19/04/2024
The unique bond between animals and people is like no other. Even simple interactions with friendly animals, such as petting a dog, can distract us from stress or anxiety. And that’s not all—pet therapy sessions with trained animals can become part of the treatment process for people with certain medical conditions. This is called animal-assisted therapy (AAT) or animal-assisted activities (AAA), and these healing tools have become more widely used at medical and long-term care facilities. When a health care provider decides to use AAT for a patient, the provider will set certain goals for the therapy sessions. Goals depend on the patient’s individual situation and might include:
Bringing comfort
Developing behavioral or social skills
Improving motor skills or movement ability
Motivating patients to participate in other activities, such as exercising or socializing with others
Reducing pain levels
The animal and its handler, who must be certified in AAT and have gone through the training process, will work under the guidance of a health care provider. During sessions, the therapy animal and the handler will do activities with the patient to help meet the goals set by the provider. The therapist can also be the handler, in which case they do not have to have an AAT certification because the animal is considered an interventional tool used by the therapist.
For example, at University of Maryland Medical System facilities, animal-assisted therapy is used as part of psychiatric occupational therapy, with therapy dogs visiting patients and helping them reach psychiatric occupational therapy goals such as reducing anxiety levels.
Most often, the “pet therapy” you see during patient visits and hospital team members’ breaks is technically called “animal-assisted activities” performed by trained animals and volunteer handlers.Therapy animals can help people of all ages with many different types of conditions, ranging from mental illness to physical conditions. Examples include:
✅ Anxiety/ Stress
✅ Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
✅ Autism spectrum disorder
Cancer
✅ Dementia
✅ Depression
✅ Epilepsy
✅ High blood pressure
Heart failure
✅ Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Stroke
✅ Suicidal / Negative thought patterns.
✅ Enhancing overall Joy and Happiness.
How can pet therapy help? The many benefits include:
Decreasing feelings of loneliness — People in nursing homes or other long-term care facilities often feel less isolated and more connected to the world around them with regular pet therapy sessions.
Easing pain — Many people who receive AAT, including cancer patients going through chemotherapy and older people who have had joint replacements, experience lower perceptions of pain and increased quality of life.
Enhancing immune response — The simple act of petting a friendly dog can improve the body’s immune system, helping to fight infections and other ailments.
Helping children with ADHD — Kids with ADHD often have low self-esteem and receiving AAT can boost confidence levels.
Providing social support for children with autism spectrum disorder —Children often experience more positive social interactions with the help of AAT.
Reducing depression and anxiety levels — Spending time with animals can help people with mental health conditions or those dealing with a difficult diagnosis experience less stress and improve their spirits.
Reducing symptoms in people with PTSD — Veterans and other people who have experienced trauma can benefit greatly from AAT, as it can reduce symptoms like anxiety, depression and insomnia.Any breed of dog can become a certified therapy dog. But successful dogs must possess certain traits. For example, they:
Adjust well to new situations and environments
Are gentle and friendly
Are well-trained and well-behaved
Enjoy socializing and meeting new people.
For Appointment #9643961614 WhatsApp or Call.Paw Factor Hyderabad.
