Canine companionship has been a source of comfort and relief from suffering throughout history. For over 40 years, pet therapy has been a subject of study for nursing and other health care disciplines concerned with emotional well-being and quality of life. There’s numerous organizations and types of pet therapy, such as animal-assisted activities, animal-assisted therapy, animals in human therapy, canine visitation therapy, companion animal therapy, pet-assisted therapy, and pet-facilitated therapy. Dogs in particular are well-known for their therapeutic benefits.
Depression
Research has shown that contact with dogs can provide psychological support in terms of emotional connection, stress reduction, reduced feelings of loneliness, and attenuation of depression.
In a study at UCLA School of Public Health, relationships with pets reduced the incidence of depression in men with AIDS. After surveying more than 1,800 gay men with AIDS, the investigators found that the men who had close attachments with pet companions were significantly less likely to suffer from depression than men who did not have a pet.
Dog ownership has been shown to enhance well-being among all populations, including children, people with disabilities, and the elderly.
Schizophrenia
Research has shown that contact with cats and dogs may offer a low cost, yet helpful type of therapy for people with schizophrenia. Animal-assisted therapy has been shown to encourage mobility, interpersonal contact, and communication and reinforced activities of daily living, including personal hygiene and independent self-care.
A calm and friendly dog (not a puppy that requires a lot of attention) could provide good companionship for people who have schizophrenia and don’t socialize much.
Stress Management
For those who love animals, it’s virtually impossible to stay in a bad mood when a cat or dog climbs onto your lap. While human friends provide great social support and have some fabulous benefits, pets also have unique health enhancing properties. Research shows that pets can provide excellent social support, stress relief and other health benefits.
In one study, a, groups of hypertensive New York stockbrokers who got dogs or cats had lower blood pressure and heart rates than those who didn’t get pets. When the control group heard the results, most of those in the non-pet group went out and adopted pets.
While we all know the comfort of talking about your problems with someone who’s a good listener, research shows that spending time with a pet can be just as comforting. A study of 240 married couples reported that participants experienced significantly less stress when their pet was present than when a supportive friend or spouse was present.
People who have pets experience unconditional love. However, owning a pet isn’t for everyone. Pets come with additional work and responsibility, which can add stress. Dogs, for example, need training and it can be disconcerting when they shred your favorite hat. However, for many people, the benefits of having a pet far outweigh the drawbacks.
Alzheimer’s Disease
Clinical studies suggest that the presence of a companion animal can help those with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) by increasing social behaviors such as smiling, laughing, touching, verbalization, and name-calling. Moreover, increased positive socialization has been seen in AD patients when a dog was present.
Companion animals have the potential to bring comfort in the lives of persons who experience the devastating impact of AD. Research conducted using companion animals with AD patients demonstrated that the presence of a companion animal increased socialization and decreased agitation behaviors.
Animals can help with loneliness as well. Lonely individuals may be twice as likely to develop the type of dementia linked to Alzheimer’s disease in late life as those who are not lonely, according to a study by researchers at the Chicago’s Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center. Humans are very social creatures and need healthy interactions with others to maintain health. The results of this study suggests that people who are persistently lonely may be more vulnerable to the deleterious effects of age-related neuropathology.