Companion Animals

Pets listen without judgment, love without condition, and provide comfort when you or the patient are upset. Interaction with a companion animal is as simple a petting a cat, taking the dog for a walk, or talking to the household bird. It’s not surprising that research has found that pets provide measurable medical and psychological benefits to people who interact with them.

 

One study showed that petting a dog with which one had established a bond changed the person’s blood pressure over time. Another study showed that people over 60 who owned dogs walked significantly more overall than non-dog owners and had lower serum triglycerides—a measure of fat in the blood.

 

Some hospitals and nursing homes welcome therapists who use animals to help institutional residents. These therapists and their animals have gone through a process of careful selection, training, and certification. In research studies, animal-assisted therapy has reduced blood pressure and cholesterol, decreased anxiety, and improved a person’s sense of well-being.

 

If you don’t have or want a pet in the household. There are other ways to get the benefits of regular contact with animals. Make friends with someone else’s pet. Regular encounters with an animal may brighten your day, the patients day and reduce stress levels.