Should we really be using massage guns on horses? I see all the social media posts of horses loving the massage from a massage gun, but is it really helpful without being hurtful?

"Improperly using a massage gun on tendons can cause torn tendons and other serious injuries"

Massage guns can also damage other structures near tendons, such as nerves, blood vessels, and ligaments.

I side in the space of caution when it comes to our beloved animals. Besides being properly trained to use my body to improve mobility, performance and reduce pain, I believe that one should not use a massage gun on an animal. Just my humble opinion, you have to do what you believe is right.

General contraindications 

Some Reasons and When Not to Use a Massage Gun:

• If a horse has laminitis, iron deficiency, kidney disease, blood clotting disease, or any other condition that may make it easier to damage cells

• Over wounds, rashes, or blisters

• Over areas with active inflammation

• Over torn muscles, ligaments, or tendons

• Over new scars (less than 12 weeks old)

• Over fractures or areas of low bone density, equine bone fragility syndrome (BFS) or silica-associated osteoporosis (SAO).

• On the face or head

• On the neck

• Over your chest (front or back) if there are any lung conditions, including asthma 

• Over exposed arteries and veins, including near the collar bones, the armpits, crook of the elbow, front groin, back of the knee

• In areas with little muscle (just skin and bone), including around the knee, ankle, or elbows, and on the top or around the hooves

• In areas where they don’t have normal sensation and can’t feel what is happening.
  
  If you order a massage from  me, now you know why I won't be showing up with a machine to do the massage on your equine or canine.

Thank you for reading,

Renay Matthews, CMP