NBTS Headquarters Blog
Question:
Can pets make a difference?
Answer:
What would life be without Miss Boots? She is my black cat with white paws that calms me down. She is pure therapy for my son who loves to pet her, feeling her soft presence. When I am writing, she nestles in a chair somewhere in sight to keep an eye on me. She provides a sense of peacefulness that warms me from the inside out.
Pet therapy means the use of cats, dogs or other animals to provide a health benefit to its human companion. Studies have proven that pet therapy is effective in helping people both physically and mentally.
Read more here, Health Benefits From Pet Therapy.
As stated on www.holisticonline.com, pet ownership has been researched and results have been very positive. Here are some ways pet ownership may be beneficial:
• Reduces stress-induced symptoms
- Petting a dog can lower blood pressure
- Bringing a pet into a nursing home or hospital can boost peoples’ moods and enhance their social interaction
• Requires less medical care
- Less medical care for stress-induced aches and pains for dog owners than non dog owners
The type of pet doesn’t seem to matter to get the therapeutic benefit. The specific animal has to be suitable to the person.
I had the privilege visiting a man with a glioblastoma diagnosis in his home. He had a big, blonde dog that never left his side. His wife told me that the dog was a very special friend to her husband because her husband was having difficulty processing and talking. He spoke slowly to the dog, and this animal would quietly lie at his feet. A sense of companionship was quite apparent.
Mary Lovely, PhD, RN
Medical Information Specialist/Associate Director of Research
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Posted by: Donna11n59 on March 15, 2011 3:00PM UEDT
ABSOLUTELY!!! My dog made the unbearable days, bearable! Sometime he seem to be the only one who understood my moods and struggles. I can't imagine going through this challenge without him. So happy you recognize the benefits of Pet Therapy.
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Posted by: Jackie2 on March 16, 2011 9:45PM UEDT
Our mechanic had told us that 'D.O.G.' is the reflection of 'G.O.D'. We firmly believe that our 'Puppy' was sent to us for a purpose.
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