APPLICATION OF PET THERAPY FOR HEALTH BENEFIT & HUMAN WELLBEING

APPLICATION OF PET THERAPY FOR HEALTH BENEFIT & HUMAN WELLBEING

Animal therapy is a guided process of intervention used for recovery among humans suffering from various mental and physical illnesses. It is formally known as Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT). This form of therapy has proved to be quite beneficial and shows excellent signs of recovery among patients. With the increasing mental health disorders and expensive therapy, pets could be one of the easiest ways to cope. It reduces blood pressure and cortisol, a stress hormone. It improves our cardiovascular health and releases endorphins and oxytocin, reducing anxiety and depressive signs and boosts the patient’s feel-good hormones. They have proven to be a great source of entertainment and distraction for the patients. The primary objective of animal therapy is to boost the patient’s morale and encourage them to continue therapy. Evidence of a human-animal bond goes back to the origins of man. More recently, therapy that utilizes animals has been implemented in long-term care facilities to aid in the well-being of people with dementia. Pet therapy, or animal-assisted therapy, increases engagement with the environment, decreases agitation and depression, and promotes social interaction. Advances in technology have led to alternatives to using live animals.

When patients are ill or injured, the associated stress can lead to anxiety, depression, and decreased satisfaction with the care they receive. Pet therapy—the use of trained animals to benefit patients and improve outcomes—is a way to effectively address patients’ stress while in healthcare settings. Pets have been documented since as early as 3000 BCE, with a long history of benefitting the humans interacting with them in a variety of different ways. A quick internet search yields myriad articles on the benefits of pets, such as decreased BP, stress, and anxiety. Humans have had animals as their companions since ancient times. Historic archaeology depicts how humans were often found buried with puppies cradled with them around 10000 BC. Studies also found remains of an African wildcat buried with humans in the Mediterranean island of Cyprus. Similarly, there are many more clear pieces of evidence to substantiate these close bonds between man and animals.

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), animal assisted therapy or animal-assisted activities use companion animals such as dogs to provide opportunities for motivation, education, or recreation to improve a person’s quality of life. In such therapies, these animals are an integral part of the treatment process and meant to improve the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive functions of humans. However, Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) as a conceptual term in medicine is relatively new. AAT’s origins come from many disciplines through the ages including psychology, sociology, psychiatry, and later veterinary medicine.

Animal therapy or pet therapy refers to the use of animals as a way to help people cope with and recover from some physical and mental health conditions.

Depending on the function of the therapy, people may choose from various animals, including dogs, horses, and birds. Animal assisted therapy is not the only therapeutic option in most cases, but it can be a good choice for some people.

Animal therapy, also called pet therapy or animal assisted therapy, refers to various services using animals to help people with specific physical or mental health conditions.

Animals may be able to provide comfort, alert others if someone is in danger, or even perform direct actions to help a person’s condition when they are in need. It is a type of complementary or alternative therapy. It should enhance but not replace other treatments.

On the whole, the goal of animal assisted therapy is to alleviate or help people cope with some symptoms of various conditions where possible.

The exact type of animal therapy can vary greatly depending on what condition the person has, the type of animal, and what kind of therapy they provide.

 

What is Animal-Assisted Therapy?

Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) is the use of animal interactions with patients to aid recovery from health problems or to help people cope with certain medical conditions. Those medical providers and therapists who support AAT believe it has many benefits such as helping with personal and social development, increased self-esteem, improved mental health, better social skills, and increased empathy and nurturing skills.

Some forms of AAT involve caring for animals, such as feeding, grooming, and bathing the animals, on a regular basis. Other forms of AAT include an animal being brought to a care facility for patient interaction. For example, ATD’s volunteers bring their therapy dogs to rehabilitation centers, hospice facilities, hospitals, nursing homes, and other facilities to visit and interact with those in need of comfort.

The Father of Animal-Assisted Therapy – Dr. Boris Levinson

In the 1960s, ATT pioneer Dr. Boris Levinson’s practice focused on children’s therapy sessions. When Dr. Levinson’s dog, Jingles, was in the room for the child’s therapy sessions, he noticed that the sessions were much more productive. Ultimately, Dr. Levinson discovered that children who were withdrawn and had difficulty communicating were more at ease when Jingles was present and oftentimes made real attempts at engaging in conversation.

A pet is an island of sanity in what appears to be an insane world. Friendship retains its traditional values and securities in one’s relationship with one’s pet. Whether a dog, cat, bird, fish, turtle or what have you, one can rely upon the fact that one’s pet will always remain a faithful, intimate, non-competitive friend, regardless of the good or ill fortune life brings us.

Initially, many of Levinson’s peers dismissed his work. However, Levinson ignored skeptics and in 1969, he wrote a book titled “Pet-Oriented Child Psychotherapy,” thereby establishing himself as the father of animal-assisted therapy. In 1971, Levinson conducted a survey of 319 psychologists and found that 16% used companion animals in their therapy sessions.

Dogs and Animal-Assisted Therapy

Canines are often used in hospitals, mental health institutes, and rehabilitation centers where their presence diminishes feelings of fear, distrust, rage, and aggression and help enrich interpersonal relationships. During a visit from therapy dogs, patients break from their monotony and share moments that allow them to disconnect from their sickness and feel secure and hopeful. In facilities for institutionalized senior citizens, the frequent interaction with a dog keeps people active, stimulates contact with reality, promotes self-care, and improves physical well-being simply by making them happy.

During a visit from therapy dogs, patients break from their monotony and share moments that allow them to disconnect from their sickness and feel secure and hopeful. In facilities for institutionalized senior citizens, the frequent interaction with a dog keeps people active, stimulates contact with reality, promotes self-care, and improves physical well-being simply by making them happy.

The effects are so positive that prisons currently use therapy dogs to reduce violence, antisocial behaviors, cases of suicide, and drug addiction. Beyond this, the dogs also do quite a bit for improving relationships between inmates and guards. These sessions improve self-esteem while helping inmates develop compassion, patience, and trust, which helps prisoners with their eventual social reintegration. The impact of therapy dogs, alongside the people who volunteer as handlers, testers, and observers are indispensable in helping people in many areas of treatment.

The assisted therapies that dogs provide are based on the link between humans and canines, where the dog, as a partner, intervenes as a facilitator and motivator. Experts often recommend these treatments in helping children with autism, at-risk adolescents, senior citizens with dementia, people suffering from neuropsychological conditions, and physiological disorders, among others. In psychological therapies involving children or adults, dogs can help reduce stress and blood pressure. Furthermore, dogs provide a feeling of joy, a desire to live, and they generally accelerate the healing process. Some studies, such as those conducted by the Federation Cynologique Internationale, even suggest physiological advantages by demonstrating how children that share their lives with dogs have more stable immune systems than children in homes without pets.

The benefits of animal therapy have received popular acclaim around the globe with the ongoing coronavirus crisis. Proving beneficial for patients in isolation and quarantine, hospitals and mental health advocates have been encouraging people to adopt pets or try pet therapy. Since it was proven that covid-19 cannot be contracted through dogs, an increase in pet adoption has seen a boom for the soothing relief that they provide.

Many often refrain from seeking animal therapy due to the fear of animals and hygiene factors. However, therapy animals are certified only if they are of a certain temperament. Therapy animals are gentle and friendly and do not cause any harm to the patients. They are given a bath and brushed before the visit. The handlers accompanying them also carry alcohol sanitizers for the patient’s use before and after physical contact with the pets.

Animal therapy builds on a concept called the human-animal bond, which describes people’s desire to interact with and relate to animals. For many people, by interacting with a friendly animal, they can form a bond with them. This bond can produce a calming state in the person.

This bond itself may help the person in several ways, such asTrusted Source:

• reducing boredom
• increasing movement and activity through walks and play
• providing companionship and decreasing loneliness
• increasing social interactions
• improving mood and general well-being

The positive interactions with an animal may lead to benefits in the mind and body, such as reduced stress and an overall more balanced mental and emotional state.Animal therapy partially uses this bond in a directed way to achieve the goals of the therapy.

History

Although not called pet therapy until the 1960s, animals have been used to help humans heal for centuries. In fact, in the 1700s, dogs were used for patients with psychiatric disorders. The documented use of therapy pets began in the US in 1919, starting with psychiatric patients.

In 1962, child psychiatrist Dr. Boris Levinson began documenting his use of pet therapy, which led to it being considered as a legitimate type of therapy. Dr. Levinson used dogs in his treatment of children and found that they helped improve communication and build rapport with his patients. In the 1970s, Dr. Levinson’s work was expanded to include adolescents and adults. Animals were first used in the care of patients in the hospital setting in the 1970s, and in 1975 this type of therapy moved to long-term-care settings.

It wasn’t until the 1980s that the nursing literature began to focus on pet therapy. The 1990s brought a renewed interest in research on pet therapy and this trend has continued.

Over the course of history, pet therapy has been shown to decrease stress and BP, as well as a variety of other factors associated with patient satisfaction and health. It’s interesting to note that in her book, Notes on Nursing, Florence Nightingale refers to the therapeutic use of animals in nursing.

How does it work?

Animal therapy can have several goals, and these will determine how it works. The type of therapy and target for this therapy may change depending on the condition and the type of aid that a person needs. Some examples include:

• providing comfort and reducing levels of pain
• improving movement or motor skills
• developing social or behavioral skills
• increasing motivation toward activities such as exercise or interacting with others

The process of animal therapy itself typically involves the animal’s handler, who is often the owner, bringing the animal to each session. The handler will work under a doctor’s guidance to help the person achieve the goals of their therapy.A number of organizations train handlers and connect them to healthcare providers. Many handlers work as volunteers. Before getting approval for therapy use, both the animal and the handler will have to go through various certifications with these groups and organizations.The handler must generally pass an instructional course on how to interact with people and perform the types of therapies that they may provide.

The animal also has to go through certain checks. These will include checking immunization records and performing physical exams to ensure that the animal is generally healthy and free of disease. They will also have to undergo temperament testing to make sure that they behave properly with both the handler and other people.

Additionally, the pair will go through obedience training. This rigorous testing and certification ensures the safety and professionalism of everyone involved and helps give the person access to the best therapy sessions possible.

It is important to note that a therapy dog is not the same as a service dog and does not have all of the same rights. For example, a therapy dog cannot accompany a handler into a business establishment.

Who might benefit?

Animal therapy may help people with a range of health issues.

Mental health

These therapies may improve many important markers of stress and disorder by:

• decreasing anxiety and stress
• decreasing perceptions of pain
• reducing feelings of fear or worry
• increasing feelings of social support
• providing motivation, stimulation, and focus

A review studyTrusted Source notes that animal therapy appears to provide general benefits for both physical and psychological health. Evidence for animal assisted therapy appears strongest for markers of anxiety and depression in the widest range of people.

The researchers note that the therapy may be beneficial for people from many different age groups with various conditions. For example, a 2019 studyTrusted Source found that the use of therapy dogs improved the efficacy of mental health treatments among adolescents.

Together, these factors may make the therapy helpful for aspects of conditions such as:

• dementia
• depression
• anxiety
• autism spectrum disorder
• attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• schizophrenia

Studies involving the use of therapy horsesTrusted Source and dogsTrusted Source have shown that animal therapy might also help alleviate the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Some people going through rehabilitation for a drug use disorderTrusted Source may also respond well and have a greater sense of well-being when working with an animal.

Physical health

Some forms of animal therapy may also help with markers of physical conditions, including:

• epilepsy
• heart failure
• pain from cancer treatment
• postoperative recovery
• recovery after a major stroke or another condition that causes a person to lose motor skills

Working with an animal in these cases may motivate the person to continue therapy, boost their mood, and reduce signs of pain. For physical conditions, it may help them move correctly and exercise often.

Additionally, some long-term care facilities may offer pet therapy programs to help improve the mood and general well-being of people in these facilities.

A study in PsychogeriatricsTrusted Source found that dog assisted therapy in long-term elderly care facilities helped reduce symptoms of depression. The research suggests that the dogs help facilitate social interaction and create positive emotional responses.

However, more research is necessary to confirm the benefits of animal therapy.

Conditions Treated

Therapy animals support people with emotional and mental health challenges. They may also support people with physical health conditions in coping with the emotional and mental components of those conditions. There has also been some research showing the effectiveness of therapy animals improving physical health conditions. For example, animal-assisted therapy can be used to reduce blood pressure and pain levels.

Therapy animals can be used in the care of the following conditions:

• Alzheimer’s disease
• Anxiety
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD
• Autism
• Bipolar disorder
• Cancer
• Cardiovascular disease
• Chronic illness
• Chronic pain
• Cognitive disorders
• Dementia
• Dental procedures
• Depression
• Discomfort
• Fears and phobias
• Grief
• Head injury
• High blood pressure
• Learning disorders
• Loneliness
• Mood disorders
• Motor skills disorders
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Reliance on medications
• Psychotherapy resistance
• Sexual disorders
• Stress
• Substance use disorder or addiction
• Tic disorder
• Trauma

 

Risks

While animal therapy may be helpful for people with certain health issues, it may not be right for everyone.

Some people may be allergic to the animals that commonly play a role in therapy. Many people are allergic to the dander from a dog’s shedding, for example. For these individuals, animal therapy with a dog could cause far more harm than good.

Others may simply be uncomfortable with or afraid of the animals. They may not choose this type of therapy as it would cause them more stress.

In some cases, a person may become very attached to the animal rather quickly. This feeling could lead to possessiveness or actually decrease a person’s satisfaction with therapy.

Additionally, therapy animals that visit hospitals and other long-term facilities may be carriers of certain infections or diseases. There may be a chance of them spreading these infections to other people, making thorough testing important for any animal.

Alternatives

Animal therapy is a complementary treatment. It is not a basis for the treatment of any condition and should only enhance or complement other treatment. It is not a replacement for other forms of therapy, such as psychotherapy or physical therapy.

This form of therapy might not suit everyone, however. People who do not respond well to animal therapy or are not interested in trying it may ask about other options. These alternatives will vary depending on the person’s condition.

What are the benefits of pet therapy?

Pet therapy builds on the pre-existing human-animal bond. Interacting with a friendly pet can help many physical and mental issues. It can help reduce blood pressure and improve overall cardiovascular health. It can also release endorphins that produce a calming effect. This can help alleviate pain, reduce stress, and improve your overall psychological state.

Pet therapy can be used in many different ways. Defined objectives are an important part of therapy, and your progress will be recorded and tracked at structured sessions.

The goals of a pet therapy program can include:

• improving motor skills and joint movement
• improving assisted or independent movement
• increasing self-esteem
• increasing verbal communication
• developing social skills
• increasing willingness to join in activities
• improving interactions with others
• motivating willingness to exercise

Other benefits of pet therapy include:

• making you happier, lessening depression, and improving your outlook on life
• decreasing loneliness and isolation by giving you a companion
• reducing boredom
• reducing anxiety because of its calming effects
• helping children learn empathic and nurturing skills
• improving the relationship between you and your healthcare provider

Who should consider pet therapy?

Pet therapy can be useful for:

• people undergoing chemotherapy
• residents in long-term care facilities
• people hospitalized with chronic heart failure
• veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder
• children having physical or dental procedures
• stroke victims and people undergoing physical therapy to regain motor skills
• people with mental health disorders

During a medical procedure, people may have less anxiety if a pet is present. In rehabilitation, people may be more motivated to recover and practice their therapy when working with a pet. People who have sensory disabilities can sometimes communicate more easily with an animal. This encourages more interaction with healthcare providers and other people.

What are the risks of pet therapy?

Some of the biggest risks of pet therapy involve safety and sanitation. People who are allergic to animal dander may have reactions during pet therapy. Animals in pet therapy programs are typically screened for behavior and health. An animal’s owner and handler must also undergo training and an evaluation to help ensure a positive experience.

While uncommon, human injury can occur when unsuitable animals are used. Animals may also suffer injury or abuse when handled inappropriately. In some cases, people may become possessive of the animals helping them and be reluctant to give them up after a session. This can result in low self-esteem and depression.

How is pet therapy administered?

Your doctor or therapist managing your treatment will administer pet therapy. A trained handler, often the pet’s owner, will take the animal to every meeting and work under your doctor or therapist’s direction to help you reach your goals. In most cases, the handlers work as volunteers. Discussion of proper pet handling is needed to ensure the safety of both the person receiving treatment and the pet.

The first step in pet therapy is the selection of a suitable animal. Many groups and organizations train and connect volunteer owners and pets with healthcare providers. Before an animal and its handler can participate in pet therapy, the team has to fulfill certain requirements. This process typically includes:

• a physical examination of the animal to confirm that it’s immunized and free of diseases
• an obedience training course to ensure proper animal control
• an instructional course to teach the trainer about interaction with other people
• an evaluation of the animal’s temperament and behavior with the handler
• a certification from the sponsoring organization

Once a team of an animal and a handler is approved, animals are assigned for therapy based on a specific person’s needs. The animal’s type, breed, size, age, and natural behavior will determine where it will be most helpful.

 

Who Provides Animal Therapy?

Animal handlers and their trained animals provide animal therapy. These services may be provided in various ways. Therapy animals may visit people in hospitals, schools, rehabilitation facilities, care facilities, nursing homes, hospice care facilities. However, they do not have the same legal status as service dogs and may not be permitted to enter some facilities.²

Some healthcare offices, such as psychologist or therapist offices, may have therapy animals to bring in to assist with appointments. There are also designated therapy animal facilities for people to go specifically for animal-assisted therapy. For example, horses are not able to visit patients in hospitals, but there are stables with therapy horses and programs for people to interact with the horses as therapy.

Processes and Situations

The process of animal therapy depends on the person receiving the therapy, their unique situation and needs, and the availability of therapy animals and handlers.

If a therapy animal visits a healthcare facility, a person interested in visiting with the animal may tell a caretaker they are interested, or a caretaker may ask if they are interested. The handler may then bring the animal to the patient for a visit. Depending on the animal and comfort level, the patient may pet or hold the animal.

Types of Animals Used

The most common type of animal used for animal therapy is a dog. However, many other animals make great therapy animals. Technically, any type of animal can be a therapy animal.⁵ Some types of animals are used more often because of their compatibility with the services they provide.

Regardless of the species, it is important that therapy animals are well-trained, comfortable with lots of different people, and have a personality that is appropriate for the settings where they work.

Therapy animals may include:

• Dogs
• Cats
• Horses
• Birds
• Rabbits
• Guinea pigs
• Small reptiles

 

Animal therapy has not received much recognition in India as other western countries. There are very few centers in India that provide animal therapy. A few of them are:

• Animal Angels Foundation, Mumbai
• It is India’s first organization that started working in Animal Assisted Therapy. Started by clinical psychologists, it aims to enrich individuals with animal therapy. They work with schools and mental health centers, conduct workshops, and offer services to individuals as well.
• Manav Foundation, Mumbai
• Working alongside Animals Angels Foundation, Manav Foundation aims to improve interaction and communication for interpersonal relationships. They have a cat ‘Simba’ who is a co-therapist for the group and individual sessions.
• Wag-Ville, Bangalore
• Wag-Ville offers animal therapy under their ‘Paws and Hooves Project’ for individuals with special needs such as Cerebral Palsy, Down’s Syndrome, ADHD, and Autism.
• FurBall Story, Delhi
• FurBall Story is an initiative to make Animal therapy more accessible for individuals. You can book a session with them on their website and they will bring the pets to your home, office, or school for a fun interactive session.
• Animal therapy is an upcoming sector in the country with huge potential. However, given financial constraints of therapy, adopting a pet will prove to be equally beneficial. Pet owners across the world will testify how their pets reduce anxiety and stress and are always up for a good cuddle session and play. Coming back home to be showered with affection and love is one of the favorite things of a pet owner. Their cute faces and goofy grins must be enough to convince you to try pet therapy or animal therapy. Moreover, the warmth received by them builds enough trust for patients to reciprocate and makes them feel better and strengthens them.

The science behind animal therapy

Although animal-assisted therapy dates only to the 1990s, people have long had a gut appreciation for the succor animals provide.

In the 1960s child psychologist Boris Levinson wrote about “pet therapy” after observing the role his dog, Jingles, played in helping patients open up. Florence Nightingale wrote about the ways “animal companions” helped soldiers wounded in the Crimean War as early as the 1850s.

Various studies have found pet therapy reduced pain and emotional distress among patients, decreased loneliness and anhedonia (the inability to feel pleasure) among residents of nursing care facilities, and even reduced anxiety scores in patients waiting for appointments.

Because animal therapy has psychological, physiological, emotional and physical components, it’s difficult to design clinical studies to assess animal therapy. Consequently, the science behind why animal therapy works is still emerging. Some studies suggest it reduces stress hormones such as cortisol, adrenaline and aldosterone and increases healthy, social hormones such as oxytocin, dopamine and endorphins.

While determining why animal therapy works may be a challenge, assessing patients’ reactions to animals is more straight forward. One study found adult chemotherapy patients vastly preferred receiving their treatment in a room with a therapy dog when given the option.

Summary

Animal therapy involves regular sessions with professionally trained animals and their handlers. It aims to help people cope with both physical and mental health disorders.

Doctors or mental health specialists may recommend and administer animal therapy for various conditions, with different goals in mind for each person.

Some people may not enjoy animal therapy or have other reasons to avoid it, and they can choose from alternative therapies.

Anyone considering animal therapy should discuss the process and how they may benefit from it with a doctor or mental health specialist.

https://www.pashudhanpraharee.com/pet-therapy-or-animal-assisted-therapy-an-increasing-holistic-approach/

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COMPILED & EDITED  BY-DR.RSP VERMA,NEURO PHYCHOLOGIST,CHENNAI