6 General questions about therapeutic pets

What are therapeutic pets? It's certain? This is a question that many people might ask themselves when they hear about this type of program for the first time. They can be found in schools, nursing homes, hospitals, prisons, private homes, and anywhere the love and presence of pets provides support. What are your concerns about therapy animals?

Pet therapy animals other than service animals

The two terms are incompatible. Service animals are trained for specific people to meet specific needs such as visual impairment, deafness, mental illness and illnesses. This animal (usually a dog) is always with a person and the law provides some protection.

Therapy animals, or therapy animals, are there for emotional support in addition to the therapy session. Suitable for the elderly, people with autism, people with post-traumatic stress disorder, cancer patients, people with mental illness, children, etc. Pet therapy can improve self-confidence and social interaction, reduce anxiety, and improve teamwork and fine motor skills.

What to ask when thinking about animal-assisted therapy

There are many benefits to using these services. They may have been recommended to you. Here are some common questions and their answers:

1. What happens during pet therapy? -

It depends on your settings. In most cases, the therapist supervises the animal and its handler (usually the owner) when they are referred to the patient and the parameters of the competition are established. Most animals (not fish of course) are on display not only for direct care, but also for petting and cuddling.

2. What are the risks of pet therapy?

-The risks, if any, are negligible. The property selects a fleet of livestock / handlers to meet the criteria. Participants must wear helmets and other protective equipment when handling large animals such as horses. Interactions are monitored to ensure that neither party is harmed.

3. How to prepare for pet therapy?

- The details of the specific program you are attending will be explained in advance, even before accepting. The first meeting was a bit tumultuous until the animal and the patient got used to each other.

4. What kind of animals are used?

It depends on the patient's treatment needs. Common animals are dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, birds and guinea pigs. Some organizations do not certify what they consider to be "exotic animals." This includes snakes, lizards and ferrets.

5. Is this treatment really useful? R

esearch is still underway, but pets have been used for medical purposes for hundreds of years. Pet owners are more likely to survive a medical accident such as a heart attack than those who do not. The calming effect of the pet reduces stress and anxiety around the pet.

6. Where can I find therapy dogs and other pets? -

Local organizations exist in most regions. You can search Google for nationally recognized organizations to find languages in your area. If you are asking someone in a hospital or nursing facility, talk to your staff to see if they offer such a program.

Get the information and answers you need about pet therapy.