Pet Therapy: Health Benefits of Animal-Assisted Interventions

Course overview

The human-animal bond is a mutually beneficial relationship that positively impacts the mental, physical, and social well-being of both humans and animals. The webinar, Pet Therapy: The Health Benefits of Animal Assisted Interventions, explores the science of the human-animal bond, beginning with the brain chemicals shared between a human and companion animal. The course follows the evolution of pet therapy to its current status as "complementary medicine" and a new title, Animal Assisted Interventions. The veterinarians role in securing the safety of both people and animals during purposeful play and therapy is discussed. The research addresses the relevance of canine-assisted therapies in hospital intensive care units, mental health and rehabilitation centers, schools, day care centers, and nursing homes. The unique contribution of equine-assisted psychotherapy is presented. The future of dolphin therapy is appraised. For health professionals interested in blending AAT into their medical practice, educational requirements and certification sources are explained.