Therapeutic effects of canine companions on stress and mental illness
By Cecilia Leng, MBS 2020, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
Mentor: Elizabeth Kuchinski, BS, MPH
Canines are well known as “man’s best friend.” Most commonly, we see them around as household companions, showing their continual love and support. Not many people are wellversed in the roles canines can play in health care, and what it takes to fulfill those roles. There are three main roles that dogs fill: a household pet, therapy dogs, and service dogs. Household pets are the typical family pet, lounging around the house, getting walks, looking cute. However, therapy dogs and service dogs require more strict regulations and training to achieve their certifications. Therapy dogs are household pets that have undergone training to be able to safely socialize with all kinds of strangers. This allows them to be trusted with the individuals they work with, including stressed students, patients in a variety of settings, and the elderly. Some therapy dogs are also known as emotional support animals (ESA), and these are therapy dogs which serve as emotional support. Therapy dogs have been shown to be able to reduce stress and improve performance, as well as provide comfort to patients. Studies have shown that the majority of patients enjoy working with therapy dogs and agree they are beneficial. In contrast, the role of a service dog more closely resembles being on a job. These dogs are trained specifically for their handler, and the needs that their handlers have. Service dogs are largely taught to ignore strangers and focus on the task at hand, which mostly consists of keeping their human safe. There are rigorous tests (much like how the boards would be to a medical student) as well as applications that must be passed by both potential owner and service dog before a match can be made. Service dogs can be effective in managing several mental health conditions, such as PTSD, epilepsy, and autism, as well as physical disabilities like chronic pain, amputees, and vision impairment guide dogs. Studies have found that dogs are able to provide a better quality of life through these various roles. They are able to provide companionship, reduce stress levels as well as reactions to stress, and help bring order and schedule to their owners’ lives. Dogs are able to improve the recovery of their owners sent home from the hospital, and even untrained dogs are able to pinpoint certain issues in their owners. Service dogs vastly increase their handler’s independence, allowing them to live more normal lives and reducing dependency on others. There is also much overlap between the roles of dogs, as service dogs and therapy dogs can also fulfill the role of a pet companion. Not enough people are well-versed in the difference between therapy dogs and service animals, and for the safety of the handlers, need to understand which is which. Regulations for therapy dogs aren’t very strict, especially for the ESA dogs. This can potentially lead to many people taking advantage of the system and registering their dogs as ESA dogs in order to be able to take them on planes, to restaurants, and more without needing to pay a fee or undergoing the necessary training to not be a nuisance to the public. This would then hurt the service dogs community as it would depict them as people who can’t control their dogs, and would result in business owners turning them away. Dogs provide various benefits on many levels to their owners and others, and this should be utilized to a greater degree in the healthcare field. Not many people know about the therapy dog programs that hospitals and other organizations have, and how much benefit the patients receive. While therapy dogs still require a certification, it’s much simpler than the service dog exams, and only requires basic training to ensure safety of all participants. Overall, canines have been proven to confer benefits to humans in each of the roles they fulfill: as pets, as therapy dogs, and as service dogs. Though utilized effectively in several settings, it would be beneficial to explore the effects that dogs might have in other areas of the healthcare system.
Mentor: Elizabeth Kuchinski, BS, MPH
Canines are well known as “man’s best friend.” Most commonly, we see them around as household companions, showing their continual love and support. Not many people are wellversed in the roles canines can play in health care, and what it takes to fulfill those roles. There are three main roles that dogs fill: a household pet, therapy dogs, and service dogs. Household pets are the typical family pet, lounging around the house, getting walks, looking cute. However, therapy dogs and service dogs require more strict regulations and training to achieve their certifications. Therapy dogs are household pets that have undergone training to be able to safely socialize with all kinds of strangers. This allows them to be trusted with the individuals they work with, including stressed students, patients in a variety of settings, and the elderly. Some therapy dogs are also known as emotional support animals (ESA), and these are therapy dogs which serve as emotional support. Therapy dogs have been shown to be able to reduce stress and improve performance, as well as provide comfort to patients. Studies have shown that the majority of patients enjoy working with therapy dogs and agree they are beneficial. In contrast, the role of a service dog more closely resembles being on a job. These dogs are trained specifically for their handler, and the needs that their handlers have. Service dogs are largely taught to ignore strangers and focus on the task at hand, which mostly consists of keeping their human safe. There are rigorous tests (much like how the boards would be to a medical student) as well as applications that must be passed by both potential owner and service dog before a match can be made. Service dogs can be effective in managing several mental health conditions, such as PTSD, epilepsy, and autism, as well as physical disabilities like chronic pain, amputees, and vision impairment guide dogs. Studies have found that dogs are able to provide a better quality of life through these various roles. They are able to provide companionship, reduce stress levels as well as reactions to stress, and help bring order and schedule to their owners’ lives. Dogs are able to improve the recovery of their owners sent home from the hospital, and even untrained dogs are able to pinpoint certain issues in their owners. Service dogs vastly increase their handler’s independence, allowing them to live more normal lives and reducing dependency on others. There is also much overlap between the roles of dogs, as service dogs and therapy dogs can also fulfill the role of a pet companion. Not enough people are well-versed in the difference between therapy dogs and service animals, and for the safety of the handlers, need to understand which is which. Regulations for therapy dogs aren’t very strict, especially for the ESA dogs. This can potentially lead to many people taking advantage of the system and registering their dogs as ESA dogs in order to be able to take them on planes, to restaurants, and more without needing to pay a fee or undergoing the necessary training to not be a nuisance to the public. This would then hurt the service dogs community as it would depict them as people who can’t control their dogs, and would result in business owners turning them away. Dogs provide various benefits on many levels to their owners and others, and this should be utilized to a greater degree in the healthcare field. Not many people know about the therapy dog programs that hospitals and other organizations have, and how much benefit the patients receive. While therapy dogs still require a certification, it’s much simpler than the service dog exams, and only requires basic training to ensure safety of all participants. Overall, canines have been proven to confer benefits to humans in each of the roles they fulfill: as pets, as therapy dogs, and as service dogs. Though utilized effectively in several settings, it would be beneficial to explore the effects that dogs might have in other areas of the healthcare system.
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