An agility competition is the worst time for a dog to be in pain, have muscle soreness or restricted range of motion. All could affect a dog’s performance and might even prevent the dog from finishing the event.
Muscle pain and soreness relief for dogs is a key service that Theresa Wagge, owner of Madison Canine Massage in Madison, Wisconsin, will bring August 8 to 10, 2025, to the North Central Regional Championship of the United States Dog Agility Association®. The event, which will be held at the Canine Sports Zone in Middleton, Wisconsin, is expected to draw a large number of competitors and their dogs.
“I use a toolbox approach to canine wellness that centers around providing natural comfort and pain relief,” says Theresa, a certified canine massage therapist who is also certified in the technologies she uses.
“Providing sports care for dogs at an event is important,” says Shawna Richgels, co-owner and director of the Canine Sports Zone. “We have been fortunate to have Theresa on hand for most of our events for the past few years.”
Among the benefits of being on location at an event, Theresa says, “is providing a pre-event warm-up massage, which increases circulation, loosens muscles and improves range of motion. This helps to reduce the risk of strains and injuries during competition.
“A post-run recovery massage after an intense run helps flush out lactic acid, reduces soreness and promotes faster recovery for the next run. Early identification of tightness or minor strains can prevent more serious injuries from developing.”
Reducing soreness is important.
“If a dog seems sore, I help the owner recognize signs of tension or discomfort and offer suggestions for possible next steps. My focus is on supporting the dog’s comfort and well-being while giving the owner helpful information.”
The tools that Theresa uses to help dogs include: massage, cold laser, red light and MagnaWave Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF). Here is how they are used.
“A 15-minute massage can help to increase circulation to sore areas and thus speed recovery,” Theresa says. “If a dog’s muscles are tight, I might spend more time working out the soreness in that area. A massage not only helps to reduce pain, it also improves muscle tone, alignment, flexibility and range of motion.
“I am sometimes asked whether a dog should have a massage before or after a run. It totally depends on the circumstances of an individual dog. Older dogs may benefit from a massage between runs, for example.
“If someone has a three-hour drive home, I often recommend waiting until the end of the competition because a massage helps to get a dog relaxed and comfortable for the ride home.”
After a massage, Theresa may use cold laser or red light to enhance pain relief and tissue recovery for dogs. Both are particularly helpful for dogs with chronic arthritis and soft-tissue soreness.
“Red light uses both red and infrared light and is beneficial because the wavelengths are absorbed by different depths of tissue,” Theresa explains. “The visible red light is effective for stimulating acupuncture points, releasing trigger points and treating wounds and infections. The infrared wavelength, which is not visible, penetrates deeper and has been shown to be effective in helping heal soft-tissue injuries, joints and muscles.
“It provides scattered light and can be used two times a day at 15-minute intervals. It is helpful to begin the recovery of soft-tissue injuries.”
In contrast, she uses cold laser to provide focused laser light to a specific location. Cold laser penetrates deeper than red light and is typically used one time a day up to five minutes. It provides a pulse laser light or a steady-stream laser light with varying power settings.
“Cold laser is one of my favorite tools for inflammatory conditions,” Theresa says. “I typically use it about three minutes as a time, focusing on a 50-cent size area that is painful to a dog. This is effective at increasing blood circulation and stimulating the generation of cells.”
PEMF optimizes the body’s natural self-healing and regulating functions. It can penetrate deep into tissue, which can enhance cellular repair. PEMF is particularly useful for dogs with osteoarthritis or those recovering from ligament, tendon and muscle injuries.
“PEMF penetrates cell tissues and organs to help rejuvenate the body’s natural balance,” Theresa explains. “It is a powerful tool that has been shown to reduce pain and inflammation and increase circulation and oxygen in the body. Importantly, it can help a dog gain a better range of motion.”
Summarizing her goals, Theresa says, “I want dogs to be a better version of themselves after they see me. Whether it is being more relaxed, feeling better or less tight, I want to support the dogs and handlers the best I can.”
