Dog Affection Cures Pain in People, Brings Out Feelings of Positivity, Study Says

A study revealed that patients suffering from pain in the emergency room might get relieved after spending ten minutes with a pet dog friend.

The study results indicated that a dog's affection cures all ills, and it provides optimism for patients and healthcare providers grappling with strapped hospital resources amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The research, published in the journal PLOS One, involved asking more than 200 patients in the emergency room to report their pain level on a scale of one to ten. The participants were grouped with one given ten minutes with the therapy dog, while the other group had no intervention for the pain. 

Those who got a visit by the therapy dog reported less pain. For Jessica Chubak, a senior investigator with the Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, the study results are promising. So far, she admits that the current understanding of the effects of therapy dog visits in emergency department settings is relatively limited. Hence, she said it is crucial to have more research.

The study's lead author, Colleen Dell, the research chair in One Health and Wellness and professor at the University of Saskatchewan, said that the research revealed that pets are an essential part of our lives in various ways. He hopes that the investigation will affirm that therapy dogs are indeed helpful in a medical context and that plans should include integrating them into healthcare teams.

Incorporating therapy dogs

Nurse practitioner Mike MacFadden says that there is a lot of potential in incorporating therapy dogs as part of the holistic approach to pain treatment in the emergency room.

When treating a person in pain, a multi-faceted approach is necessary to meet the needs of the patients. These needs are sometimes not met by the caregivers. Therapy dogs not only supports the patient's pain experience, but it also serves as a comfort to care providers, MacFadden said.

Anxiety, depression, and lack of support impact how one experiences pain at home. Spending time with pets or creatures that bring joy does not invalidate making someone feel better and improving their wellbeing.

However, some people have misconceptions that utilizing therapy dogs can transmit disease and risk hygiene in a hospital setting. There are ways in which healthcare providers can ensure their sanitation to make the system operate better.

Read Also: Mother Adopts Military Service Dog of Son Killed in Action

Pets at home

For nearly 25 years, researchers have shown that living with pets has health benefits. It helps lower blood pressure and lessens anxiety.

According to James E. Gern, MD, a pediatrician at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, having a pet at home builds the immunity of kids.

If a dog lived at home, infants were less likely to show pet allergies. They also are less likely to have eczema, a common allergy affecting the skin, Gern tells WebMD.

Studies also revealed that dogs are beneficial to elderly patients as it showed that Alzheimer's patients have fewer outbursts if they have pet dogs or cats in the home. Pet owners with AIDs are also less likely to suffer depression than those without pets.

Related Article: Dog Microchip Reunites Zoey, lost for 12 Years, With Owner