Why you may want a therapy dog when you are sick
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| Lucy, an Honor dog and her owner Debbie were recognized as the Red Cross Therapy Dog of the Year! |
A therapy dog is truly a special breed of animal. Unlike service dogs, which are used to help people with a specific disability, therapy dogs are specially trained and credentialed to provide love, support and comfort to people in hospitals, retirement and nursing homes, hospices and disaster areas. They’re trained to ignore loud noises, unfamiliar smells and other dogs. They must learn to stay away from people who don’t want to be bothered, yet be friendly and comfortable around strangers.
Surprising Health Benefits
Therapy dogs do far more than just cheer people up when they’re not feeling well. They actually provide a number of tangible health benefits as noted by Michele L. Morrison, MS, RN, ANP, HNP, CHHC. The simple act of petting a therapy dog can reduce a person’s heart rate, anxiety or stress, which in turn lowers their blood pressure. A study published in the American Association of Critical-Care Nursesrevealed that a 12-minute hospital visit with a therapy dog improved hemodynamic measures, lowered neurohormone levels, and decreased anxiety in patients with advanced heart failure. Petting can help reduce levels of epinephrine and norepinephrine, neurotransmitters that can elevate heart rate, blood pressure, glucose levels. On the other side of the body’s chemistry, therapy dogs can elevate a person’s endorphin levels, the “natural opiates” that can help reduce the perception of pain or stress. They can also raise one’s oxytocin levels, hormones that women need for breastfeeding, sexual reproduction, and other maternal behaviors.
A Heartwarming Exception to the “Golden“ Rule
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| Koda Hussian, a therapy dog working with school kids in New Town, CT |