Kristina Dodge, NBCAAM – Board Certified Canine Massage Therapist
With over 14 years of hands-on clinical experience and more than 10,000 canine and feline patients to date, Kristina Dodge brings a deeply intuitive and skilled approach to animal bodywork. As a Board Certified Canine Massage Therapist through the National Board of Certification for Animal Acupressure and Massage (NBCAAM), Kristina specializes in helping pets move better, feel better, and age more comfortably - whether they’re recovering from injury, navigating chronic pain, or simply in need of whole-body wellness support.
Kristina’s journey into canine massage therapy began during her 23-year career as a professional dog groomer. She regularly saw pets come in with arthritis, old injuries, or stiff joints - and she knew there had to be more she could do to help. That calling led her to explore therapeutic massage, and she's never looked back.
Working in an animal hospital setting has sharpened Kristina’s clinical eye and reinforced her belief in a well-rounded, integrative approach to healing. From the moment she lays eyes on a pet, she begins assessing posture, gait, body language, and pain signals. Her sessions are calm, respectful, and collaborative - tailored to each animal’s pace and individual needs.
Massage, Kristina believes, is the one modality that directly changes the tissue. It pairs powerfully with both conventional treatments (anti-inflammatories, steroids, or pain meds) and holistic approaches (acupuncture, chiropractic, or cold laser). It even stands alone when clients prefer a medication-free route. Whether she’s supporting a senior dog’s mobility, aiding recovery after surgery, or providing targeted techniques like abdominal massage for GI relief or lymphatic drainage before/after anesthesia, her goal is the same: real results that matter.
Pet parents often share that after sessions, their animals move more freely, sleep more soundly, and even seem emotionally brighter - more eager to walk, explore, and engage with life again.
Kristina has a strong focus on clean, natural living for animals. She lives with her two Pixiebob cats, several other amphibians and reptiles, and remains passionate about raw feeding, holistic care, and helping pets thrive at every stage of life.
Kristina Dodge’s Curriculum Vitae:
Graduated Lewis University Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education: 2005
Graduated Lewis University Master of Arts in School Counseling and Guidance: 2007
Usui System of Natural Healing Reiki Level 1 Practitioner: September 2011
Usui System of Natural Healing Reiki Level 2 Practitioner: July 2020
Canine Massage Chicago Certified Canine Massage Therapist: October 2011
Upledger Institute EcoSomatics for Small Animals: December 2019
With over 14 years of hands-on clinical experience and more than 10,000 canine and feline patients to date, Kristina Dodge brings a deeply intuitive and skilled approach to animal bodywork. As a Board Certified Canine Massage Therapist through the National Board of Certification for Animal Acupressure and Massage (NBCAAM), Kristina specializes in helping pets move better, feel better, and age more comfortably - whether they’re recovering from injury, navigating chronic pain, or simply in need of whole-body wellness support.
Kristina’s journey into canine massage therapy began during her 23-year career as a professional dog groomer. She regularly saw pets come in with arthritis, old injuries, or stiff joints - and she knew there had to be more she could do to help. That calling led her to explore therapeutic massage, and she's never looked back.
Working in an animal hospital setting has sharpened Kristina’s clinical eye and reinforced her belief in a well-rounded, integrative approach to healing. From the moment she lays eyes on a pet, she begins assessing posture, gait, body language, and pain signals. Her sessions are calm, respectful, and collaborative - tailored to each animal’s pace and individual needs.
Massage, Kristina believes, is the one modality that directly changes the tissue. It pairs powerfully with both conventional treatments (anti-inflammatories, steroids, or pain meds) and holistic approaches (acupuncture, chiropractic, or cold laser). It even stands alone when clients prefer a medication-free route. Whether she’s supporting a senior dog’s mobility, aiding recovery after surgery, or providing targeted techniques like abdominal massage for GI relief or lymphatic drainage before/after anesthesia, her goal is the same: real results that matter.
Pet parents often share that after sessions, their animals move more freely, sleep more soundly, and even seem emotionally brighter - more eager to walk, explore, and engage with life again.
Kristina has a strong focus on clean, natural living for animals. She lives with her two Pixiebob cats, several other amphibians and reptiles, and remains passionate about raw feeding, holistic care, and helping pets thrive at every stage of life.
Kristina Dodge’s Curriculum Vitae:
Graduated Lewis University Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education: 2005
Graduated Lewis University Master of Arts in School Counseling and Guidance: 2007
Usui System of Natural Healing Reiki Level 1 Practitioner: September 2011
Usui System of Natural Healing Reiki Level 2 Practitioner: July 2020
Canine Massage Chicago Certified Canine Massage Therapist: October 2011
Upledger Institute EcoSomatics for Small Animals: December 2019
