In the 1800’s pioneer of nursing, Florence Nightingale was a pet owner of an owl and had recommended animal therapy for caring for the sick. (Reynolds, 2012, p. 478). Studies have shown that pet therapy can improve the quality of life reduce pain, give relaxing methods in patients exhibiting stress and depression. (Byrne, Kropp, & Vincent, 2014, p. 05).Patients with physical disfigurements and disabilities are easier to connect with animals because of an animal’s non-judgement nature then even the client’s family members. (Byrne, Kropp, & Vincent, 2014, p. 05) These animals can be household pets like dogs, cats, guinea pigs, fish or birds or they can be livestock animals such as horses. The type of animals doesn’t matter more so then the connection of the animal with the person, because of their liking for one another. They can give emotional support and companionship by letting the patient feel care for or loved. Animals can also provide help in physical and occupational therapy in example if one is petting a cat or dog it can improve their muscle strength and fine motor. Studies have showed that animal assisted therapy can lower a person’s blood pressure and improves the health of patient with have heart failure. Animals can also help a patient reduce anxiety and clam patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder by making the patient feel wanted or just by giving companionships. (Byrne, Kropp, & Vincent, 2014) But there are disadvantages to pet therapy as well. Pet therapy can cause a traumatic experience for them and cause their health to regress. With older patients as time pass the animals will become older and the patient may experience a loss of the pet which can be similar to losing a human being that they care for deeply. This can cause a decline in their health causing depression or interruption in their daily living due to them grieving. (Reynolds, 2012). Even those who use pets as therapy may
In the 1800’s pioneer of nursing, Florence Nightingale was a pet owner of an owl and had recommended animal therapy for caring for the sick. (Reynolds, 2012, p. 478). Studies have shown that pet therapy can improve the quality of life reduce pain, give relaxing methods in patients exhibiting stress and depression. (Byrne, Kropp, & Vincent, 2014, p. 05).Patients with physical disfigurements and disabilities are easier to connect with animals because of an animal’s non-judgement nature then even the client’s family members. (Byrne, Kropp, & Vincent, 2014, p. 05) These animals can be household pets like dogs, cats, guinea pigs, fish or birds or they can be livestock animals such as horses. The type of animals doesn’t matter more so then the connection of the animal with the person, because of their liking for one another. They can give emotional support and companionship by letting the patient feel care for or loved. Animals can also provide help in physical and occupational therapy in example if one is petting a cat or dog it can improve their muscle strength and fine motor. Studies have showed that animal assisted therapy can lower a person’s blood pressure and improves the health of patient with have heart failure. Animals can also help a patient reduce anxiety and clam patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder by making the patient feel wanted or just by giving companionships. (Byrne, Kropp, & Vincent, 2014) But there are disadvantages to pet therapy as well. Pet therapy can cause a traumatic experience for them and cause their health to regress. With older patients as time pass the animals will become older and the patient may experience a loss of the pet which can be similar to losing a human being that they care for deeply. This can cause a decline in their health causing depression or interruption in their daily living due to them grieving. (Reynolds, 2012). Even those who use pets as therapy may