Finding effective ways to support our dogs’ health and happiness is a constant focus for many of us, especially when we’re faced with a health-related challenge. Looking for new ways to improve my dogs’ quality of life, I discovered a new tool in our routine care a few years ago: kinesiology tape for dogs. I was impressed by the noticeable support and comfort it provided my senior dog, Daviana, as she navigated the natural stiffness that comes with age. Plus, it was a key piece of the puzzle in my current dog, Lucifer’s, recovery journey from a severe injury. In this post, I will share the information necessary for you and your vet to determine if canine kinesiology tape can help improve your dog’s mobility and recovery.
What is Kinesiology Tape?
Before we talk about the details of dog kinesiology taping, let’s start at the beginning. What is kinesiology tape, anyway? Generally used by athletes, this brightly colored tape was first developed by Dr. Kenzo Kase in the 1970s. When applied correctly, the tape is designed to support muscles and joints without restricting a person’s range of motion.
However, it is important to note that kinesiology tape is not the same as traditional athletic tape. Where athletic tape is used to immobilize the joints or provide strong compression, kinesiology tape is more elastic, allowing for natural movement while still providing targeted support.
How Does Kinesiology Tape Work for Dogs
Kinesiology tape for dogs is a powerful supportive therapy, but it’s not a standalone treatment for medical conditions. Always consult with your veterinarian or a certified veterinary rehabilitation specialist before incorporating taping into your dog’s care routine.
While kinesiology tape was initially designed for human use, it has since been adapted for veterinary care, including its application for injury recovery. Kinesiology tape designed for dogs features a special adhesive, distinguishing it from the human version of the product. This allows it to grip shorter hair and directly to your dog’s skin where accessible. Unlike typical adhesives, it is capable of flexing with your dog’s movements throughout the day while still staying in place for an average of 5-10 days. If your dog has a medium to long coat, it is recommended that you cut back or shave the area to allow the tape to attach to the skin for best results.
If this is your first time considering taping, your veterinarian or certified canine rehabilitation specialist will help you learn the best methods considering your dog’s coat, body structure, and needs.
For our dogs, past and present, we use canine-specific tape from the brand Kinesio Taping. Founder Dr. Kenzo Kase is highly respected in the world of taping, with his research and application seen as the standard in the industry. Kinesio Tape is considered the first of its kind, having been developed in the 1970s for therapeutic use in humans. Seeing its benefits, he expanded his research and product line into the animal world from there, introducing Kinesio Canine and Kinesio Equine.
Understanding how to use this tape may seem a bit complex at first, but it starts with learning how it interacts with their body. So, how does kinesiology tape work for dogs? Instead of holding things still and in place, this tape helps support healing and recovery with natural movement. Think of it like a gentle, continuous massage or a constant reminder to their brain about how their body should be positioned.
Here are a few specific ways it works:
Skin Lifting & Decompression
When applied correctly, the tape will subtly lift your dog’s skin. It’s not a big or painful pull, just a tiny lift. This creates a small space between the skin and the muscles and other tissues underneath. Why is this helpful?
- Less Pressure, Less Pain: This gentle lift can take the pressure off sensitive pain points in the body, helping to reduce pain and discomfort as the muscles recover.
- Better Blood Flow: This extra space is also said to help improve blood flow and lymphatic drainage (the system that helps remove waste and reduce swelling in the body) by taking any pressure off that may limit flow.
Improving Body Awareness
Kinesiology tape sticks to the skin and fur, and as your dog moves, it moves with them. This constant movement sends signals to the brain that help even the most unaware dogs clearly comprehend where their body parts are in relation to their surroundings. This improved body awareness is especially helpful for dogs recovering from an injury or those who are naturally a bit unsteady, helping to improve their overall coordination and reduce the risk of further injuries.
Supporting the Connective Tissue
Our dogs, like us, have a vast network of connective tissue that wraps around muscles, bones, and organs, connecting everything in an internal web that supports and separates these structures. Healthy fascia is soft and flexible, allowing the muscles and other tissues to move and slide against one another. However, when the fascia becomes tight or restricted (due to injury, inflammation, or overuse), it can negatively impact your dog’s range of movement and cause discomfort.
Kinesiology tape, when placed along the lines of fascia, can influence how easily these tissues move. In doing so, it can help target and release tightness while improving overall flexibility.
Guiding Muscle Activity
Depending on how the tape is applied, it can gently encourage specific muscles to work more effectively or help overused or tight muscles to relax. This targeted support is an essential consideration for dogs with ongoing recovery, as they may be overcompensating for their injury or pain.
For example, while Lucifer’s injuries did include both front wrists, one was considerably worse than the other. This is why I started exploring the use of kinesiology tape for dog injuries. He was overcompensating for the “bad” leg by putting more stress on the “good” leg. While this allowed him to move a little more easily, it resulted in unnecessary pain and discomfort in the secondary location. For him to fully recover, we needed to not only address the initial injuries but also the pain he was experiencing from overcompensating for them.
When Can Kinesiology Tape Help Your Dog?
Of course, like any natural or holistic treatment option, kinesiology tape isn’t a magic bullet that will instantly fix any problem your dog encounters. However, it is an incredibly versatile proactive care tool that offers support in a range of situations, from acute injuries to chronic conditions, and can even help boost athletic performance.
- Post-Injury Support: It’s often used to help with the healing of sprains and strains, such as muscle pulls or mild ligament injuries, by reducing swelling and providing gentle muscle support without restricting movement.
- Post-Surgical Support: Following procedures such as cruciate ligament repair (stabilizing the knee joint), the tape can help manage swelling, reduce pain, and improve body awareness, which can help your dog regain proper movement patterns during recovery.
- Dogs with Osteoarthritis: Taping can help manage pain while also promoting a greater range of motion by supporting muscle function around affected joints. Incorporating this into our routine had a big impact on my girl Daviana’s movement, allowing her to move more easily and with less discomfort.
- Hip or Elbow Dysplasia: Dogs living with hip or elbow dysplasia may find that the improved support and pain relief of kinesiology taping can make daily activities more comfortable.
- Degenerative Myelopathy (DM): While taping won’t reverse or cure neurological diseases like DM, it can help dogs maintain better body awareness and coordination, allowing them to navigate their daily routine safely.
- Performance and Conditioning: For working or athletic dogs, it can be used to provide subtle muscle support that might help improve endurance or power. It can also be used as a preventive measure during strenuous activities, helping to stabilize muscles and reduce fatigue, which may potentially lower the risk of injury.
- Supporting Aging Dogs: This gentle approach provides your dog with support for weakness or instability in their senior years, helping them maintain better balance and confidence throughout the day.
How to Use Kinesiology Tape on Dogs Safely
While kinesiology tape can offer great benefits in many situations, its effectiveness and safety rely entirely on proper application. Incorrect application can be ineffective at best, and at worst, could cause skin irritation or discomfort. If you’re considering getting into dog kinesiology taping, I strongly recommend contacting a professional, such as a certified canine rehabilitation therapist (CCRT) or a veterinary chiropractor. They can share tips and techniques, focusing specifically on how best to use the tape for your dog’s individual needs.
Preparation for Taping
The area where you plan to apply the tape must be clean and thoroughly dry. Any dirt, oils, or moisture can impact the adhesive, preventing it from working correctly. Depending on your dog’s coat, you may need to consider trimming hair back to help the tape reach the skin for the full effect. This will vary from dog to dog. Daviana had a slightly longer and thicker coat, requiring a trim before each application, while Lucifer’s coat and the location of his taping have been effective without one.
General Tips for Application
For taping to be effective, kinesiology tape isn’t just stuck on randomly. Instead, there are several key factors you’ll need to consider to see the benefits. This includes:
- Tension: The amount of stretch you apply to the tape can range from “no stretch” (no pulling) right up to full stretch for specific effects. When learning how to apply the tape for your dog’s needs, ask your veterinary professional about the right level of tension for each use. A general rule of thumb is that you should never apply full tension over joints or delicate areas of your dog’s body.
- Direction: The direction tape is applied matters. It might need to be applied along or against muscle fibers or following the fascial lines (the connective tissues previously mentioned), depending on your therapeutic goals.
- Anchoring: Every strip of tape needs a secure anchor point at the beginning and end. Anchor points are generally applied with no tension as their purpose is to ensure that the tape stays in place and doesn’t pull too hard on the skin or fur.
- Duration of Wear: Kinesiology tape is designed to stay on for a few days, naturally falling off after two to five days, depending on your dog’s activity levels. However, if you notice signs of irritation, such as redness, itching, or excessive licking, the tape should be removed immediately. Do so gently, rolling the tape back on itself, and always peel in the direction of hair growth.
Taping as Part of a Bigger Wellness Plan for Your Dog
Kinesiology tape is most effective when used as part of a bigger multi-approach strategy for your dog’s health and mobility. Other elements that complement taping well include acupuncture, chiropractic adjustments, tailored exercise routines, and ensuring your dog has proper nutrition.
Combining taping with a high-quality joint-supporting supplement, such as Bernie’s Best Marvelous Mobility, is an excellent option, as the tape provides external support and body awareness, while the supplement works to boost and support healthy joints internally. This integrated approach addresses various aspects of your dog’s well-being, including working towards improving joint health while also preventing possible physical triggers or injuries in their daily routine.
For the best outcome, your wellness plan should include collaboration with a trusted primary veterinarian. They can accurately diagnose conditions that require more intense care, recommend appropriate therapies, and help you make informed decisions for your dog’s care.
Wrapping It Up: Kinesiology Tape for Your Dog’s Mobility
While kinesiology tape isn’t a magic solution to mobility problems, it is a non-invasive option that many dog parents have seen benefits from incorporating as part of a larger wellness plan. Whether you’re navigating recovery from an injury, managing a chronic condition (like canine arthritis), or aiming for peak athletic performance, it’s worth a conversation with your veterinarian!
I have personally seen how its unique properties can help improve circulation and recovery, reduce pain, enhance body awareness, and guide muscle activity, all while working in harmony with your dog’s natural movements for a better quality of life. Ultimately, this is another tool in your commitment to their overall happiness and well-being.
