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The Plethora of Medical Benefits Provided by Animal-Assisted Therapy

Elise Wollemberg

August 17, 2020          

 

What is Animal-Assisted Therapy? 

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          Dogs have often been called “man’s best friend,” yet the extent of the benefits they provide, and those provided by other animals, has been somewhat unknown. It has, however, been scientifically proven that pet therapy or animal-assisted therapy (AAT) can provide both mental and physical help for patients. Despite cats and dogs being the most popular animals used in AAT, fish, guinea pigs, horses, and many other animals have been used to meet the specific needs of each individual patient. AAT differs from AAA (animal-assisted activities,) as AAT promotes more structured, repeated sessions with the intention of allowing specific goals to be met in a therapeutic environment. However, AAA describes any encounter with an animal, typically these meetings are more recreational. 

 

What benefits are included with Animal-Assisted Therapy?

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          Aside from providing companionship, joy, and comfort, these animals can also act as a catalyst in therapy and increase mental stimulation. Petting animals also promotes the release of the hormones serotonin, prolactin, oxytocin, and phenylethylamine, which in turn elevate the mood of the patient. In terms of physical benefits, the relaxation provided by animals often encourages more motivation, willingness to participate, and excitement during therapy sessions, specifically during exercise and speech therapy. AAT has also been proven to slow the breathing of anxious patients, alleviate some physical pain, lower blood pressure, and improve a patient’s cardiovascular health; thus reducing the need for some medications. A 2005 study done in Dallas, Texas proved that a twelve-minute visit with a canine helped “heart and lung function by lowering pressures, diminishing release of harmful hormones and decreasing anxiety among hospitalized heart failure patients.” The study specifically monitored the the hormone neuroendocrine—a stress hormone—as well as visible changes in the mood and hemodynamics of patients. Hemodynamics include the patient’s blood volume, their heart function, and the resistance of their blood vessels. The patients in the study were divided into three groups, one group met with a dog, one with a human volunteer, and one had no added interaction. Each patients’ hemodynamics, epinephrine, and noroephinephrine levels were taken twelve-minutes prior to the start of the session, eight minutes into the visit, and four minutes after it has ended; an anxiety test was also preformed prior to the session’s start and after its completion. It was concluded through the anxiety test that although the group with no added interaction did not have a change, the patients who met with volunteers dropped ten points, and the patients who met with the canines dropped twenty-four points. Similarly the stress hormone epinephrine and the measurement of left martial pressure (pulmonary capillary wedge) increased five and seven percent respectively, while the group visited by volunteers saw a decrease of two and three percent, and the group visited by the dogs saw a decrease of seventeen and ten percent! These visits improved the mental and physical health of patients, and proved the promising benefits of AAT!

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