Small Animal Bowen Therapy
Where anatomically possible, Bowen Therapy on animals follows the same procedure as on humans. I tend to focus on dogs but can also work on cats or other small animals.
The Bowen Therapist first assesses the animal by making observations, palpating and asking the owner questions. These will help to uncover the nature of the problem and any history that might be contributing towards it.
The Bowen treatment involves the therapist performing a number of gentle moves, with small rest periods intermittently throughout the treatment. These rests allow the sensory information given via the Bowen moves to be processed more efficiently by the body. When animals are injured, they tend to change the way they move in order to stop feeling the pain. The counter effect is that they redistribute pressure onto other parts of the body, and over time these other parts also begin to suffer from overuse or strain. The Bowen Technique works by re-balancing the body, and in effect undoing the damage caused by the strain. Through a series of gentle moves on the muscles of the animals, the healing system encourages the animals to enter a deep state of relaxation. This relaxed state in turn acts upon the body’s autonomic nervous system encouraging release on many levels. Muscles let go, toxins are released and the restored balance causes the animals to feel more comfortable. Since the technique is a highly relaxing and minimally invasive therapy, it can be used to treat a number of conditions in animals, and can also be practiced on animals that have been through traumatic experiences.
BENEFITS OF BOWEN THERAPY ON ANIMALS: Animals that have been treated with Bowen therapy show an overall improvement in well being. Relief from lameness, malaise, and digestive problems are common, and Bowen therapy on animals may also help to improve negative emotional states and behaviour.