• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

News and entertainment worth sharing – York and North Yorkshire

  • News
  • Things to do
  • Radio
  • Vouchers
  • Categories
    • Business
  • More
    • Comments
    • Advertise
    • Contact us
Castle Howard summer concerts 19 - 21 August
Castle Howard summer concerts 19 - 21 August
Castle Howard summer concerts 19 - 21 August
Castle Howard summer concerts 19 - 21 August

Meet the York woman who massages dogs and cats

Lizzie Garthwaite uses the EMMETT technique on Spike. Photographs: Emmett 4 Animals
Monday 6 February, 2017 @ 6.57 pm Business YorkMix
Share via...

Everyone likes to stroke a friendly dog or cat, but Lizzie Garthwaite goes one better – she gives them a massage.

Thanks to her specialist training Lizzie can relieve a Staffie’s muscle pain or a Persian Blue’s joint stiffness with just a few minutes of her healing hands.

“I have even treated a guinea pig for anxiety!” she said.

Lizzie, from South Bank, York, is a trained practitioner in the Emmett Technique, which can also be used on humans.

She began by learning how to apply the treatment to people before moving on to the rest of the animal kingdom.

Improving the whole animal

Lizzie treating Spike

“Animals might need a treatment for a range of reasons,” Lizzie told YorkMix.

“If they are competing, a treatment may help to release tight or overworked muscles and improve gait and stride.

“It may assist symptoms from an injury or accident. Sometimes animals might suffer with a general tightening of muscles, or with old age.”

She said different animals are also more susceptible to certain ailments – “for example, some golden retrievers can suffer with weak back legs”.

Working with Jessica the cat

The technique involves applying light pressure on specific parts of the body. Although most commonly used with horses and dogs, Lizzie said other pets can benefit.

“This technique has been used on cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, birds, sheep, and even a camel! This is really a therapy for all, people and animals alike.”

What is the Emmett Technique?

Australian animal expert Ross Emmett developed the technique after spotting how animals would respond beneficially to certain touches from him

He then realised that this technique worked just as well on humans

The technique uses very light and gentle finger pressure on specific ‘EMMETT’ points on the body

These points are either switched across lightly, or held together

This releases tensions and helps muscles re-set, reducing pain and discomfort and improving mobility

It is internationally recognised and taught in 26 countries

Four legs not two

A close-up of Lizzie working on Millie
For further information

Email Lizzie here

Call her on 07803 011349

See the Emmett UK website

Adapting the technique for animals took a bit of getting used to, Lizzie admitted.

“The first time I started training in Emmett with animals was quite strange, mainly because I was so used to using this technique on people.

“So having to alter what I knew to use on something on four legs, not two, was interesting.”

During her training she sometimes had to scale up or down: “We had a few different breeds to work with, and it was a challenge switching from working on a small terrier to then go to a massive mountain dog.”

Transforming a grumpy horse

A model patient… Spike

How does she know it is working? “I find that the animal will often ‘tell’ me what is a problem area, so I tend to allow them to approach me and I just gently feel over that area, looking for muscular reactions at certain points, or a reaction from the animal themselves,” she said.

After applying the each massage move, she watches the dog to see if it is having an effect. “They can show this by their breathing pattern, lowering their head or simply becoming still when you are ‘on the point’.”

She says you can see the difference immediately: “When I first started using this technique, even after a few moves, I could see that the dog was walking with a better gait and more freely.”

Sometimes there can also be a personality change: my colleague finds this especially with horses that initially are very grumpy or aggressive.

After an Emmett treatment, they can be like a different horse, as they are no longer in pain.

Treating pets and owners

Loves her work… Lizzie

Lizzie, 31, grew up in Malton and went to The Mount School in York. Her mum, a doctor, learned about the Emmett Technique and was impressed by it.

Passionate about dance, Lizzie had done an MSc in Dance Science and realised the treatment would help injured ballet dancers. She trained in the technique and began by applying it to humans before doing the extra training to use it on animals.

Now she often ends up treating pets and their owners.

“I love using this therapy, both with people and animals. Working with animals is perhaps more satisfying, as they can’t always tell you what the problem is.

“Using the Emmett Technique, I can find out where their pain and discomfort is, and help to reduce it.

“If by doing this I can help improve their lives, that’s good enough for me!”

Related YorkMix stories

Putting 100 indie York businesses on the map

York’s first gaming café planned – and you could play a part

‘Mind-blowing’ response to Spark York… and this video shows why

Footer

YorkMix
News 01904 848 766
Email YorkMix news »
5-6 King's Court, Shambles, York  YO1 7LD
YorkMix Radio
General enquiries 01904 375 029
Studio/competitions 01904 375 030
Email YorkMix Radio »
Selby Superbowl, Bawtry Road, Selby  YO8 8NA
YorkMix is a trading name of YorkMix Media Ltd
Registered in England
Company number: 07814727
VAT number: 154 0364 34
© York Sound Ltd

Copyright © 2022 YorkMix Media Ltd

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT