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Pet Therapy BY KEVIN A. MCKEIGHAN
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ince March of 2020, we as a state and as a country have been living in unprecedented times presented by the global pandemic. With the start of another new year, we remain in the shadow of the Coronavirus and its many variants as schools contemplate in-person vs virtual learning and hospitals are being pushed to capacity again this winter. Over the last two years Americans have grown used to stay-athome orders, contact tracing, mask wearing, and countless other proper safety procedures when dealing with an airborne virus. These measures are taken to ensure the best chance of protection against COVID-19, but these restrictions are also contributing to the deteriorating mental state of many adults and adolescents across the country. Before COVID-19, we as a country had an issue regarding mental health, which has only been amplified by the events of the last two years.
Pet therapy is a unique way for people to combat a variety of health issues that are both physically and mentally exhausting. The idea is that dogs are full of unconditional love and many people are positively impacted by the presence and compassion of a friendly dog. There are different levels of certification that a potential therapy dog and their owner must acquire before they are permitted to offer their services. Some services offered under the broad umbrella of pet therapy are animal assisted therapy that focuses on a patient’s overall therapy program. The welcomed inclusion of a furry friend and some animal assisted activities are intended to create a more comfortable environment for people in stressful situations. This sometimes includes helping children at vaccination appointments, sitting bedside with chemotherapy patients, or visiting the residents of a nursing home. Individual visits, public events and school visits are just a few more ways people can interact with therapy pets as the industry continues to grow.
A study published in the International Journal of Older People Nursing focused on Alzheimer’s patients’ interaction with a therapy dog and how it affected their ability to recall memories (Swal, et al, 2015). Five patients were recorded ten times each while they answered the researcher’s questions in the presence of a therapy dog. The dog’s presence seemed to reduce fear and anxiety in the patients by creating a more equal dynamic between the patient and the authors of this study (Swal, 2015). People with Alzheimer’s are often inundated with fear and anxiety regarding what they can and cannot remember. The therapy dog’s calming nature, at least for the duration of the visit, was a factor in making the patients more aware of their surrounding and more capable of recalling memories (Swal, 2015). These findings are further backed by research done by the Mayo Clinic that indicates therapy pets can have similar effects on patients with dementia (2020). Furthermore, the Mayo Clinic also suggests therapy pets can be helpful in reducing fear and anxiety in children’s dental procedures (2020). In addition to the findings of the Mayo Clinic, a study published in the Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal found that the inclusion of a therapy pet can significantly reduce anticipatory anxiety and/or situational fear in adolescents (Vincent, Heima, 2020). This study focused on children ages eight to twelve who exhibit varying levels of fear and anxiety when they require dental work. The controlled environment of a dentist’s office, or any other medical practice for that matter, affords the researchers in this case to easily observe the nature of the patients’ visits both with and without the intervention of the therapy pet (Vincent, Heima, 2020). In fact, their findings were so well received that the researchers encourage dentists and medical professionals alike to consider the possibility of including therapy pets in their practices as a non-pharmaceutical remedy for children with situational fear and anticipatory anxiety (Vincent, Heima, 2020).
The effectiveness of therapy pets in providing comfort and enjoyment for patients of all ages is properly documented. From children with situational fear, cancer patients, patients with dementia or those dealing with mental health issues, pet therapy can act as a catalyst for better accepting treatment and care.
6 CHESTER COUNT Y Medicine | WINTER 2022