Your love for animals can not be only limited to hugs and kisses but these animals can help you improve your well-being. But is it even that surprising?
The guided interaction between the trained animal and the person facing issues is known as pet therapy or animal-assisted training. Animal-assisted training (AAT) is a formal, structured set of sessions that helps people reach specific goals in their treatment. Animal-assisted activity (AAA) involves more casual meetings in which an animal and its handler interact with one or more people for comfort or recreation.
Dogs and cats are generally used as trained animals but there are a variety of animals like guinea pigs, fish, and horses that are used depending on the requirement of the patient. The interaction between a friendly pet and the patient can ensure decreased levels of loneliness, despair, chronic mental health issues, depression, and addiction. The connection between the patient and pet releases endorphins in the client’s body, which produces a calming effect. The relationship between them is real and symbiotic, which means as much as the person needs the animal for their betterment or love, the pet also needs them equally for affection and care.
According to certain studies pets present in the session are handled by the owner and trainer and they work under a doctor’s guidance to achieve the goals of therapy. The goals of the therapy session can vary depending on the needs but here are a few examples-
- Improving motor skills and joint movement
- Increasing self-esteem
- Developing social skills
- Reducing boredom
- Motivating willingness to exercise
- Combating loneliness
The first step involves, finding a suitable animal, and going through the process of immunization and obedience training allows the pet to be professional during the sessions.
Once the relationship is established between the pet, the patient, and the professional, the next step is to set goals that must be realistic and achievable in a limited period of time. The progress is monitored by the professional.
For example, in procedures like chemotherapy, people may tend to feel less anxious or stressed if a pet is present around them. The presence of pets in therapies for children facing mental or physical issues, or with veterans and also patients with chronic health issues can help in improving their conditions as they can act as a facilitator for communication between the patient and professional.
Pet Therapy is effective for a wide range of disorders including, dementia, epilepsy, autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia, depression, anxiety and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Another study involving the use of therapy horses and dogs has shown that animal therapy might also help alleviate the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.
For patients with physical ailments or issues, therapy animals can help to motivate them to move correctly and exercise often, especially in the rehabilitation field. 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.
Doctors or mental health specialists may recommend and administer animal therapy for various conditions, with different goals in mind for each person. Though the limitation of the therapy lies where the individuals who are not animal lovers per se, for any particular reason, the therapy will not be beneficial for them.
But, it can work wonders for people who share their affection for pets or in general are pet curious.