What is Pet Therapy? Can it help in Curing Depression?

Medicine, the science of diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases is not merely concerned with tablets, capsules and surgeries of the 21st century like most of us believe it does. It also entails ancient medical practices like acupuncture which was developed in China approximately 4000 years ago and leech therapy which has also been in practice for centuries. Medicine also consists some unorthodox treatment procedures such as pet therapy which has been earning fans in health care as well as other fields.

If you or someone close to you is suffering from a physical or mental issue, then there are high chances that you have heard of pet therapy. An emerging medical practice these days, animal-assisted therapy has proven to be effective in treating a wide range of disorders, and though pet therapy is still not used on that wide a scale as several other medical sciences, it is still something that a substantial number of doctors are suggesting to their patients.

Do you know what pet therapy is? What are the benefits of pet therapy? How pet therapy works and who can benefit from it? Well, if you do not then no worries as we are here to enlighten you about this growing science. Below is everything you need to know about it. Keep reading.

What Is Pet Therapy?

Pet therapy in itself is a broad term, consisting animal-assisted therapy as well as other animal-assisted activities. The growing medical practice of animal-assisted therapy, pets such as dogs and cats  are used to help people recover from or cope up faster from a range of health problems like heart diseases and cancer. In addition to that, pet therapy has also shown significant improvement in those suffering from mental health disorders. On the other hand, animal-assisted activities are more of a general purpose practice that is used for providing comfort and joy to the residents of nursing homes.

(Image Courtesy: Pet Attack)

How Does Pet Therapy Help?

Do not be surprised to hear that pet therapy is not just something that people and doctors believe to help sick people, but it has shown positive effects in several studies. Pet is not just our good friends but is also good for our health, both physical and mental. Wondering how dogs, cats, and other animals improve your health? Well, this is how they do it:

#1. They Offer A Soothing Presence

It should not come as a surprise to anyone that just being in the presence of a pet soothes the mind. Some studies have even indicated that merely watching fish swim around in an aquarium lowers muscle tension and blood pressure in people who are about to undergo oral surgery. Perhaps that is why an aquarium is a common sight in a dentist’s office. A number of other research conducted by leading institutions in the world have also suggested that pet owners have significantly lower heart rate and blood pressure before as well as while performing stressful tasks like helping kids with homework or performing a family intervention. That is why pet therapy is often suggested to people recovering from heart attacks. The mere presence of pets has shown to help heart patients recover quickly and survive longer.

(Image Courtesy: Hospital for Special Survey)

#2. They Alter Our Behavior

Anyone who has ever owned a pet would tell you how easily these furry creatures can change the way you behave. After you have had a long day at work and are looking to blow off steam on something or somebody, these pets can calm you down in an instant, turning into more patient, positive, more responsible and positive version of yourself. They also help in distracting our attention away from the negative aspects of life and focus more on the positive ones. This is how they help us deal with depression.

(Image Courtesy: Love That Pet)

#3. They Build Immunity And Help Fight Allergies And Asthma

This may sound funny to some, but children who grow up in houses with pets tend to be less likely to develop allergies. As per leading studies, children exposed to two or more pets grew up to be more immune to allergies originating from dust, grass, pets, and ragweed. Furthermore, growing up with pets can also lower the risk of you developing asthma.

(Image Courtesy: Bark post)

#4. They Lessen Loneliness

Pet can be great companions for people who do not like to get social with other people. Pets are often observed to be quite intuitive as they seek you out when they sense you to be feeling a little low and refuse to allow you to be alone. However, if you are thinking about adopting a pet to kill your loneliness, make sure that you are ready for a long-term commitment and will not ignore the animal after you have used it to fill the void in your life.

Has your pet just died, and the emotional trauma is too much to handle? Find some help here.

(Image Courtesy: Enews)

#5. They Promote Touch

Touch has great power. As per several types of research, a 45-minute massage can reduce the stress-level hormone, cortisol, and build up white blood cells to optimize your immune system. Oxytocin, a hormone that lowers heart rate, blood pressure, and reduces stress is flooded in our system when we hug. Also, as per a study by the University of Virginia, just holding hands reduces the stress-related activity in the brain’s hypothalamus region which is the emotional center.

Now that you know how the pet therapy works, let us delve into some other questions relating to the unconventional medicine.

(Image Courtesy: Barks & Blooms)

Who Can Benefit From Pet Therapy?

These days, pet therapy benefits have led to it being used in a number of areas and situations. Since animal-assisted therapy has proven to be helpful in relieving pain, anxiety, and fatigue, it is used for children having oral procedures as well as people receiving treatment for cancer. People in long-term care facilities are also recommended pet therapy as among the practice also helps keep a check on depression. Furthermore, people admitted to the hospital for chronic heart failure along with veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder have also shown positive effects from pet therapy.

(Image Courtesy: Bismark Tribune)

Moreover, you do not have to be suffering from a physical or mental problem to reap benefits of pet therapy. Even friends and family members who attend animal visits have also been observed to feel better too. The practice is now also starting to be used in non-medical fields like community and university programs so people with anxiety and depression can benefit from it.

What Are The Risks Associated With Pet Therapy?

So far, pet therapy has not shown any negative effects in people who have tried it. The biggest concern regarding pet therapy, especially in hospitals, is sanitation and safety. Almost all hospitals and other medical facilities that use pet therapy have stringent rules regarding the practice. They require the pets to be clean, well-trained, vaccinated as well as screened for appropriate behavior. At this point, we would also like to bring to your notice that the Center for Disease Control and Prevention has, so far, not received any reports of infection or any other ill effect resulting from pet therapy.

(Image Courtesy: Planeta Vivo)

So, that was all you needed to know about pet therapy. Tell us what you think about the topic. Do you think pet therapy has as many benefits as people conceive it to or is it just hyped? Do you know anyone who has benefited from it? Share your thoughts and views with our other readers and us through your comments in the dedicated box below. 

(Featured Image Courtesy: Animals Today)