What Is Pet Therapy? Who Is It Suitable For and How Is It Provided?

What Is Pet Therapy?

Pet therapy is a guided interaction between a person and a trained animal. It also involves the animal's handler. Its purpose is to help someone recover from or cope with a health problem or mental disorder.

Dogs and cats are most commonly used in pet therapy. However, dolphins, guinea pigs, horses and other animals meeting screening criteria may also be used. The animal chosen depends on the goals of the person's treatment plan.

Are Animal-Assisted Therapy and Animal-Assisted Activities Different?

Pet therapy is also called animal-assisted therapy . Animal-assisted therapy is sometimes confused with animal-assisted activities . Animal-assisted therapy involves formal, structured sessions that help people achieve specific treatment goals. Animal-assisted activities involve more casual meetings in which an animal and handler interact with one or more people for comfort or recreation.

What Are the Benefits of Pet Therapy?

Pet therapy builds on the existing human-animal bond. Interacting with a friendly animal may help with many physical and mental problems. It may lower blood pressure and improve overall cardiovascular health.

It may also release endorphins that produce a calming effect, helping relieve pain, reduce stress and improve overall psychological well-being. Pet therapy can be used in many ways. Defined goals are an important part of treatment, and progress is recorded and monitored in structured sessions.

The goals of a pet therapy program may include:

• improving motor skills and joint movement
• improving assisted or independent movement
• increasing self-confidence 
• increasing verbal communication
• developing social skills 
• increasing willingness to participate in activities 
• improving interaction with others 
• encouraging willingness to exercise

Other benefits of pet therapy:

• making people happier, reducing depression and improving their outlook on life 
• reducing loneliness and isolation by providing companionship
• reducing boredom 
• reducing anxiety through its calming effects 
• helping children learn empathy and nurturing skills
• improving the relationship between a person and health professionals

Who Should Consider Pet Therapy?

• chemotherapy and other cancer treatments patients receiving these treatments
• people living in long-term care facilities
• palliative care patients
• people hospitalized with chronic heart failure
• veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder
• children having medical or dental procedures 
• stroke survivors and people receiving physical therapy to regain motor skills
• people with mental health disorders

People may feel less anxious during a medical procedure if a pet is present. In rehabilitation, working with animals may increase motivation to improve and practice treatment activities. People with sensory disabilities may sometimes communicate more easily with an animal, encouraging greater interaction with health care providers and others.

- Related topic: Our Dear Companions: Pets by Our Side During Cancer Treatment

What Are the Risks of Pet Therapy?

The main risks include safety and sanitation (establishing and maintaining hygiene and health conditions). People with allergies may react during pet therapy. Animals in these programs are generally screened for behavior and health. Owners and handlers should also undergo training and assessment to ensure a positive experience.

Although rare, injuries may occur if unsuitable animals are used. Animals may also be injured or mistreated if handled inappropriately. In some cases, people may become attached to the animals helping them and be reluctant to let them go after a session. This can cause low self-esteem and depression.

How Is Pet Therapy Provided?

Your doctor or treating therapist will administer animal-assisted therapy. A trained handler, usually the animal's owner, brings the animal to each meeting and works under the doctor's or therapist's direction to help achieve your goals. Handlers are volunteers in most cases. Appropriate animal handling must be discussed to protect both the person receiving treatment and the animal.

The First Step in Pet Therapy Is Choosing a Suitable Animal

Many groups and organizations train and connect pet owners and animals with health care providers. Before an animal participates in pet therapy, the team must meet specific requirements. The process typically includes:

• A physical examination to confirm the animal is vaccinated and disease-free
• An obedience training course to ensure appropriate animal control
• A course for the handler on interacting with other people
• An evaluation of the animal's temperament and behavior with its handler
• Certification by the sponsoring organization
• After an animal-handler team is approved, animals are assigned for therapy according to an individual's needs. Breed, size, age and natural behavior determine where the animal can help most.

Conclusion

Success depends on setting realistic goals and expectations and achieving them. You and your doctor or therapist should establish these goals at the beginning and discuss how to achieve them and how long that may take.

Your doctor or therapist monitors progress and helps you stay on track toward your goals. If progress is slower or faster than expected, they may adjust the treatment plan.

Pet therapy can help both children and adults with various physical and mental issues. It may reduce stress, anxiety and depression and increase positivity and socialization. Talk to your doctor for more information and to find out whether it is suitable for you.