometimes cause soreness and stiff body parts. "

She says massage is ideal for performance dogs and working animals.

"They're constantly pushing their bodies to new limits with activities like walking and running, jumping and weaving, diving and swimming," Turner says.

Watching the dogs while they're competing helps her identify where they may be experiencing tight muscles or stiff joints. "They may be favoring one side a little bit or they could be walking kind of stiff-legged. I watch their gait as well," she says.

Massage is not just for performing canines. One of Turner's clients, who lives in Sandy with a 6-year-old border collie named Darby, is sold on the benefits of massage for her dog.

Kim Melen-McLean says Darby pulled a groin muscle several years ago and after visits to several veterinarians and one canine physical therapist, the dog was still favoring one leg and had trouble getting up.

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