You probably have seen athletes with these colourful tape strapped to their arms or legs. That is kinesiology tape and is now available for dogs and cats as well.

Kinesiology tape is a thin, stretchy, elastic cotton with a temperature sensitive hypoallergenic adhesive strip to one side.

Therapeutic kinesiology tape can benefit a wide variety of musculoskeletal injuries and inflammatory conditions. The tape is almost identical to the skin in both thickness and elasticity, which allows the tape to be worn without binding, constricting or restriction of the animal’s movement.

The tape can be applied with different techniques, depending on the type of condition to be treated and typically can hold about five days, depending on the area treated and technique used.

Although kinesiology taping has till now not been scientifically proven, physical therapists often see positive results when applied for muscle strains, ligament sprains, tendinitis, muscle weakness, joint proprioception, osteoarthritis, hip dysplasia, pain and swelling reduction (lymphoedema).