Hit the Spot Canine Massage

Whitney Claire McKim, CMT

Hit the Spot Canine Massage was created by Whitney Claire McKim, CMT as a way of being able to provide a holistic approach to help manage your dog's general well-being.

Whitney's Dalmatian, Magnolia, was the driving force behind her desire to find non-medical ways to increase her dogs' quality of life. Magnolia was diagnosed with epilepsy at a very young age. Because of this, Whitney has worked with various veterinarians to arrive at the best combination of Eastern and Western medicine to treat Magnolia's condition. Whitney noticed a dramatic change when Magnolia began her acupuncture therapy, and she began to wonder if other holistic bodywork approaches might also help Magnolia. She knew that during seizures, Magnolia looked distressed and confused, though always concious of her surroundings and she would seek out the closeness of her humans during these times. She seemed calmed by having a comforting hand stroke her. That is when Whitney began to explore canine massage.

In spring of 2006 Whitney began her training through Equissage, the nation's oldest and most respected school for animal massage therapy based out of Round Hill, Virginia. Through her training, Whitney developed a deeper understanding and love for the bond that she acquired with the dogs that she massaged. She has been able to witness the power of touch; seeing stress dissolve and calm replace it, heighened levels of performance in competition dogs, and a renewed vitality.

The mission of Hit the Spot Canine Massage is to offer empathy to all the dogs that they treat and to provide a holistic approach to increasing their quality of life.

When Whitney isn't providing massage service to Loudoun County's canine population you can most often find her in the flyball lanes with Magnolia's team, The Beltway Bandits, or training for various Obedience competitions. Despite Magnolia's illness, she leads a very active life and truly enjoys competing. She also enjoys cheering on her husband and their Belgian Malinois, Rebel, at dock diving and sheep herding events.

Whitney is a member of both the IAAMT and the IAAMB.