Canine kinesiology taping tips & instructions

• Open wounds, fever, thrombosis, allergies, skin irritation, bacterial infections, acute inflammation, fungus and scabies
• Cancer, melanomas and tumours. This diagnosis is often made at a later stage, but taping can provide relief in the final phase. The effect on the tumour can also be negative, always in consultation with the owner and/or vet.
• Scars more than 2 weeks old.
• Pregnancy and lactation (in consultation with the vet).
• When it appears that the dog gets itchy from the tape, it is better to remove the tape.
• Acute fractures, muscle and tendon tears, unexplained limp (crack or fracture), it is best not to tape them in the first place. Check the situation with your vet before making a treatment plan.
• Diabetes, always in consultation with the veterinarian because of fluctuations in the glucose level).

• An animal whose drainage/circulation is disturbed (consult with a veterinary surgeon), watch out for kidney, lymph and heart problems, pregnant dogs and older dogs (as the lymph circulation speed and blood circulation can increase).
• Fever, thrombosis, watery oedema, systemic oedema, glanders, large blood vessels, absolute watershed and crown rim.

• I use colours with the thought of colour therapy, looking at the dog and the reason why I want to tape. Red is heat (to activate or warm up), blue is cool/flow (for cooling, flow).
• The colour of the tape has an effect, red gives warmth and you can feel this on the coat/muscles. Blue gives cooling and therefore relief to the coat/muscles. Green gives peace and tranquillity, it is a friendly colour.
• Furthermore, it seems as if the dark colours (especially black) adhere a little better than the lighter colours.

The only difference I notice is that it mainly has to do with the dog’s state of mind. Often dogs are able to choose their colour.

It makes a difference per type of injury whether the tape has more or less effect. When the muscles are overloaded and therefore feel very warm, I do not choose red or orange, this gives too much warmth, but use blue or green instead.

• Coat, coat length, dirt in the coat e.g. sand.
• General condition of the dog, use of medication, surgery and improper nutrition can all have an influence on the coat.
• Ambient temperature, extra warm weather may cause the dogs to sweat under the tape.
• Where is the tape stored? Do not leave it in the car in warm or cold weather, this will affect the tape and its adhesive power.
• With some dogs, such as greyhounds, the tape adheres too well, making removal sometimes painful.

• All lymph-related complaints can best be treated manually first, possibly in addition with laser and/or pulsating magnetic field therapy. In this way, you get a good impression of what the lymphatic system can handle, You have a better sense of where you can start taping and you turn the system “on”. You can only discharge when the body is ready for it and the “drain” is open.
• Lymphatic taping requires specific knowledge and insight. For the treatment of these complaints, the involvement of an experienced lymphatic therapist is a good addition to the treatment process.

• Long-haired breeds or breeds with a lot of undercoat are very difficult to tape, for example; New Foundlander, Akita, Bernese Mountain Dog, etc. Often it is a matter of trying, if the tape does not irritate just tape it. Perhaps work with a few more anchors.
• Labrador, Jack Russell, and Rottweiler are fine to tape. A dog with shorter hair on the back than on the legs is also fine, for example, a Cocker and Heidewachtel.