Based on current research, there are many conditions that can benefit from animal-assisted therapy in diverse settings around the world. Those conditions include psychological disorders, developmental disorders, dementia, cancer, chronic pain, advanced heart failure, etc. Animal-assisted therapy is often employed for psychological disorders. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and major depressive disorder are among the psychological disorders that can benefit from animal-assisted therapy. In recent decades, an increased amount of research has shown the social, psychological, and physiological benefits of animal-assisted therapy in health and education. Yet, the effectiveness of animal-assisted therapy contributes to the recovery process is contentious. For most people, the presence of an animal prompts the body to release serotonin, prolactin, and oxytocin. These hormones generate a relaxation and stress-reducing response, according to UCLA Health. This hormone release can lower symptoms of depression and sadness, helping support good mental health. With these benefits, researchers suggest incorporating dogs into assisting learning, education, and programs such as.

Cognitive rehabilitation treatment

Acquired Injurys with cognitive impairments can benefit from animal-assisted therapy as part of a comprehensive rehabilitation treatment plan.

Behavioral Health

Therapists rely on techniques such as monitoring an individual’s behavior with the animal, their tone of voice, and indirect interviewing. Animal-assisted therapy helps those with mental health challenges, as a stand-alone treatment or along with conventional methods.

Occupational therapy

Occupational therapists can use animal-assisted therapies to work with individuals and their motivation. Some occupational therapy goals using animal-assisted therapies include improving attention skills, social skills, participation in social situations, self-esteem, and reducing anxiety, loneliness, and isolation.

In canine-assisted therapy, therapy dogs interact with the individuals in animal-assisted interventions to enhance therapeutic activities and well-being, including the physical, cognitive, behavioral, and socio-emotional functionality of our clients. Well-trained therapy dogs exhibit the behavior that humans construe as being accepted and loving. They comfort the individual via body contact. Therapy dogs are also required to possess a calm temperament for accommodating contact with unfamiliar people while they serve as a source of comfort. They promote individuals engaging in interactions, which can help them improve motor skills and establish a trusting relationship with others. The interaction between individuals and therapy dogs also aids in diminishing the emotions of stress and anxiety. Because of these benefits, canine-assisted therapy is a complement to other therapies to treat diagnoses such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and autism spectrum disorder. Canine therapy also helps in promoting and developing living skills and the individuals to take part in group activities. These programs apply the use of calm, non-judgmental, happy characteristics of canines to make the process become more meaningful and enjoyable.

AAT is used in a variety of areas, from aiding in the treatment of schizophrenia, addiction, and sexual abuse victims, to helping calm and reduce pain for people, those with dementia, and individuals receiving cancer treatment. Proponents of AAT say people who develop a bond with an animal enjoy a better sense of self-worth, improved communication, and enhanced socialization skills. Specific ways animals serve through AAT include:

• Promote activity and self-care for institutionalized Individuals.

• Help individuals practice communication skills.

• Serve as an icebreaker between therapists and their patients.

• Offer motivation to improve someone’s life.

• Helping to reduce hostilities and improve relationships between individuals.

• Soothe individuals having health conditions.

• Assist stroke victims in physical therapy.

• Aid individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and or OCD.

• Help individuals express themselves to a therapist without the need for verbal communication.

• Improve learning, memory, and cognition in individuals who have experienced a traumatic brain injury.

Animal-assisted therapy is an alternative or complementary type of therapy that includes the use of animals in treatment. It falls under the realm of animal-assisted intervention, which encompasses any intervention that includes an animal in a therapeutic context such as emotional support animals, service animals in the process of being trained to assist with daily activities, and animal-assisted activity. The goal of animal-assisted therapy is to improve a patient's social, emotional, or cognitive functioning and literature reviews state that animals can be useful for educational and motivational effectiveness for participants. It has been debated for decades, and its use explored in a variety of settings and populations. However, there is no uniformity in naming these interventions. Evidence-based knowledge is essential to implementing effective strategic consideration with assisted therapeutic animal programs. Studies have documented positive effects of the therapy on subjective self-rating scales and on objective physiological measures such as blood pressure and hormone levels. The specific animal-assisted therapy can be classified by the type of animal, the targeted population, and how the animal is incorporated into the therapeutic plan. Various animals have been utilized for animal-assisted therapy, with the most common types being canine-assisted therapy and equine-assisted therapy. The use of these animals in therapies has shown positive results. Some studies have shown that animal-assisted therapy can improve many aspects of an individual’s life, such as improving their overall mood or reducing feelings of isolation.