Massage Therapy for Dogs

Canine massage therapy can ease the behavioral, emotional, and physical symptoms of pain or distress by removing tension, knots, realigning muscles and ligaments, and creating a more relaxed animal. It is more than petting or grooming.

OVERALL BENEFITS OF MASSAGE

  • Reduce inflammation naturally
  • Increase circulation
  • Improve digestion
  • Speed wound healing
  • Restore mobility to injured muscle tissue
  • Reduce stress and anxiety
  • Early detection of skin and health problems
  • Positive desensitization to touch
  • Naturally relieve pain
  • Increase flexibility and mobility

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Meet Heather Wallace, Dog massage therapist at Westminster Dog Show
Massage therapy for dogs New Jersey

Does your pet show any of the following signs?

  • Stiffness
  • Limping or irregular gait
  • Walking or standing in a C-shape
  • Tail down and tight
  • Itching
  • Shaking
  • Lethargy
  • Getting up slowly and stiffly from a prone position.
  • Nervous or anxious
  • Sensitive to touch

Bodywork that includes multiple modalities can address common physical changes in your pets and help remove imbalance and interference to natural movement, alleviating the symptoms above. In addition, therapeutic canine massage can prevent symptoms and slow the aging process- keeping your dog active and fit for as long as possible!

Make An Appointment

Does my animal have to be stiff or sore to get bodywork done?

Not at all. My goal is to prevent injury, lameness, and illness as much as possible so regular bodywork is ideal BEFORE your animal has problems. New puppies learn positive touch and desensitization while older, arthritic dogs require different techniques to ease discomfort with massage. Each session is customized to the physical and emotional needs of the client. 

What does bodywork benefit?

Oh so many things! Our goal is to bring the body back to balance. While we are often called in to help relieve symptoms naturally we believe prevention is the best option. Benefits can include but are certainly not limited to:

  • Soreness
  • Soft Tissue Injuries
  • Arthritis and Inflammation
  • Immune support
  • Natural Pain Relief
  • Improve Digestion
  • Speed Healing
  • Open Stance and Increase flexibility
  • Lameness (Prevention and Healing)
  • Reduce Stress and Anxiety
  • Pre- and Post-Surgery

Where do you practice?

Small animals are seen in Keyport, New Jersey on Wednesdays and Fridays. I also have appointments available once monthly in Marlton, NJ (near Mt. Laurel) and Hopewell, NJ (near Princeton).

Home visits are not available at this time. If your pet is not mobile or has severe anxiety, exceptions may be made if the schedule allows for a home visit and is veterinarian-referred. Home visits are subject to an additional surcharge. 

What is the treatment time?

Each of our treatments are customized to your individual animal’s need, comfort level, and sensitivity to bodywork. Times may depend on the type of therapy as well as the combination of services.

The initial session is 45 minutes so that I may observe your dog’s gait at rest and learn your concerns and goals. The average session time for small animals is 15-20 minutes. Animals are sensitive and quickly move into the Rest-Digest-Heal state of the Central Nervous System so they respond quickly to my methods. 

How often is bodywork needed?

Regular treatments are most beneficial to prevent injury, improve mental fitness and increase flexibility. However, each animal has different needs depending on age, fitness level, and condition. Below are a general guideline.

  • General wellness and maintenance sessions should be seen every 4 weeks for best results.
  • Senior animals should be seen every 1-2 weeks depending on need and physical status.
  • Athletes such as agility dogs and performance animals are recommended sessions bi-monthly to monthly.
  • Animals requiring rehabilitation due to illness or injury may need to be seen weekly to aid healing, but no more than twice per week.

I customize sessions to fit your animal’s needs and your budget. I do offer a multi-dog discount for 3 or more animals.

Does my animal have any limitations after the session?

My work is gentle yet effective. The best results come from when the animal is moving naturally and continuing to release tension naturally. There are no limitations after massage therapy sessions unless specifically noted by the practitioner.

Should I check with my veterinarian prior to a session?

I recommend a consultation with your veterinarian whenever you have concerns about your animal’s health. Massage, acupuncture, chiropractic work, and aromatherapy are complementary therapies that are meant to assist self-healing and balance within the body. Our focus is on the animal as a whole. Bodywork professionals are not qualified to treat, diagnose, or give a prognosis of any injury or illness. I will gladly work with your veterinarian and other healthcare professionals, farrier, caretakers, and trainers to ensure that your animal receives the best possible care.

Bodywork and canine massage is an important aspect of holistic wellness and prevention, increasing healthy blood flow and removing imbalances in the muscle. As a result, the soft tissue can properly stabilize the vertebrae, tendons and ligaments.

Therapeutic massage therapy is more than petting or grooming. We use fingers to detect knots, adhesions, or imbalances and remove them so your pet can have the most mobility and function possible.

SOME OF MY HAPPY CANINE CLIENTS

Score, Winner All-American Westminster Agility Finals 2023
Pre-Westminster massage with Cinna
Pets: Gonzo, Beau, and Koda
Sterling, Westminster Agility 24 inch 2025
Heather Wallace performing massage on a dog in Central New Jersey
Farm session with working dog Bailey
Kissy the Basenji, Best of Opposite Westminster Dog Show 2025

Why work with Heather?

Heather has worked for years with a variety of breeds and ages. She is incredibly sensitive to the needs of each client and their softest communication. Time after time, Heather has earned the trust and bonded with even the most anxious animals, some of whom would not let others interact with them. Trust is earned and there is nothing she finds more gratifying than working in partnership with her canine clients to help them find balance naturally and live their best lives mentally, emotionally, and physically.

Heather works regularly with small animal veterinarians and chiropractors as part of a wellness team for animals. She is also the Official Massage Therapist for the Westminster Dog Show and The National Dog Show and has worked closely with the American Kennel Club throughout the tri-state area. Learn more about Heather here.

Does your pet have arthritis? Injured? Separation anxiety? New puppy? Ask me how we can help.

Sessions are by appointment only on Wednesdays and Fridays in Keyport, New Jersey. Please complete the form below to be contacted for an appointment for evaluation and therapies.

New Client Appointment Request

I understand that massage/ aromatherapy/ acupuncture work is not a substitute for medical treatment or medications, and that it is recommended that I work with my veterinarian for any medical conditions that my animal may have. I understand that Heather Wallace, or other non-veterinary associates of Animal Bodywork and Aromatherapy cannot diagnose illness or prescribe medications. I understand that any information provided by the therapist is for educational purposes only, and is not diagnostically prescriptive in nature. I have listed all my animal’s known physical conditions, limitations, medical conditions and medications. It is my responsibility to update this information with the therapist and contact my veterinarian if my animal’s physical condition, limitations, medical condition or medications should change. By signing this release, I consent to treatment for my animal and hereby release Heather Wallace, ESMT, CST, CCMT, CEE and the independent contractors of Animal Bodywork & Aromatherapy from any and all liability, past, present and future, relating to the bodywork services provided at your request.
I hereby give Heather Wallace/Animal Bodywork and Aromatherapy permission to photograph my animal for the purposes of posting on social media channels for promotional or educational purposes. I understand my personal information will remain private and will not be shared to the public with the exception of my animal’s first name and image.

Please visit my Testimonials to hear what my clients are saying about me.

*Disclaimer: Massage and aromatherapy are complementary therapies that assist self- healing. These therapies are not a replacement for veterinary care. Massage professionals are not qualified to treat, diagnose, or give a prognosis of any injury or illness.  Consult your veterinarian for concerns with your animal’s health.