Beast therapy or pet therapy refers to the use of animals equally a mode to assistance people cope with and recover from some physical and mental health weather condition.

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 well-nigh cases, but information technology tin can be a good choice for some people.

Go on reading to learn more, including how information technology works, who it may do good, and more.

A man in a wheelchair interacts with a horse during an animal therapy session. Share on Pinterest
Interacting with professionally trained dogs, horses, and birds may help people with physical or mental health weather.

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 weather.

Animals may be able to provide comfort, warning others if someone is in danger, or even perform direct actions to help a person's status when they are in demand. It is a type of complementary or alternative therapy. It should raise but not replace other treatments.

On the whole, the goal of beast assisted therapy is to alleviate or help people cope with some symptoms of diverse weather condition where possible.

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

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

This bond itself may help the person in several means, such as:

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

The positive interactions with an animal may pb to benefits in the mind and body, such as reduced stress and an overall more than balanced mental and emotional state.

Brute therapy partially uses this bail in a directed way to achieve the goals of the therapy.

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

  • providing comfort and reducing levels of pain
  • improving move 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'south handler, who is oft the possessor, bringing the fauna to each session. The handler will piece of work under a physician's guidance to assist the person achieve the goals of their therapy.

A number of organizations railroad 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 become 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 fauna also has to go through certain checks. These will include checking immunization records and performing concrete exams to ensure that the beast is generally healthy and free of affliction. They volition also have to undergo temperament testing to make certain 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 condom and professionalism of everyone involved and helps give the person access to the all-time therapy sessions possible.

Information technology is important to note that a therapy dog is not the aforementioned as a service dog and does non have all of the same rights. For instance, a therapy dog cannot back-trail a handler into a business establishment.

Creature therapy may help people with a range of wellness issues.

Mental health

The Pet Partners organization note that these therapies may meliorate many of import 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 written report notes that animal therapy appears to provide full general benefits for both physical and psychological health. Testify 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 benign for people from many different age groups with various conditions. For example, a 2019 study found that the apply 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 every bit:

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

Studies involving the utilize of therapy horses and dogs take shown that fauna therapy might also aid alleviate the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Some people going through rehabilitation for a drug use disorder may also respond well and take a greater sense of well-being when working with an brute.

Physical health

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

  • epilepsy
  • center failure
  • hurting from cancer treatment
  • postoperative recovery
  • recovery afterward a major stroke or another status that causes a person to lose motor skills

Working with an animate being in these cases may motivate the person to continue therapy, boost their mood, and reduce signs of pain. For physical atmospheric condition, it may help them motility correctly and exercise often.

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

A study in Psychogeriatrics constitute that domestic 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.

Withal, more research is necessary to ostend the benefits of animal therapy.

While animal therapy may exist helpful for people with certain wellness issues, it may non be right for anybody.

Some people may exist allergic to the animals that unremarkably play a role in therapy. Many people are allergic to the dander from a dog'due south shedding, for example. For these individuals, animal therapy with a dog could cause far more harm than good.

Others may just 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 really decrease a person'south satisfaction with therapy.

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

Animal therapy is a complementary treatment. It is not a footing for the handling of whatever condition and should only raise or complement other handling. It is not a replacement for other forms of therapy, such as psychotherapy or concrete therapy.

This form of therapy might not suit everyone, yet. People who practice non respond well to animal therapy or are not interested in trying it may ask near other options. These alternatives will vary depending on the person'south condition.

Learn more nearly several types of therapy options here.

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

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

Some people may non savour animal therapy or have other reasons to avoid it, and they tin can cull from alternative therapies.

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