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Pet therapy The magical healing powers of pets
24 August 2000
New research has confirmed what many Australian nursing homes and hospitals already know to be true pets play an important role in helping people recover and cope with illness.
Results from a National Opinion Poll surveying General Practitioners (GPs) in the UK supports a range of pioneering Australian studies that a furry, four-legged friend can be the best cure for an illness.(1)
Eighty three per cent of the GPs agreed that pet ownership leads to better health and wellbeing and 74 per cent said that pets can help people overcome depression. Fifty eight per cent agreed that pets can help people begin to recuperate after a stroke or a mental breakdown.
Resident expert on pet therapy at the ACT Hospice, Dr Margherita Nicoletti, supports the UK findings. "Many patients in palliative care will talk to an animal rather than make eye contact with a doctor or therapist and will gradually open up and talk freely, whereas without the animal present they are a closed book," Dr Nicoletti said.
Existing Australian studies show that 79 per cent of owners find it comforting to be with their pet when theyıre not well(2). There is also strong evidence to suggest that the relationship between pet ownership and better health may be causal and not correlational and that people who own a dog or cat enjoy improved health.(3)
Results from the new research also highlight the benefits pets can have for the elderly. The overwhelming majority of GPs recognise the difference a pet can make to the life of an elderly person - in terms of the health and social benefits.
Sixty eight per cent of GPs believe pets motivate and encourage the elderly to stay healthy and exercise and 64 per cent say pets give the elderly a feeling of being needed.
The Delta Society of Australia is an organisation that recognises these benefits. Delta Society of Australia is a national non-profit organisation that was established in 1997. It promotes the social, physical and emotional well being that comes from bonding between people and their companion animals. Kindifarm, a mobile animal farm, has been visiting patients at Sydneyıs New Childrenıs Hospital for more than four years. Kindifarm rates as one of the hospitalıs most popular activities according to Debra Fowler, the hospitalıs coordinator of entertainment.
"Young patients love Kindifarm. Itıs evident in the smiles on their faces. Theyıll venture outside with their hospital drips, crutches and wheelchairs in tow - after having spent days in bed," Ms Fowler said. "The animals help boost the young patientsı self-esteem, make new friends and it gives them the opportunity to escape from the routines of hospital life. "Children are encouraged to pat and feed dogs, rabbits, chickens, sheep and even donkeys. More unusual hospital visitors include bats, lizards and insects. Family pets are also welcome to attend, which is important to those children who spend a long time in hospital away from home," Ms Fowler said.
Pets can also act as prevention against illness. Pet owners visit the doctor less often, have lower blood pressure, experience less sleeping difficulties and are in better health than non-pet owners.(4)
Results from a German study found that dog and cat owners make 16 per cent fewer annual doctor visits and spend 21 per cent fewer days in hospital than non-owners.(5)
Reference:
1. National Opinion Poll Survey (July 2000) conducted on behalf of The Blue Cross Animal Welfare Charity, United Kingdom. Sample: 200 GPs in England, Scotland and Wales.
2. Straede CM and Gates GR, (1993) "Psychological Health in a Population of Australian Cat Owners" Anthrozoos, Vol Vi, 1, 30-42.
3. University of Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, (1996), American Psychosomatic Society.
4. "National People & Pets Survey".
5. Headey B, University of Melbourne, Australia (1998) "Do Pet Owners Enjoy Better Health?" Results from the German Socio-Economic Panel, Animals, Community Health and Public Policy Symposium.