Image description: a white greyhound looks at the camera as receives manual therapy on his neck from the white woman (seen from shoulders down) seated behind him. Photo by Elizabeth Ryan
Pets & SERVICE DOGS
Effective August 1st, 2022, I am no longer providing housecalls or hands-on work for small animals except those in the care of a rescue, foster program, or veterinary organization. Zoom visits for private pet owners and service dog handlers are still available where I teach owner-appropriate maintenance and hospice massage techniques. Thank you for your kind understanding.
Veterans are eligible to receive all owner-appropriate massage instruction for their service dogs on a sliding scale payment basis.
The Oregon Veterinary Medical Examination Board requires animal massage practitioners to obtain a referral from an animal’s primary veterinarian in order to receive massage therapy. Rescue and rehoming organizations are still required to obtain veterinary clearance for an animal in their custody to receive massage therapy. An animal’s veterinarian knows the animal and their unique health history. By working together with veterinarians, animal massage practitioners receive valuable information and guidance about how to best support an animal. Animal massage is not intended to assume the primary health care responsibility of animals or replace regular veterinary care. Elizabeth Ryan, LMT, does not practice veterinary medicine, and her scope of practice does not include diagnosis, prescribing treatment, or prognosis of any veterinary medical condition. Per ORS 686.040 (4) you must authorize your organization’s veterinarian to provide a referral or other clearance to Elizabeth Ryan, LMT before a massage appointment can be scheduled for an animal in your organization’s custody. Please understand that veterinary practices are operating with significantly limited resources due to many factors arising from COVID-19. A veterinarian in the State of Oregon is not required to provide a requested referral.