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“Spa treatments don't stop with people. You won't see any aromatherapy candles around, but animals get massages, too, and it's become a regular service that many pet owners value as more than just glorified petting. Practitioners say massage can be a preventive measure for younger animals and rehabilitative for older ones by boosting flexibility, circulation and immunity. As its popularity continues to grow, primarily among dog and horse owners, so does the debate about regulation. Some veterinarians argue that pet massage is a form of veterinary medicine that requires a license, but whether therapists need one varies by state. The issue has sparked a lawsuit in Arizona, where three practitioners are suing the state veterinarian licensing board.

Pet owners spent $4.4 billion last year on “other services”, a category that includes grooming, training and services such as massage, according to the American Pet Products Association, which tracks national spending trends in the pet industry. That is a 6.1 percent jump from 2012. The American Veterinary Medical Association classifies animal massage as a form of veterinary care that should require a license. It is up to each state's veterinary licensing board whether to categorize it that way”. – Terry Tang via The Associated Press


In this November 6, 2014 photo, Shelah Barr of Happy Hounds Massage gives a massage to Dewie, 2, at the home of Laurie Ubben in San Francisco. (Photo by Jeff Chiu/AP Photo)

In this November 6, 2014 photo, Shelah Barr of Happy Hounds Massage gives a massage to Dewie, 2, at the home of Laurie Ubben in San Francisco. (Photo by Jeff Chiu/AP Photo)




Michelle Bessette, a certified massage therapist for pets and people, working on Linda Marx's dog Maggie at the Ritz-Carlton Sarasota. (Photo by Ritz-Carlton Sarasota/Palm Beach Daily News)

Michelle Bessette, a certified massage therapist for pets and people, working on Linda Marx's dog Maggie at the Ritz-Carlton Sarasota. (Photo by Ritz-Carlton Sarasota/Palm Beach Daily News)




In this November 6, 2014 photo, Shelah Barr of Happy Hounds Massage gives a massage to Dewie, 2, at the home of Laurie Ubben in San Francisco. (Photo by Jeff Chiu/AP Photo)

In this November 6, 2014 photo, Shelah Barr of Happy Hounds Massage gives a massage to Dewie, 2, at the home of Laurie Ubben in San Francisco. (Photo by Jeff Chiu/AP Photo)




In this November 6, 2014 photo, Shelah Barr of Happy Hounds Massage smiles while giving a massage to Dewie, 2, at the home of Laurie Ubben in San Francisco. (Photo by Jeff Chiu/AP Photo)

In this November 6, 2014 photo, Shelah Barr of Happy Hounds Massage smiles while giving a massage to Dewie, 2, at the home of Laurie Ubben in San Francisco. (Photo by Jeff Chiu/AP Photo)




In this November 6, 2014 photo, Shelah Barr of Happy Hounds Massage gives a massage to Dewie, 2, at the home of Laurie Ubben in San Francisco. (Photo by Jeff Chiu/AP Photo)

In this November 6, 2014 photo, Shelah Barr of Happy Hounds Massage gives a massage to Dewie, 2, at the home of Laurie Ubben in San Francisco. (Photo by Jeff Chiu/AP Photo)




In this November 6, 2014 photo, Shelah Barr of Happy Hounds Massage, center, gives a massage to Dewie, 2, at the home of Laurie Ubben, left, in San Francisco. (Photo by Jeff Chiu/AP Photo)

In this November 6, 2014 photo, Shelah Barr of Happy Hounds Massage, center, gives a massage to Dewie, 2, at the home of Laurie Ubben, left, in San Francisco. (Photo by Jeff Chiu/AP Photo)
05 Dec 2014 13:31:00