I’ll bet you enjoy petting your cat and feeling her vibrate with happy purrs, or seeing your dog go into a Zen trance when you deeply rub his ears.  It’s hard to say who gets the most pleasure out of these moments – us or our pets. Research has shown hands-on interactions with our pets provide benefits that work both ways for our health.  Our stress levels fall when we pet our dogs and cats and so do theirs. Gentle, loving touch decreases our pets and our own cortisol levels and releases more of the beneficial bonding hormone oxytocin.

But doing focused body work with our pets can have even more advantages far beyond simple relaxation and feel-good moments.  August is EFT Tapping month, and it seems an appropriate moment to mention some of the more widely studied and practiced body work (often called energy work) techniques humans practice with their pets.

EFT Tapping (Emotional Freeing Technique) is a blend of specific physical touch along with a verbal behavioral modification script. It is quite easy to perform, needs no tools for success and has many dedicated adherents.  Check the NWN August 2025 blog for more information on this topic.

Acupressure requires a higher skill set and can work well for many physical ailments. You can learn about meridians and acupressure points and work on your animals yourself or contact a licensed vet who will often use acupressure in addition to more conventional vet care.

Massage can be done by a professional, but with some study you can attempt this method yourself. Done correctly, massage can be the ultimate body work for complete relaxation for you and your pet.

Range of Motion (ROM) techniques are employed by physical therapists to assess the flexibility of joints and muscles. These techniques are most effectively used by professionals but can be modified and used at home with your pets.

Tellington TTouch is another hands-on method that helps activate the cells by awakening cellular intelligence. TTouch is often used in rehabilitation and aims to improve animals’ confidence, making them easier to train and boosting their performance.

Canine Bowen Technique (CBT) is a very gentle therapy that uses the fingers and thumb in a rolling motion that targets connective tissue surrounding muscles and organs.  It increases mobility and helps to restore balance.

All of the disciplines listed above have excellent records in improving the lives of dogs and cats (but are not limited to those species). They are convenient, they can all be done in the comfort of your own home by you at no cost. However, to hone your skills for truly effective results you should investigate each of their websites, buy a book or two, perhaps attend a workshop and when you are confident that you have mastered the techniques to the best of your ability, you can begin an exciting new body work journey with your pet. Using all of these therapies will release oxytocin, strengthening your pet/parent relationship. They will help with physical healing, plus some will have behavioral/emotional support, all will improve circulation and encourage better immune function. And in the end, it’s just you and your dog or cat sitting on the living room floor discovering new ways to communicate with each other through the magic of touch. A rewarding experience on so many levels.