Service Description

Every Soul Paws First Assessment + Massage includes an initial functional and hands-on assessment. This extended service goes considerably further, providing a documented evaluation of your dog’s current movement, mobility and soft-tissue patterns—creating a meaningful baseline that can be reviewed, shared and used to track progress. The assessment may include: • Posture, stance and natural weight distribution • Front- or hind-limb loading and compensatory patterns • Paw position, placement and movement • Walking gait viewed from multiple angles • Transitions such as sitting, standing, turning and lying down • Balance, coordination, mobility and movement confidence • Visible asymmetries, guarding or altered movement strategies • Gentle hands-on palpation of muscles, fascia and surrounding soft tissues • Recorded observations such as heat, tension, tenderness, tissue texture and areas of restriction • Relevant photos and short video clips to help document key findings Following the assessment, you will receive a detailed, guardian-friendly summary outlining what was observed, which areas may benefit from additional support and what changes we will monitor over time. Appropriate home, environmental, veterinary or rehabilitation considerations may also be identified. This service is especially valuable for: • Senior dogs or dogs living with osteoarthritis • Dogs with subtle stiffness, weakness or changing mobility • Dogs recovering from injury, surgery or reduced activity • Active dogs who may be developing repetitive strain • Dogs beginning a strengthening, conditioning or Move + Massage program • Guardians who want a clearer picture of their dog’s functional baseline • Monitoring improvement, stability or emerging compensation over time This is not a veterinary diagnosis. It is a detailed functional and soft-tissue assessment designed to support informed observation, thoughtful care planning and collaboration alongside your dog’s veterinary or rehabilitation team. Because “seems a little stiff” is useful—but a documented baseline tells us far more.