We’re all aware that pets can offer immeasurable support and comfort during times of distress. They provide companionship, warmth, and affection, and give many individuals a strong sense of purpose too.
Interacting with an animal companion can even help to ease anxiety, stress, and other disability-related symptoms — and that’s where pet therapy comes in.
Pet therapy, a form of therapeutic treatment that makes use of the special bond between humans and animals, is becoming increasingly popular throughout the US. Today, we’ll delve further into this therapeutic approach and discuss what it is, how it works, and what the benefits of pet therapy are. We’ll also touch on other types of animal therapy work, including service work and emotional support animals.
What Is Pet Therapy?
Pet therapy, or animal-assisted therapy (AAT), involves using animals (therapy animals) to help improve the physical or mental well-being of those in need.
They undergo stringent training to perform their role and are owned by private companies and charities. In most instances, these organizations routinely take them to hospital settings or medical providers, where they deliver care in group or individual settings. They work closely with their handlers, and interactions with patients are carefully supervised.
A therapy animal’s exact role can vary depending on the physical disabilities or mental health conditions they have been trained to assist with. However, virtually all are trained to enhance the overall well-being of people in some way.
Officially, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) defines pet therapy as the use of trained animals to “promote improvement in human physical, social, emotional, or cognitive function.”
Therapy animals are usually dogs or cats, but other species can become therapy animals if they can satisfy the organization’s requirements and perform the role required effectively. Their temperaments are carefully assessed to ensure they’re well-behaved, confident, and able to easily adapt to a variety of care environments.
A common misconception is that therapy animals are the same as service animals or emotional support animals. While these animals all provide therapeutic relief, they achieve this in different ways and are therefore classified differently under most federal and state laws. Here’s a quick breakdown of the differences to ensure you’re fully informed:
Pet Therapy vs Service Animals
Service animals are working dogs (or miniature horses) individually trained to perform disability-related tasks.
Unlike therapy animals, who are trained to offer general support to an array of people, a service animal is solely trained to assist a single person. The exact tasks they perform will vary depending on their handler’s symptoms and specific needs, but their main goal is to make daily living more manageable and help them lead a more independent life.
Service animals are granted protections under federal laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA), and Fair Housing Act (FHA).
They receive privileges such as public access rights and reasonable accommodations when travelling. They are also granted the right to live with their owners in rental properties at no additional cost, regardless of whether the landlord has a no-pet policy or pet fees in place.
Pet Therapy vs Emotional Support Animals
Emotional support animals (ESAs) are companion animals who provide therapeutic relief to individuals with emotional or mental health disabilities. Unlike service animals and therapy animals, ESAs aren’t required to undergo any training. They only offer support through their physical presence and the comfort and reassurance this provides.
Emotional support animals aren’t protected under the ADA federal law, meaning they are not granted public access rights. However, the FHA does extend protections to them, and they too benefit from housing privileges.
Any animal can also become an emotional support animal, including cats, dogs, rabbits, hamsters, chickens, snakes, and birds.
What Are the Benefits of Pet Therapy?
Pet therapy offers a wide range of benefits, all of which can truly help individuals better manage their conditions and experience an improved quality of life. While the exact benefits will depend on the treatment plan they’ve been specially trained to assist with, some of the most common benefits include (but are not limited to):
Mitigates Anxiety and Stress
Engaging with a therapy animal and petting them can release feel-good chemicals like endorphins and offer a comforting, soothing and reassuring experience. Not only does this help to reduce an individual’s anxiety and stress, but it can also serve as an effective distraction from physical pain and any other challenges they face.
Improves Blood Pressure
Spending time with a therapy animal doesn’t just help to improve emotional well-being; the stress relief they provide can help to lower blood pressure levels, too. This can relieve cardiovascular-related symptoms and ultimately reduce the risk of heart diseases and other serious health conditions.
Ease Loneliness
The companionship and affection a therapy animal provides can truly help ease an individual’s loneliness. This is especially the case for long-term hospital patients who are often left feeling isolated from friends and family.
Increases Motivation
Many individuals find that the comfort and warmth a therapy animal provides helps them to maintain a positive outlook on life and rekindle their motivation during difficult times. This can help them feel better prepared to engage with other therapeutic interventions and group activities.
A therapy animal can also serve as an “ice breaker” for people who are wary around others or resistant to treatment. Their loving, attentive nature can help them feel at ease and put more trust in care workers and the treatment program.
Improves Social Interaction
Engaging with a therapy animal encourages the individual to participate in social situations they may not have had a chance to experience before, or avoided due to anxiety. This can help boost an individual’s confidence in social settings and foster a sense of belonging and community, all of which can greatly improve emotional well-being.
Individuals who struggle with non-verbal communication can particularly benefit from therapy animals, as it allows them to develop a strong bond without having to rely on verbal language. They may find that they can relate better and feel listened to and heard, especially because animals often express themselves through affection and other forms of physical contact.
Increases Physical Activity
Many therapy animal programs encourage individuals to get involved with pet care responsibilities like walking them, playing with them, or teaching them new tricks.
These activities aren’t just fun pastimes that can serve as therapeutic distractions; they also encourage individuals to exercise and work out their bodies. Engaging in regular physical activity can have a positive influence on mood and energy level due to the release of endorphins.
Therapy animals can also be used in conjunction with physical rehabilitation programs to encourage individuals to more readily partake in exercises and attain their goals.
Boosts Self-Esteem
Having an active role in a therapy animal’s care — and watching how their own involvement can improve the life of another — can also foster a strong sense of purpose. This can help boost an individual’s self-esteem and confidence.
What Conditions Can Pet Therapy Help With?
Therapy animals can assist with a vast range of health conditions. This includes physical impairments such as:
- Epilepsy
- Heart failure
- Post-operative pain and recovery
- Pain from intensive treatments (such as cancer treatment)
- Stroke and similar conditions that cause reduced motor function
- Diabetes
- Cancer
Therapy animals can also be used to promote overall emotional well-being and help individuals cope with mental health disabilities and developmental conditions. This encompasses conditions such as:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Chronic stress
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Bipolar disorder
- Dementia
- Schizophrenia
- Autism
Learn More About the Benefits of Pet Therapy Today
Therapy animals can truly help people cope with a variety of mental, emotional, or physical conditions. If you believe pet therapy would be a beneficial addition to your treatment plan, the next step is to consult a licensed healthcare professional or a dedicated pet therapy organization.
They will be able to help you determine whether pet therapy is the right treatment choice for you and explain more about the process, including what a program typically involves and how a therapy animal can specifically help you cope with symptoms.
While there are many benefits of pet therapy, there are other treatment options available that may be better suited for your needs, like emotional support animals and service animals.
We’ve briefly touched on their differences above, but you can learn more about them by getting in touch with our team of experts.