As any pet owner knows, there are benefits to having animals around. Animals can decrease blood pressure, provide unconditional love and offer joy for people with depression. More and more, animals are being used therapeutically to help patients overcome mental health issues, treat conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder and rehabilitate teens. Having a pet can give patients a reason to get out of bed in the morning—and someone to share their frustrations with.
Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) is a growing field that uses a variety of animals—dogs, horses, cats, birds, fish, llamas and snakes—to help patients in therapy. A 2007 study found that animal-assisted interventions result in significant health benefits, including improvements in blood pressure and decreases in depression, anxiety and loneliness. Maybe dogs really are man’s best friend.
Feature image Emily Hildebrand