At Happy Earth Pet Hospice I believe that pain management & palliative care comes in many forms. Although traditional pain medications can be helpful, there are many other ways to improve a pet’s total body comfort. Tui-na is Chinese Medical Manipulation and it is one of the 5 branches of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM). It is most closely associated with pet massage. At Initial Hospice Consultation, I will often teach families how to perform Tui-na at home which can be a great addition to a pet’s pain management plan.

Benefits of Tui-na for pets include:

• Minimal Risks or Side Effects
• Improves pain management without adding another drug
• Allows for more quality moments between pets & their families

Can anyone be taught how to do Tui-na?

Yes! I make sure to teach techniques that families feel comfortable applying onto their pet and that their pet will enjoy!! One of my favorite techniques is called Mo-fa and I often refer to this as “petting with intention.” I will begin and end a Tui-na session with this technique as I find it a good way to say “Hello” AND “Goodbye” to the soft tissue.

Did you know?

• Tui-na was first referenced in the Huang Di Nei Jing, Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine written in 475-221 BC
• Tui-na share similarities to acupressure, massage & chiropractic techniques
• Tui-na can help to strengthen the immune system

When a pet has mobility concerns, such as Osteoarthritis, Hind-end Weakness & Degenerative Myelopathy, I will often incorporate Tui-na into these patient’s mobility pain management plans. Other Life-Limiting diseases that I incorporate Tui-na into the palliative care include:

• Organ Dysfunction (Chronic Kidney Disease, Liver Disease, Pancreatitis)
• Heart & Lung Disease 
• Pet Cancer

To help Pet Families feel comfortable incorporating Tui-na into their pet’s pain management plan, Dr. Jeanette has been through extensive training at Chi University and is a certified TCVM practitioner, which means she has completed training & passed certification testing in: acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine, Food Therapy & Tui-na. 

If you are interested in learning more about how you can incorporate Tui-na into your pet’s palliative care plan, 📞 Call us or visit HappyEarthPetHospice.com to schedule a consultation.