Melissa Weaver – Sentinel correspondent

Article Launched: 07/13/2008 01:36:25 AM PDT

Patti Sirens Moran bristles when people refer to animal massage as advanced petting.

The 51-year-old certified small animal massage therapist underwent 150 hours of training at the Ojai School of Massage in Ojai, which included learning about anatomy, physiology, nutrition and aromatherapy in addition to small animal massage techniques.

Before receiving any formal training, Moran said she noticed that whenever she petted an animal, her hands would gravitate toward any area where the pet was hurting.

“It was like something in my hands woke up,” she said.

She first noticed that talent four years ago while she was volunteering at the Horse Friends Large Animal Rescue in Watsonville, a ranch that rehabilitated donkeys. Having not grown up around equine animals, she admitted she would start rubbing them without really knowing what she was doing — but it was always in the area where they needed attention. At the point, she had no formal massage training.

“Animal massage is challenging because all you have to go on is body language,” Moran said. “Animals can’t tell you when or where something hurts,” she said, which is why she advocates proper nutrition to keep pets healthy.

“Feeding animals kibble every day is like you eating Cheerios every day,” she said. She feeds her cat a raw foods diet that includes ground turkey and eggs.

Moran typically massages older, arthritic dogs or anxious dogs who need to relax. She said she sticks to dogs because cats have trouble sitting still. She once massaged a rabbit, though, and “he seemed to like it,” she said.Certified in April, Moran doesn’t yet have her own office and is in the process of establishing a clientele. She said she would love to work out of a veterinarian’s office and offer massage for recovering pets, or work with a dog groomer and offer a “doggie spa.”

That first “doggie spa” will take place at Paradise Paws pet salon. Owner Nichole Peeples said she thought the idea was “pretty cool,” and agreed to let Moran host a clinic there from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. July 20.

“I guess it’s kind of different, but it’s a good idea,” Peeples said. “People do everything for their dogs.”

But she said she doesn’t think that people in Santa Cruz will go over the top with dog grooming. Other areas are a different matter however. Peeples said she has a friend in Carmel who gives doggie facials.

Veterinarian David Shuman said he thinks massage for pets is a good thing, provided the masseuse has the proper training.

“Physical training for animals is in the genesis stages,” he said. “It’s done, but not widely done.”

He said that animals naturally have a faster recovery time after an injury than people, and massage can only help. He stressed that anyone attempting to massage their pet should have a strong foundation in animal anatomy, because using human massage techniques on dogs or cats can harm the animal.

Contact Melissa Weaver at 706-3279 or jcopeland@santacruzsentinel.com.

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