Animals and Human Health

Slide 1:Animals and Human Health

March 20, 2002 S-Wg03 -over 2000 dog therapy programs in the US-over 2000 dog therapy programs in the US

Slide 2:Types of Animal Assistance

Companion animals Therapy animals Pet visits Eden Alternative Animal-assisted therapy Animal-assisted activities Residential animals Service dogs -I will briefly discuss all the different ways in which animals can assist in human health and well being-I will briefly discuss all the different ways in which animals can assist in human health and well being

Slide 3:Companion Animals

Animals = Surrogate children Pets seem to understand what owner is feeling For some, a pet is a reason to get up in the morning Pets are something to nurture and touch -if you own a pet, it is helping your health and well being -dogs especially seem to know what owner is feeling-if you own a pet, it is helping your health and well being -dogs especially seem to know what owner is feeling

Slide 4:Benefits of Having a Pet

Psychological Physical Behavioral Social -Psych: less lonely -increases social skills -behavior: dog walkers, pet presence has been shown to help with arithmetic problems -physical: lowers stress pet owners exercise more lowers bp lowers cholesterol -Psych: less lonely -increases social skills -behavior: dog walkers, pet presence has been shown to help with arithmetic problems -physical: lowers stress pet owners exercise more lowers bp lowers cholesterol

Slide 5:Blood Pressure Comparison

-from a study done in 1992 in Austrailia-from a study done in 1992 in Austrailia

Slide 6:Cholesterol Comparison

Slide 7:Interacting With Your Pet: Try This

When you are feeling tense or anxious: Note your physical and emotional signs of tension Do something with your pet for at least 20 minutes: play, groom, or talk Conduct another self-assessment: has anything changed? -this is for if you have a dog or cat to whom you are attached -signs of tension: clenched hands, body trembling, restlessness, unable to relas, dry mouth, upset stomach, rapid breathing, unable to concentrate, worrying -Usually, you will find that your signs of tension have decreased -also you can try this and take your bp and/or pulse before and after interacting with your pet -this is for if you have a dog or cat to whom you are attached -signs of tension: clenched hands, body trembling, restlessness, unable to relas, dry mouth, upset stomach, rapid breathing, unable to concentrate, worrying -Usually, you will find that your signs of tension have decreased -also you can try this and take your bp and/or pulse before and after interacting with your pet

Slide 8:Therapy Animals

Pets are very effective in therapy Animals accept people as they are Animals provide bonding experience that causes patients to relax and open up -unconditional affection, responsiveness, companion ability -regardless of age, appearance , or ability-unconditional affection, responsiveness, companion ability -regardless of age, appearance , or ability

Slide 9:Therapy Animals aka �Pet Therapy�

Dr. Boris Levinson and Jingles: child therapy 1961: �Pet Therapy� Found that having an animal present speeds up therapy Pet can be used as an ice-breaker Therapist can talk to pet Therapist can notice child�s reaction to pet -accidental discovery! -1st professionally trained clinician to document the way that companion animals hasten the development of rapport between therapist and patient -presented paper to Annual American Psychological Association Conference in NYC -talk to pet is a way to say things to child without actually confronting child-accidental discovery! -1st professionally trained clinician to document the way that companion animals hasten the development of rapport between therapist and patient -presented paper to Annual American Psychological Association Conference in NYC -talk to pet is a way to say things to child without actually confronting child

Slide 10:Animal-Assisted Therapy

Use of specifically selected animals as a treatment modality in health care setting In ATT, an accredited professional guides the human-animal interaction towards specific, individualized therapeutic goals -many animals are used: dogs-walking dogs, throw things for dog, grooming, language horses: therapeutic riding, hippotherapy-many animals are used: dogs-walking dogs, throw things for dog, grooming, language horses: therapeutic riding, hippotherapy

Slide 11:Benefits of AAT

Functional Relationship Passive Cognitive Spiritual -responsibility: animals care is assigned-increases self esteem, self-confidence, or mobility -interaction between animal and patient: results in free expression of affection -relaxation: animals entertain-results in enjoyment, stimulation, relaxation, and increased social interaction -increased knowledge of animal-increased self-respect and feelings of increased control over the environment -develop sense of oneness with life: stimulate memories of past experiences-responsibility: animals care is assigned-increases self esteem, self-confidence, or mobility -interaction between animal and patient: results in free expression of affection -relaxation: animals entertain-results in enjoyment, stimulation, relaxation, and increased social interaction -increased knowledge of animal-increased self-respect and feelings of increased control over the environment -develop sense of oneness with life: stimulate memories of past experiences

Slide 12:Animal-Assisted Activities

Less formal than AAT Motivational Educational Recreational Example: animal visits to homeless shelter -no set goals except to provide human-animal interactions to improve the quality of life rather than a specific treatment plan-no set goals except to provide human-animal interactions to improve the quality of life rather than a specific treatment plan

Slide 13:Pet Visits

Family brings a patient�s pet to visit with them in a health care setting Usually either family�s pet or patient�s pet prior to hospitalization/institutionalization Many hospitals allow pets to visit with prior notice -very healing for patient-very healing for patient

Slide 14:Resident Animals

A resident animal lives at a health care facility Staff is predominantly responsible for care, but residents often help out Residents with regular visits are more receptive to treatment, have greater incentive to recover, and increased will to live -some staffs claim that pets are so receptive that they will automatically go to the rooms of patients that may be feeling isolated or depressed-some staffs claim that pets are so receptive that they will automatically go to the rooms of patients that may be feeling isolated or depressed

Slide 15:Eden Alternative

Nursing homes that use animals, plants, and children to interact with residents Make residents feel more at home Resident animals are a part of the environment

Slide 16:Service Dogs

Service dogs are individually trained to work or perform a task for a person with a physical or emotional disability Include: Guide dogs Hearing dogs Seizure dogs And more� Animals can be trained to : pull a wheelchair open doors retrieve dropped objects turn lights switches on and off call 911Animals can be trained to : pull a wheelchair open doors retrieve dropped objects turn lights switches on and off call 911

Slide 17:Who Benefits From AAT?

Slide 18:Where Is AAT Being Used?

Nursing homes Hospitals Hospices Outpatient programs Schools Prisons Psychiatric facilities Rehabilitation programs

Slide 19:Risks Associated With AAT

Disease transmission Unsuitable matches

Slide 20:Commonly Transmitted Diseases

Toxoplasmosis gondii Myobacterium avium Cryptosporidium Cryptococcus neoformans Salmonella Giardia lamblia -cats: very common in immunosuppressed�inflammation of brain -birds: very common in immunosuppressed�lung, stomach, and intestinal infection -cats, dogs, farm animals: moderately common in immunosuppressed�severe diarrhea -pet birds: moderately common in immunosuppressed�stiff neck and headache Last 2-nearly any animal: low instance--diarrhea-cats: very common in immunosuppressed�inflammation of brain -birds: very common in immunosuppressed�lung, stomach, and intestinal infection -cats, dogs, farm animals: moderately common in immunosuppressed�severe diarrhea -pet birds: moderately common in immunosuppressed�stiff neck and headache Last 2-nearly any animal: low instance--diarrhea

Slide 21:Avoid Unsuitable Matches

Take into consideration the patient�s history of experiences with animals Warning for depression� Allergies -any bad incident may cause bad memories -loss of pet may be detrimental-any bad incident may cause bad memories -loss of pet may be detrimental

Slide 22:How Can You Get Involved?

Delta Society Dog-play Any local organizations??? -delta society is largest in nation: www. Deltasociety.org -dog-play: good site with info on how to get invloved -no organizations in Nevada-many in California and Arizona-delta society is largest in nation: www. Deltasociety.org -dog-play: good site with info on how to get invloved -no organizations in Nevada-many in California and Arizona

Slide 23:What Kind of Animal Is Optimal for AAT?

Any species or breed can be used Dogs and cats are most common Llamas Dogs, typically, work best -llamas are good because of their height, they are seen above hospital beds-llamas are good because of their height, they are seen above hospital beds

Slide 24:What Personality Should Your Dog Have for AAT?

Social Calm Patient Tolerant Polite -social and calm are hard to combine: too aloof makes a patient feel rejected, too friendly could cause injury -polite: do not touch a person until invited-social and calm are hard to combine: too aloof makes a patient feel rejected, too friendly could cause injury -polite: do not touch a person until invited

Slide 25:Where Can I Get Certified?

There are many organizations to get certified: delta society the bright and beautiful therapy dogs inc therapy dogs international inc therapy dogs inc -delta society: pet partners training program: trains at many different levels for different types of certification -Canine Good Citizen Certificate (CGC)There are many organizations to get certified: delta society the bright and beautiful therapy dogs inc therapy dogs international inc therapy dogs inc -delta society: pet partners training program: trains at many different levels for different types of certification -Canine Good Citizen Certificate (CGC)

Slide 26:Do Animals Really Make A Difference In Human Health Care?

Slide 27:Patient�s Level of Satisfaction With The Dog Visit

-survey given in 1999 by the UCLA Medical Center�s People-Animal Connection Program (100 patient surveys from 10 different units in the hospital)-survey given in 1999 by the UCLA Medical Center�s People-Animal Connection Program (100 patient surveys from 10 different units in the hospital)

Slide 28:Patient�s Feelings As A Result Of Dog Visit

Slide 29:Any Questions???