Anyone who has or has had as if once a daily contact with a quadruped, understands very well the sentence in the title without having to rely on any study. However, we want to tell you that this is proven and published as a result of a study conducted in Canada in order to understand if patients suffering from pain before or after surgery (when they are aware of course), the meeting of 10 minutes with a four-legged friend would ease the pain (the study in this case has become more dog).
"There is research showing that pets are an important part of our health in different ways. They motivate us, awaken us, (give us) routines, human-animal bond, love us unconditionally," the lead author told CNN of this study Colleen Dell and chair of One Health and Wellness and professor at the University of Saskatchewan.
The study asked more than 200 patients in the emergency room (dividing them into groups) to report their pain level on a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 as the highest pain level). One group had no intervention for their pain, while the other group was given 10 minutes to be petted by a therapy dog. Patients reported their pain levels again and those who had the encounter with the dogs reported less pain after only 10 minutes of contact with them.
"The results of the study are promising," said Jessica Chubak, a senior fellow at the Kaiser Permanente Institute for Health Research in Washington, DC, who was not included in the study. "Emergency response is very limited and it is especially important that we do more research in this area."
How can a therapy dog ??in the hospital help?
"Experience in the emergency room can increase patients' pain as there are strong lights, long waits, anxiety, fear, which can worsen the patient's condition and health," said Erin Beckwell, a dog owner who has experienced chronic pain for most of her life and shows that that room is more stressful waiting for the test result than giving you peace of mind to heal.
Some people have a misconception that using therapeutic dogs can transmit disease and endanger hygiene in a hospital setting, but Dell said there are ways for caregivers to put proper sanitation tools to work. to not be this problem. Mike MacFadden, a nurse in Canada, said he sees a lot of potential in involving therapy dogs as part of the emergency room pain treatment and that it can help everyone, including staff, doctors, patients and family members. who are troubled when they see the man of their heart in pain. "
Yes at home? "The pain is not only physical, but also social," Michelle Gagnon, a professor of psychology and health studies at the University of Saskatchewan, who was not involved in the study, told CNN. "Anxiety, depression, loneliness, dismissal, separation, frustration can have an impact on how people experience pain," she said. "The best thing you can do is spend time with a creature that brings you joy, that does not devalue your feelings and can help you feel more relaxed, calmer."
