Healing With Your Hands
Medical Massage For Animals (Tui-Na)
Tui Na (pronounced “twee-nah”) is an ancient Chinese therapeutic massage technique designed to promote the flow of Qi (“chee,” meaning vital energy) and blood throughout the body.
Think of it as a combination of acupressure, conventional massage and chiropractic techniques. Through targeted pressure and movement, Tui-Na stimulates blood flow, lymphatic drainage, and neurologic pathways. This can reduce muscular tension, support joint mobility, and encourage the body’s natural healing responses organs.
Listen With Your Hands
Tui-Na is performed with intention, not force. Consistency and sensitivity to your pet’s responses are far more important than pressure. Think of it as listening through your hands.
Exclusive Client Education
Dr. Sanghvi will be instruct pet parents safe Tui-Na techniques to incorporate into their pet’s daily wellness routine – This is to support ongoing wellness in between visits
Strengthening Human-Animal Bond
Pet parents will be transforming everyday touch into intentional, therapeutic connection. This will help them learn and better understand their pet’s physical cues and comfort levels, deepening trust, communication, and emotional closeness.
Early Awareness
This heightened hands-on awareness makes it easier to detect subtle changes — such as new tension, discomfort, or asymmetry — allowing concerns to be addressed earlier.
Frequently Asked Questions
About Veterinary Tui-Na
Is Tui-Na safe?
Yes. When performed by a veterinarian trained in integrative medicine, Tui-Na is gentle, controlled, and tailored to your pet’s medical condition and tolerance.
Is Tui Na stressful for pets?
Not when done correctly! Most pets relax—some even fall asleep during sessions. Always watch your pet’s cues and work with a skilled practitioner.
How often is it recommended?
Sessions are personalized to your pet’s condition. With Dr. Shah guiding you in proper technique at your first consultation, generally speaking, you will be performing Tui-Na on your pet 1–3x daily with each session being 5–15 minutes long.
Is Tui Na covered by pet insurance?
ome holistic or alternative treatment riders may cover it. Always check your policy. Go to Insurance Page to read more
Is there scientific support?
Manual therapies have been shown to influence circulation, soft tissue flexibility, pain modulation pathways, and parasympathetic (calming) nervous system activation. Tui-Na integrates these physiologic principles within a Traditional Chinese Medicine framework.
Therapeutic Applications Of Tui-Na
Alleviation of pain
and inflammation
Tui Na massage helps reduce joint pain and inflammation by relaxing muscles, releasing tension, and promoting the body’s natural healing response.
Improved joint mobility
and flexibility
The massage techniques target affected joints and surrounding muscles, easing stiffness, enhancing range of motion, and making movement more comfortable especially in arthritic animals, disc disease, and post-surgical recovery.
Enhanced blood circulation
and nutrient delivery
Improved blood flow brings oxygen and nutrients aiding tissue repair and reducing inflammation. Helps with digestive and respiratory issues.
Relaxation and
stress reduction
The gentle and rhythmic massage techniques promote relaxation, reducing stress and anxiety in cats and dogs
Strengthening of the
immune system
The gentle and rhythmic massage techniques promote relaxation, reducing stress and anxiety in cats and dogs with arthritis