The following guidance has been issued by the RCVS in relation to veterinary consent for competition and maintenance care:
19.24 Musculoskeletal maintenance care for a healthy animal, for instance massage, does not require delegation by a veterinary surgeon. However, the animal must still be registered with a veterinary surgeon. Maintenance should cease and the owner of the animal should be asked to take their animal to a veterinary surgeon for clinical examination at the first sign that there may be any underlying injury, disease or pathology. Alternatively, the musculoskeletal therapist may ask the client for formal consent to disclose any concerns to the veterinary surgeon that has their animal under their care.
Massage shouldn’t be performed when:
- Temperature is over 102° (F) or 39° (C)
- A wound that is less than 7 days old – Equine massage may cause the wound to reopen and stop healing, therefore becoming more vulnerable to infection and the development of further scar tissue.
- Acute trauma (a torn muscle or an area with internal bleeding, such as an acute hematoma) (72 hours normally needs to pass following ice techniques and assessments.)
- Severe forms of functional nervous disease (tetanus) are present.
- Acute nerve problems or nerve irritation (neuralgia) in a particular area (following a wound or a bad stretch
- During diarrhoea, pregnancy, or hernias, I can use just a light stroking on the abdomen if the horse accepts this
- Acute rheumatism and arthritis are usually too painful for massage
- Discharge/Mucous from the eyes or nose – Mucous & equine massage therapy do not mix. Many massage techniques will simply encourage the production of mucous
- Laboured Respiration – can be an indication of restricted airways, either from infection and/or an allergic reaction, both of which can induce swelling and/or spasms within the airways
- Colic – Equine massage could alter the muscular actions of the horse, increasing the state of spasmodic colic
- Cushings – Equine massage therapy could enhance this condition by spreading the flow of steroids via the horse’s blood flow (each case should be discussed with the vet)
Massage is absolutely contraindicated in the following conditions!
- Skin problems – fungal origin, such as ringworm
- Infectious conditions of fistulous origin, such as poll-evil or fistulous withers
- Infectious diseases, such as strangles, tetanus, and pneumonia
- Acute stages of viral diseases, such as equine influenza or herpes