Contact with animals promotes a person's well-being. Medicine utilises this fact in the form of pet therapy.

 

 

Pet therapy is used in many areas. The contact and care of a pet gives mentally or physically disabled children self-confidence and promotes their well-being.

A doctor's surgery with an aquarium in it takes away some of the anxiety children feel about going to the doctor and eases their tension.

Cancer patients also suffer less from the side effects of chemotherapy if they have a cat with them.

 

In care homes for the elderly, good experiences have been made when the residents of the care home have a pet or come into frequent contact with an animal.

 

The effect of pet therapy

 

Pet owners know what it means when their pets give them unconditional affection. Although there is no scientific explanation for this, it has been proven that spending time with pets lowers blood pressure and makes older people less likely to fall ill.

Studies also show that pet owners recover more quickly after an operation. A pet owner who suffers a heart attack survives longer than someone who does not own an animal.

One possible explanation for this phenomenon is that pet owners unconsciously pay more attention to their own health than non-pet owners, as their pets are dependent on their care.

 

Areas of application for pet therapy

 

Promoting children's sense of responsibility and self-confidence

Learning affection and physical contact with abused children

Distraction for housebound sick people

Physical fitness through walks in the fresh air with dogs

Meaning in life for older and lonely people

Promoting social behaviour in people of all ages

 

Before acquiring a pet for therapeutic purposes, you should make sure that the future pet owner can reliably care for an animal and, of course, that no one in the household suffers from animal hair allergies. In this case, the purchase of an aquarium should be considered.

Choosing the right pet is important: the animal must suit your lifestyle. If you are constantly travelling, it is better not to get a dog if you often have to leave it alone.