Pet Therapy Research Paper

In the field of therapy, there are numerous of therapy available out there for different type of individuals and situations as well. There is one type of therapy that usually contains people and animal, it is animal-assisted therapy is a therapeutic approach that brings animals and individuals with physical and/or emotional needs together to perform the therapy. Animal-assisted therapy tend to be focused on individuals either children or elderly for them to be able to connect with the animal thus feeling comfortable talking with the therapist. Pet therapy works for all ages, whether sick or not (Lanchnit, 2011). Although, this paper, most of the focus is on animal-assisted therapy towards children using dogs.

There are lots of people who can benefit from pet therapy. People who can benefit from pet therapy are people having denture problems, receiving cancer treatment, people in long term facilities, people hospitalized with chronic heart failure, and veterans with PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder.) Not just people who are dealing with the struggling events can benefit from pet therapy. The person's family can also benefit from pet therapy because they know the person will not be alone anymore. The person's friends can benefit from

Pet therapy is a way of comforting a patient. Although dogs are primarily used, they are not the only

Animal-based therapy provides many benefits for individuals with a disability. When assisting individuals with disabilities it is important to consider all options that will help them achieve the most success in life. Deciding which therapies to use is often difficult and should be decided on by the individual, their doctors, therapist, and family. Any drawbacks will need to be weighed against the advantages to ensure the course of treatment will be effective and appropriate for the individual. Revisions may need to be considered for the patient along the treatment path. Of the many types of therapies available, it is important to look at the benefits of animal assisted therapy. Individuals with disabilities who are routinely engaged in companion animal therapy develop a greater range of social skills than those who are not involved in any form of therapeutic animal-based therapy.

Questions arise concerning the treatment of therapy dogs when visiting patients and whether animal-assisted therapy really works at all; however, those who disagree aren’t looking at the big picture. Animal-assisted therapy is both an ethical and effective therapy method due to its success in treating those with chronic diseases, disorders, and managing stress and anxiety. The varieties of cases regarding the success of therapy dog treatments far surmount the amount of cases saying otherwise. Animal-assisted therapy stems from the human-animal connection, one of the most unique and powerful bonds man has ever experienced. It is that connection that allows animal assisted therapy to be a critical part of everyone’s daily

The Elderly – The benefits of having a companion animal can be life-changing for seniors. Walking a dog is a great way to get cardiovascular exercise, and the simple act of caring for a pet can provide a means of stimulation for seniors and a way to stay mentally and physically engaged. The elderly may feel needed when taking care of a pet, and that feeling can give them a greater sense of purpose. Having an AAT enables more socialization, lowers stress, and increases mental stimulation.

Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT), which can be provided in a group or individual settings, is designed to promote improvement in a human’s physical, social, emotional, or cognitive function. An article by Chitic,

Animal Assisted Therapy dates back to the early 18th century. It was used to help the mentally ill patients at the York Retreat in England. They would allow animals to wander the grounds with the patients and it was believed that is was helpful in increasing the socialization of the patients. The first documented use of an animal therapy was when Dr. Boris Levinson accidentally left his dog and a difficult child alone and when he came back the child was calm and talking with the dog. Today animals are being used in many different environments to help assist patients with their daily activities. Over the years, studies have shown that some animal assisted therapy has been more affective on people than the use of a medication.

This helpful form of cognitive therapy has been proven by several researchers from the NIH (News in Health) to reduce stressors and improve cardiovascular function for long term benefits. One particular NIH study researched the effects of animal companionship in 421 adults who had previously suffered from heart attack or stroke. Regardless of the severity of the attack, the study showed that after a one year later the patients who owned a dog lived longer and happier lives than those who did not. Pet owners are shown to live a more active lifestyle and exercise regularly to improve physical health. ‘Several psychologist’s and doctors nationwide are researching the benefits of incorporating animal assisted therapy within medical institutions to promote wellness and positivity. The heart rates and cholesterol levels of patients also reduced substantially due to the stress-relieving benefits of participating in AAT. Animals of all kinds have been shown throughout many credible research experiments to enhance an individual’s mental and physical health over

Animals are a great and brilliant asset to psychological and physical therapies. Animal assisted therapy facilitates various health conditions such as epilepsy, autism, Parkinson’s disease, those who are visually impaired, those who are deaf, those who suffer from depression, those with mental illnesses and disabilities and people with physical disabilities and Animal Interaction and Assistance in Psychological and Physical Therapy injuries, and many other psychological and physical conditions. Animal assisted therapy progresses the states of patients’ mental, physical, social and emotional capabilities and functions with the interactions of animals with people. The kind of animal used for this form of treatment is dependent on the needs of

Not only are pets therapeutic for humans but they also can be beneficial to the physical well-being of a person. Having a pet can mean staying active and thus being physically healthier. While many pets require walking, playing or simply require more physical work like cleaning, bathing etc. it pushes people to be more active on a daily basis which is healthier than sitting on a couch watching television. Having a pet can also add structure or a daily routine to a person’s life. For example “Dogs require a regular feeding and exercise schedule. Having a consistent routine keeps a dog balanced and calm—and it can work for you, too. No matter your mood—depressed, anxious, or stressed—one plaintive look from your dog and you’ll have to get out

There are many positive effects of owning a pet. Animals can increase the health and well-being of individuals and can be a useful tool in the counseling arena. Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) has been in use since the early 18th century. England hospitals used animals as a method of socialization and to boost morale (“History of animal assisted therapy,” 2014). Since it’s early roots, AAT has evolved as a method of therapy that helps individuals and group members overcome obstacles and achieve goals.

Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is a form of therapy which promotes social interaction, as well as improvements in human social, emotional, physical and/or cognitive functioning, creates an environment where the client can disclose and experience empathy, trust, sensitivity, and comfort (Coetzee, Beukes, & Lynch, 2013; Pet Partners, 2012). Pet/animal assisted therapy has been traced back to the 18th century, with records indicating that in 1919 pets accompanied psychiatric patients in a Washington D.C hospital (Chu, Liu, Sun, & Lin, 2009). When therapy sessions are accompanied by the presence of an animal, the client enters a non-threatening, safe and trusting environment where self-disclosure of personal emotions and experiences becomes easier for the client (Reviewed by Coetzee, Beukes, & Lynch, 2013).

Animal assisted therapy is rapidly becoming a new means for therapeutic medicine. Therapy dogs are being implemented to help aid those with diseases, disorders, or those suffering from stress and anxiety; however, many are questioning if this therapy method is a proper program in terms of both effectiveness and ethics. The main scope of this research paper is limited to sources collected within the past ten years. Although my paper is not necessarily scientifically based it is important to use resources that are somewhat recent in order to heighten their credibility on the topic. In addition, the sources I use pertain to therapy dogs helping those facing mental illness, chronic disease, and high stress situations. These categories are taken into consideration because the roles of therapy dogs are commonly used in those areas. Furthermore, my sources are not limited in location. Therapy dogs are being put into practice globally as another tactic for therapeutic sessions.

Research shows in human patients that treating the whole person; mind, body and spirit, the patient has a much better chance of maintaining a healthy body. For scores of years the unacceptable behavior in animals, specifically in dogs was blamed on the back yard breeders and lack of affordable spay/neuter for an ever increasing pet population, all the while neglecting to confront the behavior issues. The Veterinary Visit was so scary, cold and unappealing to animals that many pet parents chose to stay way. Pet parents would have rather risked the suffering of their pets. In any event by doing so they would miss the intervention that could have eliminated these consequences. Therefore, by incorporating behavior as part of their daily practice protocol, a Veterinary Hospital visit would be a more enticing place to come to and pet parents would routinely bring their pet without question. Many Practices are concerned that such a program would be costly. This could not be any farther from the truth, in fact most of tips that are used to make a practice “fear free” are at minimal cost or no cost at