Health Benefits Of Pet Therapy
Pet therapy is a type of therapy that involves guided interactions between humans and a trained animal. The animal's handler is part of the interaction as well. Pet therapy is used as a mental health treatment designed to help individuals cope with or recover from mental disorders or other health problems. The most commonly used animals in pet therapy are cats and dogs. With that said, horses, guinea pigs, fish, and other animals meeting screening criteria can also be part of the practice. The type of animal used depends on an individual's goals and treatment plan. Some practitioners call pet therapy animal-assisted therapy. Each patient will have slightly different therapy goals based on their needs.
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Releases Endorphins
One major health benefit related to pet therapy is the release of endorphins during interactions with animals. Endorphins are chemicals that, when released by the brain, make individuals feel good. The way endorphins function is by binding to the opioid receptors in the nervous system, producing a sense of euphoria and acting like painkillers. Actual opioid medications come with a high potential for addiction and other side effects. Meanwhile, visiting with a dog or cat can produce a similar effect without any of the potential drawbacks. This is because the nervous system is producing its own endorphins rather than introducing artificial ones, which can throw off an individual's neurochemistry. The body's natural endorphins help individuals fight off stress and pain. In many cases, they are referred to as 'feel-good' chemicals. The majority of endorphins are made in the pituitary and hypothalamus glands. Patients with fibromyalgia and depression might have naturally lower endorphins, so they are good targets for pet therapy.
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Lowers Blood Pressure
Studies have shown blood pressure lowers while individuals interact with dogs and cats. There are also studies indicating pet ownership can have a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system. Individuals who owned pets, particularly dogs, had a lower chance of developing cardiovascular disease. Multiple studies have also shown dog owners tend to have a lower overall blood pressure than those who don't own dogs. In terms of pet therapy, this is likely because dogs have a calming and positive effect on humans. The presence of a dog helps introduce positive emotions and reduce stress in the body. Multiple studies have been done showing stress is reduced when individuals pet dogs. For this reason, dogs are often used as therapy animals for patients with serious anxiety and high stress. They might even be used for individuals who have cardiovascular issues without having any documented mental health issues.
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