Pet-Therapy
Pet Therapy is a gentle therapy, because of the beneficial effects that can be seen from the psychic-emotional and physical, in patients who are practiced. Satisfy that need love, affection and interpersonal ties is the basis of Pet Therapy.More and more studies showing the benefits of animal companionship in children with special problems, in the elderly, in certain categories of sufferers and people with disabilities physical and psychic contact with an animal can help satisfy certain needs (affection, security, interpersonal relationships) and retrieve some abilities that these people may have lost
It was detected by studies conducted over the past few decades already and today supported by more and more experiences, which contact with an animal, in addition to the replacement of missing or deficient affection, is particularly suited to facilitate inter-personal contacts offering food for conversation, laughter and game, the opportunity to interact with others through her.
Can act as a shock absorber in particular conditions of stress and conflict and can represent a valid help for patients with problems of social behaviour and communication, especially children and the elderly, but also for those suffering from some forms of mental retardation and disabilities and for psychiatric patients.
Hypertension and heart disease can benefit from close proximity to an animal: it was, in fact, shown that stroking an animal, in addition to increasing the awareness of his own physicality, essential in the development of personality, also in reducing blood pressure and helps regulate the heart rate.
Whether it's a rabbit, a dog, a cat or other animal chosen by the makers of pet therapy programs, its presence usually awakens the interest of those meets, catalyses its attention, thanks to the establishment of affective relationships and preferred channels of communication with the patient, stimulating positive energy leading him away or making it more acceptable to the discomfort of that carrier.
Some recent experiences in Italy on children admitted to pediatric wards in which he played a program of activities Assisted by animals, show that the joy and curiosity manifested by small patients during encounters with the animal to relieve feelings of discomfort due to hospitalization, so as to make it clear their approach with the therapies and medical personnel.
Leisure and recreational activities organized in the company and with the stimulus, the animals give them, take them to pet them arm and grooming are meant to bring together children, make them relax and socialize with each other in order to seek to maintain contact during the more or less long period of hospitalization, improve the quality of their lives in that particular contingency.
Other Assisted Activities experiences affect older animals in nursing homes. It has been observed that in periods of cohabitation with animals shall be paid an overall increase of good mood, greater responsiveness and friendliness, easier contacts with therapists. An improvement in the general condition of well-being for those who, often because of loneliness and lack of suffering, closes in on itself and rejects interpersonal relationships.
In the field of animal-assisted Therapy, where the evidence of an actual improvement of the State of health of some patients are accumulating in the scientific literature, the pet-therapy offers co-sweet therapies along with traditional medical therapies and, through a precise therapeutic Protocol, is directed at patients with learning disabilities, attention, psychomotor disorders, anxious and depressive neurosis, Down syndrome, West syndrome, autism, senile dementia of various kinds and degree, psychotic disorders, but also to those who require rehabilitation as who is suffering from multiple sclerosis or recovering from long periods of coma.
The intervention of the animals shall be chosen from those with suitable requirements to support a task so important, is aimed at stimulating the attention, to establish eye contact and interaction, both from the point of view that emotional communication, encourage relaxation and control anxiety and excitement, to exercise dexterity even for those with limited movement, to facilitate the mobilization of the upper limbs, such as stroking the animal, or of those below through walking with pet-whose presence makes the exercises.
Communicating with the animal, preferably with its own, which occurs in many different forms, we cannot of course appeal to language, provides a calming effect with consequent decrease in blood pressure.
This dialogue does not know, in fact, rigid social rules and above all competitive feelings destructors. In addition, the satisfaction of need for affection and respect "interpersonal" creates the conditions for a good psycho-physical balance, especially in children, the elderly, the sick.
The care of the animal, promotes a sense of responsibility, particularly desirable in the case of children and adults who have lost their self-confidence, ensuring valid and positive image of themselves and of their individual value. In fact, feed the animal represents the first step to establish a relationship of trust as the food you create all sorts of information and emotions that bind each other men and animals.
Let us not forget that the Pet Therapy has positive implications if with our cat develops a good relationship based on love, esteem, trust, respect. All this, however, puts us to assume obligations and duties towards him.
It's easier than the cat owner's habits change rather than the other way around.