Kinesiotaping For Animals

Kinesio tape is stretchy tape that can help improve the function of a joint or muscle without restricting its movement. It was created in the 70's by a chiropractor in Japan to help his patient's treatments last longer. While it was initially used just on humans, now it's also widely known in the animal world. And like humans, taping can be used to help the performance of an athletic animal as well as with wear and tear injuries. Kinesio tape is applied directly to the skin or in an animal's case, fur, in a particular pattern and direction, depending on the issue. Taping can help relax a tight muscle or stimulate a weak one and even help with the recovery of an injured joint.

HOW DOES KINESIO TAPE WORK?

Kinesio tape is stretched when it's applied. The premise is that the tape will try to get back to its unstretched state, slightly pulling the fur and layer of skin just underneath it. This produces something called the 'lifting effect'. The lifting effect creates space below the skin which allows for increased circulation, and improved removal of waste products which boosts healing.

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BUT WHAT ABOUT ALL MY PET'S FUR?

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What's great about kinesio tape is that this lifting effect will happen even when applied on your pet's hair - the tape will pull on the fur, and the fur will pull on the skin and produce the effect described above. Only if your pet's hair is very long - like a long haired cat or an Irish Setter - will the tape not work as well as it should.  In those cases, clipping the fur may need to be discussed but that is your decision, as the owner, to make.