Ten Ways Pet Therapy Is Helpful

Pet therapy helps people in so many different ways. Exercise long-term recall skills. Asking a person about the pets they have owned can trigger all kinds of happy memories. Talking about pets you’ve known helps develop your cognitive skills. Exercise short-term memory. Asking a person to describe a pet who just visited is a good workout for the short-term memory. A well-trained dog could take a series of commands from a patient — the pup will be happy with the attention and the patient will get a chance to bond with the dog. Develop speech and communication skills. Many people … Continue reading →

Heavy Petting is Good for Your Heart

Spending some time petting or brushing your dog or cat is GREAT for your four-legged friend. The stroking helps stimulate circulation, ease sore or tired muscles, and best of all, lets your pet know that he is loved. A dose of petting helps you bond with your pet and help keeps his coat shiny and healthy. Hey, pets get stressed, too! Does your dog quake during a thunderstorm or get upset when you head out to work in the morning? Some special snuggle time helps your pets relax and feel good. Cuddling with your best friend is good for YOU, … Continue reading →

Pet Therapy: Sympathetic Pups

Having a pet can help reduce stress and ease feelings of loneliness. A recent study reports that they can also help ease nervousness! UCLA studied seventy-six patients who had experienced heart failure. Some visited with a friendly canine; some visited with a friendly stranger. The folks who had a visit from a four-legged friend saw a huge drop in anxiety levels — anxiety scores went down twenty-four percent! The people who had dog visits also saw a seventeen percent drop in levels of epinephrine, a stress hormone. The folks with the two-legged visitors did see some easing of nervousness and … Continue reading →