Hope Lamonica has been a massage therapist for four years. She now includes dogs in her practice.

"As a mother of three dogs I see first hand the difference massage has made in their lives," Hope said during her recent appearance on "South Florida Today."

The benefits of dog massage include the following:

Helps maintain wellness

Increases and balances circulation of blood and lymph

Restores range of motion and flexibility (great for dogs with hip dysplasia and arthritis)

Relieves emotional pain such as loss of a pet, fear, abuse

Reduces recovery time after surgery

Increases bone density

Helps alleviate pain

Reduces edema

Comforts tired muscles

Strengthens the body by stimulating muscles

Helps in time of injury such as pulled muscle, or broken bone

Enables caregiver to be the first line of defense

For more information, or to schedule an appointment, call call Hope at (954) 253-7800 or visit Hope's Florida Dog Massage Web site.