Animal Massage Therapy Certification – Michael Permuko, 56, had enjoyed a successful career in banking, financial advice, mortgages and insurance, with a side hobby of coaching student basketball, when a mysterious ailment 15 years ago forced him to rethink his future.
In 2000, after beginning a five-year stint teaching business and math at the public high school level and at Saint John Vianney in Holmdel, “I suddenly developed double vision out of nowhere,” recalls the Paterson native and longtime Point Pleasant resident.
Animal Massage Therapy Certification
While test after test for disorders like Lyme disease, cancer and diabetes all came back negative, “the double vision stayed with me and no doctor could help,” he said. “They declared me a medical enigma and could not diagnose the problem.”
Vancouver Animal Massage
In his own personal pursuit of holistic relief over the next several years, “I met a wonderful massage therapist just a few blocks away from my home and, after one particular session, mentioned to her that I would love to be able to provide that kind of service for dogs and horses since I was looking for a new venture in the business world and love animals,” Permuko said. “She wanted to become certified in equine massage therapy and helped me research programs that certify certified practitioners to serve both dogs and horses, and that’s when the wonderful world of canine and equine massage therapy opened up to me.”
After enrolling in a Virginia-based program that offered both on-site and online instruction and taking advantage of the opportunity to practice on his own four family dogs, including his 12-year-old golden retriever rescue, Zach, “I completed certification in canine massage therapy (CMT) in October 2010 and equine massage therapy (Equine Sports Massage Therapy, or ESMT) in December 2010 and launched my company, Canine & Equine Massage Therapy LLC, in early 2011.”
In his practice, he travels to the home or stable of his animal patients so that they can stay in their comfort zone and sees a variety of cases, “including retired greyhounds, thoroughbred horses on and off the racetrack whose shoulder blades and/or legs are affected from getting off and running, as well as dogs with muscle strains, arthritis, competition injuries from catching Frisbees, and congenital hip problems,” Permuko said.
“A muscle is a muscle, whether in a human or an animal, and they can get injured and strain, causing a downward spiral for the health of your four-legged friend,” he said. “My services are not a substitute for veterinary care, but keeping muscles flexible and relaxed through massage improves health and quality of life and is also helpful in detecting new problems as well as starting the healing process after an injury.”
Arizona Animal Massage
Offering special hour-long massages monthly for maintenance or every two weeks if injured to patients throughout Monmouth, Ocean and Middlesex counties and as far away as Pennsylvania and southeastern states, “I begin by getting the animal to relax and into a hypnotic state and then start massaging behind the ear, neck and upper back and work my way down her whole body,” said Permuko, who only charges for his services – $40 per hour for a dog and $50 per hour for a horse – when the full 60 minute process is completed.
“The first time I go, some animals allow me to massage, while others struggle or need time to warm up to me, but eventually they lie down and wait for me to continue, because I feel better,” he said. “In fact, some horses get so relaxed that they relieve or finish themselves right in front of me,” he joked about one of the perils of a job well done.
Brick resident Kim Skillman, a member of a dog rescue operation with husband Bob, said that Permuko’s skilled services and gentle roach have worked wonders on her family’s 13-year-old Shepherd mix, Andy, who has a genetic disease similar to ALS.
“Andy loves to watch Mike and usually falls asleep during the massage,” Skillman said of the practitioner who is affectionately known as ‘Uncle Mike’ in their home. “Dogs with Andy’s condition typically can’t run within a year of their diagnosis, but it’s been 2½ years since Andy was diagnosed and although he’s on medication and supplements, I attribute a lot of his success to Mike and his thorough hands-on therapy ,” she said. “Mike is a wonderful man and I think many other animals could benefit from his service.”
The Barn Rat Career Panel: Equine Massage Therapist
Although Permuko said the ultimate passage of his animal clients, many of whom are elderly and battling medical issues, is upsetting and difficult to deal with, he is rewarded by the improvement in comfort and quality of life he is able to provide during their time of emergency
“When I’m with a dog or a horse in a massage, I see their visual cues, like when they lick their lips, yawn, stretch or lean into me – signs that tell me the massage process is working,” Permuko said. “I’ve been told that I get ‘in the zone’ with animals I handle – I just feel what their muscles are telling me.” practitioners.
Our Practitioner Series classes are certified and regulated by the Colorado Department of Private Occupational Schools. Completion of this series gives students a certification in therapeutic animal massage and approval to practice animal therapeutic massage in the state of Colorado.
To be eligible to sit for the NBCAAM board certification exam, students must ALSO complete the following (NBCAAM certification is not required to practice animal massage in Colorado):
Midwest Natural Healing For Animals, Llc
Only a basic massage certification (PRACT01 & PRACT02) is required to practice professional animal massage in Colorado. NBCAAM certification is not required.
The key to being successful in any career is to never stop seeking new knowledge and skills. Our professional series enables those working in veterinary medicine and animal massage to improve their skills, discover new topics of interest and learn how to grow their business. The classes in this series are designed for practitioners who have already earned their certification or have another advanced degree, i.e. veterinarians, technicians.
Students in the medical and therapeutic aspects of animal massage to help them become part of the veterinary treatment team.
Our certification courses cover anatomy, physiology, kinesiology and basic veterinary science in addition to directed, supervised hands-on massage practice. We work to incorporate multi-modal models of learning from hands-on training to self-paced online classes to meet the needs of each student.
Massage Therapy For Dogs
Not only are our instructors experts in their fields—veterinarians, massage therapists, veterinary technicians, and veterinary support staff—they are passionate about sharing their expertise with you and building the field of animal massage. This course has been developed for those who wish to pursue a career in Canine Massage Therapy. This certification course provides you with all the basic knowledge, fundamental massage techniques and advanced physical therapy techniques needed to successfully practice Canine Myo-manipulative Functional Therapy (CMFT).
This course is completely online and consists of PowerPoints, video presentations and demonstrative videos with homework assignments and quizzes. This certification course is divided into 2 modules. There are no deadlines to complete this course. Work at your own pace from the comfort of your own home!
* It is recommended that you have a high school diploma before registering for this course. Experience handling dogs and access to a dog or dogs to practice on is required
To purchase and register for this course, please click on the ‘More Info’ tab which will direct you to the providers page to purchase as an accredited affiliate student.
Colorado School Of Animal Massage
The Canine Myo-manipulative Functional Therapy Certification Course covers your basic knowledge such as anatomy, physiology, evaluation and foundation techniques. It then builds on your basic knowledge and covers dog handling, behaviour, safety, first aid, zoonotic diseases, Swedish massage, acupressure, myofascial release, Gua Sha massage, TMJ massage, stretches, introduction to hydrotherapy and various other physical therapy techniques and more .
Once this course is successfully completed, students are eligible for membership in the International Association of Animal Massage and Bodywork.
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