What Are the Benefits of Pet Therapy?
Pet therapy, also known as animal assisted therapy, has grown in popularity across care settings, including nursing homes, hospitals, and mental health clinics. The connection between humans and animals can be powerful, and the profound health benefits that come from that bond are widely recognised. From therapy dogs visiting residents to structured animal assisted activities, pet therapy offers meaningful and scientifically-backed advantages for physical and mental health.
But what exactly is pet therapy, and how can it support people with a wide range of medical conditions and mental health conditions?
Understanding Pet Therapy and Animal Assisted Interventions
Pet therapy refers to a form of complementary treatment that involves trained animals providing comfort, companionship, and support to individuals in a therapeutic setting. These animals - most commonly dogs, but also cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, and even horses - are accompanied by their handlers, who are trained to ensure that both the animal and the patient are safe and comfortable during therapy sessions.
There are two main categories:
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At St Margaret's Care Home, we often see therapy dogs bring immense joy during regular visits, offering residents a chance to enjoy human-animal interactions in a calm, supportive environment.
Physical Health Benefits of Pet Therapy
The physical health advantages of pet therapy are well-documented, particularly in elderly care and rehabilitation settings. Spending time with therapy animals can promote movement, lower stress, and even improve vital signs.
1. Lower Blood Pressure and Improved Cardiovascular Health
Interacting with a therapy dog or other service animals has been shown to help lower blood pressure and improve cardiovascular health. A systematic review of animal assisted interventions noted that pet therapy participants often experienced reductions in heart rate and stress-induced hypertension.
For older adults or people with high blood pressure, these health benefits can be a welcome complement to traditional treatments.
2. Supporting Joint Movement and Motor Skills
Gentle play or grooming with therapy pets can enhance fine motor coordination and encourage joint movement. For residents undergoing physical therapy, these activities offer a fun, engaging way to practice movement and develop strength.
In individuals recovering from strokes or managing physical condition such as arthritis, dog assisted therapy may help improve grip strength, flexibility, and coordination.
3. Increasing Physical Activity
Encouraging mobility is a priority in elderly care. While many residents may be reluctant to exercise, the presence of a loving creature like a dog can motivate walking, stretching, or even light grooming. This increased movement supports physical and mental well being, boosts energy levels, and reduces stiffness.
Mental Health Benefits of Pet Therapy
The emotional and psychological benefits of pet therapy programs are perhaps the most well-known. For individuals living with depression and anxiety levels, post traumatic stress disorder, or autism spectrum disorder, animal interactions can be a valuable source of social support and comfort.
1. Reducing Depression and Anxiety
Numerous studies have found that spending time with animals decreases cortisol (the stress hormone) and increases serotonin and oxytocin - the chemicals associated with happiness and bonding. In turn, this leads to a calming effect, stress reduction, and better mood regulation.
Many of our residents at St Margarets have experienced relief from depression and anxiety through therapy dog visits, with some reporting an uplifted mood that lasts long after the animals have left.
2. Alleviating Loneliness and Encouraging Social Interaction
Therapy sessions involving animals can act as social catalysts, encouraging conversations between residents, staff, and visiting family members. The shared experience of interacting with therapy animals can help ease isolation, create new bonds, and foster a sense of community.
Animal assisted activities can also reignite fond memories of past pets, prompting storytelling and meaningful dialogue - especially beneficial for those with dementia.
3. Emotional Regulation in Mental Health Conditions
For those with conditions such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), therapy animals can provide a stable, non-judgemental presence. The rhythmic motion of petting an animal and the calming effect of their presence can aid in managing overstimulation, agitation, and emotional outbursts.
Children, teens, and adults alike have responded positively to animal therapy, especially when traditional treatment paths have proven challenging.
Enhancing Cognitive Function and Mental Engagement
Beyond mood regulation, pet therapy has shown promise in stimulating memory, focus, and cognitive function - particularly in older adults experiencing dementia or Alzheimer's/
Engaging in animal care tasks, recalling pet-related memories, or responding to sensory input like soft fur or gentle barking can all contribute to greater mental engagement. These small moments can make a big difference in day-to-day well being.
Pet Therapy in Nursing Homes: A Natural Fit
Nursing homes like St Margarets are ideally suited for incorporating pet therapy programs. Our residents often experience limited mobility, changing cognitive function, and emotional challenges. Bringing in therapy dogs, guinea pigs, or even other animals can inject joy and routine into the day while addressing important care needs.
Some of the ways we integrate animal assisted intervention include:
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Benefits for Healthcare Providers and Families
It's not just residents who benefit - healthcare providers and families often find pet therapy lifts the overall mood of the care home. Staff may find residents more cooperative or communicative after animal visits, and relatives often express joy in seeing their loved ones engage with loving creatures again.
Pet therapy helps to create a warm, inviting atmosphere that supports the entire care home community.
Why Dogs Make Ideal Therapy Pets
While animal therapy can involve many species, dogs remain the most popular choice - and for good reason. They're highly trainable, deeply social, and intuitively attuned to human emotions.
Service dogs and therapy dogs are carefully selected for their temperament, patience, and calmness. They undergo extensive training to prepare them for unpredictable environments, making them ideal companions for visits to care homes, hospitals, and schools.
However, smaller animals like rabbits and guinea pigs also have their place - especially for residents who may be intimidated by larger animals or unable to engage in active play.
The Evidence: What Does Research Say?
A growing body of research supports the use of animal assisted therapy in care settings:
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As more studies confirm the positive outcomes of human-animal interactions, healthcare providers are increasingly embracing pet therapy as a valid and valuable part of holistic care.
Is Pet Therapy Right for Everyone?
While the benefits are wide-ranging, it's important to note that pet therapy may not suit everyone. Allergies, phobias, or cultural concerns may affect an individual's comfort around animals. At St Margarets Care Home, we work closely with residents and families to ensure any animal involvement is entirely voluntary and respectful of personal preferences.
All animals are thoroughly vetted, trained, and accompanied by qualified handlers to ensure safety and suitability for care home environments.
Tailoring Therapy to Individual Needs
One of the key strengths of animal assisted therapy is its flexibility. Therapy sessions can be tailored to meet the specific emotional, physical, or cognitive needs of each individual. For example, a resident recovering from a stroke may benefit from brushing or stroking a dog to improve motor skills and dexterity, while another resident coping with loneliness may find joy simply in spending time with a friendly companion. This adaptable approach makes pet therapy a valuable tool across a wide range of medical conditions and stages of life.
Building Routine and Responsibility
Even small interactions with therapy pets can help create structure and purpose. Feeding, grooming, or simply looking forward to a visit from a therapy dog can bring a sense of routine to a residents day. For individuals struggling with memory loss or mood disorders, having something consistent and positive to anticipate contributes to overall well being and mental engagement. While the animals remain under the care of their handlers, residents often develop a personal sense of connection and informal responsibility that supports mental health.
Complementing Traditional Treatment Plans
Animal assisted intervention is not a replacement for a clinical care, but it works exceptionally well alongside other therapies. For residents receiving medication, counselling, or physical therapy, interactions with trained animals can enhance outcomes by reducing emotional distress and promoting relaxation. In fact, many healthcare providers now view pet therapy as a safe, non-invasive form of complementary treatment - helping to manage pain, anxiety, and emotional instability in a holistic, person-centred way.
A Future of More Pet-Friendly Care
As more systematic reviews continue to highlight the benefits of animal therapy, it's likely we'll see wider adoption in both residential and clinical settings. From the use of service animals for specific conditions to casual animal assisted activities in group environments, the role of animals in healthcare is only set to grow. At St Margarets Care Home, we remain committed to evolving with best practice - ensuring that our residents enjoy all the proven and emerging benefits that therapy animals can bring.
A Small Pawprint, A Big Impact
From improving cardiovascular health and reducing high blood pressure to enhancing social skills and alleviating anxiety, the benefits of pet therapy are wide-reaching and deeply personal. At St Margarets Care Home, we've seen firsthand how the simple presence of a therapy dog or the soft nudge of a friendly guinea pig can bring smiles, spark memories, and support healing.
Pet therapy may be just one piece of the larger care puzzle, but for many, it makes a world of difference.
Whether as part of physical therapy, support for mental health conditions, or simply as joyful companionship, therapy pets are proving to be some of the most gentle, effective carers in the field.
Interested in learning more about our pet therapy programmes at St Margarets Care Home? Contact us today to discover how we integrate this enriching experience into our person-centred approach.
