Dog Shoulder Pain Relief
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Here's what we're going to do:

1. Generally, your dog lying on their belly or their side makes it easiest to do these shoulder joint pain relief techniques. But you also have to do whatever your dog will allow, so if they will only sit or stand at the moment then you can work on them in those positions as well.

First, you want to feel the tissue on the side of your dog's spine from about a third of the way down their spine all the way up to their neck. You want to notice any tight, rubbery, ropey type tissue. And when you find tight tissue take a minute and do the press-pull-release technique on the area to get it to release, which you'll know because it will become supple and more malleable when it lets go.

If the tight spot you've found is stubborn and won't quite release, then feel free to move on, but make a mental note to revisit the spot later.

You'll probably find some good spots to release in the space between the shoulder blade and the spine. And you're dog will generally enjoy you working on those spots, so take advantage of that.

2. Second, now with your fingertips or your thumb press into the shoulder blade area and notice any tight tissue. I tend to prefer using my fingertips, but do whatever is most comfortable for you. Remember, the shoulder blade bone is directly under this tissue, so you don't have to press very hard to get the work done, most of the time. Do the press-pull-release on any tight spots you find.

Often, by now my dogs could use a little break, so feel free to stop and let your dog walk around a bit. Assess how effective your dog's shoulder pain relief treatment has been by observing them for a moment. There's probably more work to do.

3. With your dog in just about any position, take your finger tips and feel their chest muscles. Basically, from the bottom of their neck down to their armpit and from the center of their chest all the way out to their leg bone, you want to find any tight tissue.

You can be gentle but firm, as most dogs seem to enjoy being worked on in this area. Release whatever you can with the press-pull-release technique.

4. Now we'll actually work on the "shoulder muscles." I find that having your dog lying on their belly or their side makes it easiest to get these muscles to release. With either your finger tips or your thumbs feel into the shoulder muscles at the very top of the leg and do the press-pull-release on any tight tissue you find.

These muscles are generally very strong and you can work on them with some decent pressure, but pay attention to how much pressure your dog is comfortable with.

5. Now we'll work on the muscles in your dogs armpit. With your fingertips in your dogs armpit and your thumb on the outside of the arm, you'll work GENTLY up into the very top inside of your dogs front leg, and you'll want to gently go all the way up into the armpit. Do the press-pull-release to free any tight tissue you may find.

One of my dogs has a regular issue up in her armpit from constantly pulling sideways on our nightly walk. I release this area regularly and she feels much better, but I always have to be gentle.

6. Now assess how effective your dog shoulder pain relief treatment has been by observing your dog walking, running and playing. If you need to do more work then assess when your dog will be ready for it, release any additional tight tissue in the areas you didn't get to release the first time around, notice what may have gotten tight again since you released it, and assess your progress again.

Stay at it, and your canine pal will greatly appreciate the pain relief you provide them.