Skillful Paws

At Skillful Paws, we believe that animals, just like humans, are susceptible to muscle tension, tightness, and sprains that can lead to pain, headaches, and decreased mobility. Our team, led by a European licensed human massage therapist with extensive experience in sports injuries, therapeutic, and deep tissue massage, understands the importance of addressing these issues in your pets.

We offer acupressure, sport, and therapeutic massage for dogs and horses. Our sessions are conducted in the comfort of your own home or stable, ensuring that your pet feels relaxed and at ease during the treatment. We service the greater Austin area and are happy to travel to ensure that your pet receives the best care possible.

Our mission is to provide a holistic approach to your pet's health, focusing on muscle tension, circulation, and overall well-being. We understand that every animal is unique and may require different types of massage or acupressure, depending on their age, health, and special needs. We are dedicated to providing personalized treatment plans that cater to each animal's specific requirements.

Meet the Owner

Our owner is a European licensed human massage therapist with years of experience in the field of sports injuries, therapeutic, and deep tissue massage. In 2006, one of her dogs injured her knee, and as she didn't need rehabilitation, she decided to try working with her from a massage therapy point of view. She saw major improvements and was encouraged to get training in both therapeutic and sports massage for dogs in 2007. The following year, she completed training as a Large and Small Animal Acupressure Practitioner and now offers bodywork for both dogs and horses.

She is a graduate from The Rocky Mountain School of Animal Acupressure and Massage and a member of IAAMB, The International Association of Animal Massage and Bodywork. She understands the importance of having a solid theoretical background when determining the best suitable therapy for each animal.

She graduated ABC Animal Behavior College's dog trainer course in August 2007 and has been educating herself on body language and behavior ever since. Behavior is a crucial part of the equation when assessing the needs and underlying issues causing muscle problems for an animal.

She has experience working with top-level competition dogs in agility, IPO, Mondio Ring, and Conformation, as well as polo horses, dressage, hunter/jumpers, eventing, cutting, barrel racers, and ex-race horses.

Services Offered

At Skillful Paws, we offer a range of services designed to cater to your pet's specific needs. Our services include:

• Acupressure: Acupressure is a great aid in helping with muscle tension and improves circulation. It is similar to acupuncture but without the use of needles.

• Sports Massage: Sports massage is designed for dogs and horses that are involved in high-intensity activities. It helps to improve flexibility, reduce muscle tension, and enhance performance.

• Therapeutic Massage: Therapeutic massage is ideal for dogs and horses that are experiencing muscle tension, pain, or limited mobility. It helps to relax the muscles, improve circulation, and promote healing.

• WaterWorks: WaterWorks is an in-pool therapy where the practitioner is in the pool with the dog. This service is only offered if you have access to a pool.

We understand that every animal is unique and may require different types of massage or acupressure. Our team is dedicated to providing personalized treatment plans that cater to each animal's specific requirements.

Why Animal Acupressure and Massage?

Animals, just like humans, get muscle tension, tightness, and sprains that can lead to pain, headaches, and decreased mobility. They don't complain or ask for a Tylenol. Instead, they compensate by using other muscle groups. Often, we don't notice the sometimes subtle changes in movement and/or behavior caused by hidden muscle problems. Trauma and emotional stress also affect your horse or dog, causing its body to tense up. Over time, the decreased blood flow through the muscles can lead to a less effective immune system and make the animal more prone to infections. Massage and acupressure help increase circulation, reduce muscle tension, and improve overall well-being.

Important Note

Please remember that massage is never a substitute for veterinary care. By law, massage and acupressure on an animal are required to be done under the direct or general supervision of a licensed veterinarian. A signed supervision form from your vet is required prior to your first session in order to be in compliance with Texas Administrative Code §573.14. This form can be downloaded from the "Forms" tab.