Dogs' social susceptibility is differentially affected by various dog-Human interactions. A study on family dogs, former shelter dogs and therapy dogs.

When pre-treated with social stimuli prior to testing, dogs are more susceptible to human influence in a food preference task. This means, after a positive social interaction they are more willing to choose the smaller amount of food indicated by the human, as opposed to their baseline preference for the bigger amount. In the current study we investigate if and how various forms of social interaction modulate choices in the same social susceptibility task, testing dogs with varying early life history (pet dogs, therapy dogs, former shelter dogs). In line with previous studies, dogs in general were found to be susceptible to human influence as reflected in the reduced number of "bigger" choices in the human influence, compared to baseline, trials. This was true not only for pet dogs with a normal life history, but also for dogs adopted from a shelter. Therapy dogs, however, did not uniformly change their preference for the bigger quantity of food in the human influence trials; they only did so if prior to testing they had been pre-treated with social stimuli by their owner (but not by a stranger). Pet dogs were also more influenced after pre-treatment with social stimuli by their owner compared to ignoring and separation; however after pre-treatment by a stranger their behaviour did not differ from ignoring and separation. Former shelter dogs on the other hand were equally influenced regardless of pre-treatment by owner versus stranger. In summary these results show that dogs' social susceptibility is modulated by both interactions immediately preceding the test as well as by long term social experiences.

The role of cortisol in the association of canine-companionship with blood pressure, glucose, and lipids: a systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: The dog is known as man's best friend and canine-companionship is associated with positive effects on cardiovascular health. AIM: We aim to review the role of cortisol in the association of canine-companionship with human blood pressure, glucose and lipid profile. METHODS: Electronic databases, and reference lists of the selected articles were searched for original articles in English which evaluate the role of cortisol in the association of canine-companionship with human blood pressure, glucose and lipid profile. Appropriate tools from the National Institute of Health were used for the quality assessment. RESULTS: Of the 2108 articles included for screening, 6 studies fulfilled the selection criteria. The USA had produced the highest number of studies (50%, 3/6). Pre-post studies (83%, 5/6) were the predominant type, and the overall quality of the selected studies was acceptable. The majority of studies showed a significant reduction of cortisol with dog companionship or therapy (67%, 4/6) along with a significant reduction of heart rate (2/4), systolic blood pressure (1/4), mean arterial blood pressure (1/4), or total cholesterol level (1/4). The role of cortisol in the association of canine-companionship with human blood pressure, glucose and lipid profile was scarcely studied with no studies from lower-middle-income countries, where the disease burden is on the rise. CONCLUSION: A significant reduction of few cardiovascular risk factors was found along with a significant reduction of cortisol in canine companionship in few studies. Future comparative or higher-level studies are essential on the association between canine companionship, cortisol and cardiovascular risk factors, especially in lower-middle-income countries.

Pawsitive Connections: The role of Pet Support Programs and pets on the elderly.

OBJECTIVES: This study describes the experiences of Pet Support Program clients in Melbourne, Australia and how the programs reduce the social isolation of the elderly. The study also describes the role of pets and associated health benefits of pet ownership. METHOD: The qualitative description study comprised of two phases: a secondary data analysis of interviews with 14 PSP clients, and key informant interviews with four PSP providers. RESULTS: The interviews were thematically analysed which resulted in three interconnected themes: Attachment, Support and Social Isolation. Social isolation was reduced by the PSP through access to social support groups, as well as the provision of a regular visitor who provides meaningful conversation and companionship. CONCLUSION: These results align with literature on pet ownership and Attachment Theory. The results also offer an insight into how PSPs allow the elderly to maintain pet ownership and age in place, thus enhancing their health and well-being.

Hippotherapy Practice and Safety Patterns in the United States: A Descriptive Survey Study.

Objective: The use of equine movement as a therapy tool in a plan of care, or hippotherapy, has grown considerably over the past three decades. However, there is little evidence of safety rates and related practice patterns to guide key stakeholders such as clients, therapists, the health care team, and third-party payers. The purpose of this article is to describe the safety and practice patterns of contemporary use of hippotherapy. Design: A survey was distributed to occupational therapy (OT), physical therapy (PT), and speech-language pathology clinicians who incorporate hippotherapy into their practice. The survey included questions about clinicians' practice patterns, safety procedures, and rates of safety incidents. Results: Results indicate that hippotherapy is most often used by PT and OT clinicians for pediatric clients. Use of hippotherapy varies by geographic location, and frequency and duration vary widely. Clinicians most often contract their services to a program that provides a facility and horses. Recommended safety practices are widely adopted, and rates of safety incidents requiring basic first aid (0.05% of sessions) or off-site care (0.01% of sessions) are low. Emergency dismounts are frequently practiced and often effective in preventing an incident. Conclusions: Although there are inherent risks to incorporating horses into a therapeutic plan of care, these risks appear to be well managed by recommended safety practices. Results of this study can (1) help clinicians to make informed decisions regarding practice and safety procedures, (2) provide evidence of safety practices and incident rates to clients, members of the health care team, and third-party payers, and (3) maximize safety for clients who participate in hippotherapy.

Consenso: niños y mascotas / Consensus: children and pets

La relación de un niño con un animal doméstico, bajo circunstancias debidamente controladas, es beneficiosa para ambos. Las mascotas establecen vínculos de apego con los niños y la relación resulta positiva en aspectos afectivos, en refuerzo de la personalidad y promoción de autoestima, y en desarrollo cognitivo.Sin embargo, existen riesgos en la convivencia de niños y mascotas: mordeduras, lesiones diversas, transmisión de enfermedades. Los factores de riesgo pueden ser inherentes a los niños (edades, conductas inoportunas, falta de supervisión), al medioambiente (hogares pequeños, espacios inadecuados) o a los perros (razas no recomendables, conductas agresivas).En este consenso, se insiste en pautas para una tenencia responsable y una convivencia segura. Se recomiendan perros y gatos como mascotas, y se desaconsejan especies exóticas y animales no tradicionales. Se brindan pautas de tratamiento de mordeduras y se esbozan las principales zoonosis de las que pueden ser transmisores los animales de compañía.

The relationship of a child with a pet, under duly controlled circumstances, is beneficial for both. Pets establish emotional attachments to children, and the relationship turns out positive in terms of affective aspects, in reinforcement of the child ́s personality and promoting self-esteem, and in cognitive development, among many other advantages.Nevertheless, there are real risks in the coexistence of kids and pets: trauma, bites, several injuries and also disease transmission. Risk factors of injuries can be inherent in children (age, improper behavior, lack of supervision), in the environment (small houses, inadequate spaces), or in dogs (big or not recommended breeds, aggressive behaviors).This consensus insists on some guidelines for a responsible tenure and safe coexistence. Dogs and cats are recommended as pets, discouraging exotic species and non-traditional animals. Guidelines for bites treatment are provided and the main zoonoses of which pets can be carriers and transmitters are outlined

Improving social participation of children with autism spectrum disorder: Pilot testing of an early animal-assisted intervention in Spain.

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience moderate to profound challenges in relation to the skills required for social participation. Animal-assisted intervention (AAI) is increasingly used within early community care. However, the results of its early application in this population group are not known. This pilot study aimed to explore the feasibility of an early intervention based on the use of therapy dogs and to examine their impact on communication and social interaction skills. A within-subject quasi-experimental longitudinal design was used. The instruments for measuring results were the Assessment of Communication and Interaction Skills (ACIS) and Animal-assisted Therapy Flow Sheet, both based on observation. A total of 19 children with confirmed or probable ASD (with mean age of 46.2 months), cared for in a Spanish therapeutic unit, participated in a median of nine AAI sessions, with a mean duration of 19.9 min per session. The total ACIS score increased significantly between the initial and final assessments of the study, with communication and social interaction skills improving with a large effect size. In the Animal-assisted Therapy Flow Sheet instrument, statistically significant improvements were found in most of the items that evaluate the frequency of child-dog social relationships (look at the dog, touch it, talk to it and get involved in an activity with the animal) and child-therapist relationships (look at the therapist and talk to him/her); the effect sizes ranged from medium to large. In conclusion, the early application of an AAI is feasible and seems to improve communication and social interaction skills, both essential elements for social participation. The results suggest that this intervention may be a beneficial non-pharmacological therapy as a complementary approach within community care for children with ASD in the early years of their life.

An adjunctive human-animal interaction intervention for veterans with PTSD: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) rarely remits over time, and if left untreated, leads to significant distress, functional impairment, and increased health care costs. Fortunately, effective evidence-based treatments (EBTs) for PTSD, such as Prolonged Exposure (PE), exist. Despite their availability and efficacy, a significant number of individuals with PTSD do not initiate treatment when offered or dropout prematurely. One proposed theory suggests that the emotional-numbing symptoms of PTSD (e.g., blunted affect, apathy) can serve as a barrier to engaging in, and successfully completing, treatment; and the broad human-animal interaction (HAI) literature available suggests that HAI can potentially reduce emotional numbing related to PTSD. Accordingly, this manuscript describes an ongoing, federally funded, randomized controlled trial testing the efficacy of RESCUE, an HAI intervention, as a viable adjunctive treatment component for PE. METHODS/DESIGN: The study will include 70 veterans with PTSD treated at a Southeastern Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC). All participants in the trial receive up to 12 sessions of PE. Participants are randomly assigned 1:1 to (1) volunteer at a local animal shelter or (2) volunteer at a community agency of their choice as part of their in-vivo exposure exercises for PE. Outcomes will be examined via standard clinical interviews, self-report questionnaires, and thematic interviews. DISCUSSION: It is hypothesized that participants in the HAI condition will report greater decreases in emotional-numbing symptoms and increased treatment compliance and completion rates relative to those in the community volunteer condition. If successful, RESCUE, could be easily incorporated into standard PE and broadly disseminated. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov. ID: NCT03504722. Retrospectively registered on 2 May 2017.

Friends with malefit. The effects of keeping dogs and cats, sustaining animal-related injuries and Toxoplasma infection on health and quality of life.

Many studies show that keeping cats and dogs has a positive impact on humans' physical and mental health and quality of life. The existence of this "pet phenomenon" is now widely discussed because other studies performed recently have demonstrated a negative impact of owning pets or no impact at all. The main problem of many studies was the autoselection-participants were informed about the aims of the study during recruitment and later likely described their health and wellbeing according to their personal beliefs and wishes, not according to their real status. To avoid this source of bias, we did not mention pets during participant recruitment and hid the pet-related questions among many hundreds of questions in an 80-minute Internet questionnaire. Results of our explorative study performed on a sample of 10,858 subjects showed that liking dogs has a weak positive association with quality of life. However, keeping pets, especially cats, and even more being injured by pets, were strongly negatively associated with many facets of quality of life. Our data also confirmed that infection by the cat parasite Toxoplasma had a very strong negative effect on quality of life, especially on mental health. However, the infection was not responsible for the observed negative effects of keeping pets, as these effects were much stronger in 1,527 Toxoplasma-free subjects than in the whole population. Any cross-sectional study cannot discriminate between a cause and an effect. However, because of the large and still growing popularity of keeping pets, the existence and nature of the reverse pet phenomenon deserve the outmost attention.

Companion Dog Foster Caregiver Program for Older Veterans at the VA Maryland Health Care System: A Feasibility Study.

Veterans experience mental health conditions at a disproportionate rate compared to their civilian counterparts, and approximately 60% of older veterans who receive their care through the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) do not meet physical activity (PA) recommendations. We tested the Veterans as Foster Ambassadors program at the VA Maryland Health Care System to examine whether fostering a companion dog would improve PA and function, heart rate variability (HRV), balance, and quality of life (QOL) in older veterans. Participants wore an accelerometer for ≥10 days during each phase (30 day baseline vs. 60 day foster period) to measure daily PA (n = 4). Six-minute walk (6MW) and balance testing (n = 4) and 24 h heart rate (HR) and HRV (n = 2) were determined at baseline and during the foster period. Compared to baseline, there were significant increases in (a) distance during the 6MW, (b) daily steps, and (c) time spent in moderate activity during the foster period. 24 h HR decreased and time- and frequency-domain measures of HRV significantly increased in a veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder during the foster period compared to baseline. All veterans offered positive feedback about the program and indicated that it was beneficial to them. The results from this pilot study provide evidence that fostering a companion dog can improve PA, health, and QOL in older veterans. Future research conducted with a larger sample size to validate the results is warranted.

The Human-Animal Relationship as the Focus of Animal-Assisted Interventions: A One Health Approach.

BACKGROUND: Animal-assisted intervention (AAIs) represent an adequate expression of integrated medicine, according to the One Health approach. We argue that AAIs are interventions based on interspecific relationships between humans and animals. Although there are many studies on the effects of AAIs on animal and human health and wellbeing, research is still needed to give us more data. For example, information is still lacking on the aspects characterizing and influencing the interspecific relationships occurring in AAIs. The efficacy of an intervention based on interspecific relationships will be influenced by different factors, such as attachment styles and personalities of both the animal and the handler, an appropriate choice of animal species and their individuality, animal educational training techniques, the relationship between the handler and the animal, and relational reciprocity between animal, the patients, and members of the working team. METHOD: This article aims to contribute to the study of interspecific relationships in AAIs via theoretical considerations. An interspecific relationship determines the result of safe interventions, which directly influences the welfare of the animal. Results and considerations: AAIs should be evaluated systemically as a network within a process in which every component interacts with and influences other components. Standardized methods using appropriate tests and parameters are needed to better select appropriate animals (i.e., species and individual subjects) using interspecific relational competences as well as appropriate educational training methods and health protocols to assess potential risks.

The State of Animal-Assisted Interventions: Addressing the Contemporary Issues that will Shape the Future.

As the worldwide popularity of animal-assisted interventions (AAIs) increases, the fieldis quickly approaching a paradigm shift, adjusting its image to incorporate more evidence-basedresearch and aligning its purpose for advancing a new future. Contemporary critical issues thatconfront the field today include, but are not limited, to research, animal welfare, practice guidelines,and public policy. This article will provide an overview of the history of AAI and the majormilestones that the field has undergone. The current state of AAI research will be scrutinized, andthe areas that warrant further study will be recommended. Special attention will be given to thecurrent state of animal welfare in AAI, the research that has been done in the area, and practiceguidelines that safeguard animal wellbeing. This article will then discuss how evidence-basedresearch and animal welfare guidelines inform the development of comprehensive professionalstandards and influence changes in public policy regarding AAI. The authors' perceptions for thefield's future trajectory will be presented, which will include solutions to move the field in thedirection that best advances the human-animal bond in research, practice, and public perception.

The "pet effect" in cancer patients: Risks and benefits of human-pet interaction.

"Can I keep my dog while receiving chemotherapy?" "Can my cat sleep on my bed while I'm on treatment?" "What precautions should I take with my pets in order to avoid infections?"" I read that my dog could give me breast cancer, is that true?" "Do you have assistance therapy dogs at your chemotherapy day unit?" These are not uncommon questions from cancer patients in oncology/haematology consultation rooms. The answers to these questions however, are widely unknown among physicians. Pet ownership is thought to provide patients with both emotional and physical health benefits. However, owning pets may also pose health risks to immunocompromised patients through zoonotic transmission of disease. Some studies have also suggested that the ownership of domestic pets may increase the risk of developing some cancers. But what is the evidence behind these claims? This paper presents the results of a literature review of a variety of scientific literature about pet ownership as a potential risk factor for suffering cancer, zoonotic diseases and the immunocompromised, and animal-assisted-therapy in cancer patients.

The effects of interacting with fish in aquariums on human health and well-being: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Most research into the health benefits of human-animal interaction has focused on species that interact physically with humans, such as dogs. This may be unsuitable for certain populations for reasons including accessibility and the risk of negative consequences to both the person and the animal. However, some research has associated viewing fish in aquariums with positive well-being outcomes; as there is no physical contact with the animal, this form of interaction carries less risk. At present, little is known about the specific benefits of human-fish interaction. OBJECTIVES: To explore current evidence relating to the psychological and physiological benefits of interacting with fish in aquariums. METHODS: Systematic searches were conducted to identify relevant primary research of any design. All forms of interaction were considered, including keeping fish as companion animals and fish aquarium-based interventions. "Non-live" alternatives, such as videos, were also considered. This review was conducted according to a registered protocol (PROSPERO ID: CRD42018090466). RESULTS: Nineteen studies were included. Two provided tentative evidence that keeping home aquaria is associated with relaxation. The remaining studies involved novel interactions with fish in home or public aquariums. Outcomes relating to anxiety, relaxation and/or physiological stress were commonly assessed; evidence was mixed with both positive and null findings. Preliminary support was found for effects on mood, pain, nutritional intake and body weight, but not loneliness. All studies had methodological issues and risk of bias was either high or unclear. CONCLUSIONS: Review findings suggest that interacting with fish in aquariums has the potential to benefit human well-being, although research on this topic is currently limited. Future research should aim to address gaps in the evidence, such as whether and how the type of human-fish interaction can influence well-being outcomes. Researchers should also aim to address the methodological concerns highlighted in this review.

Training Dogs to Feel Good: Embodying Well-being in Multispecies Relations.

Social science concepts of well-being are largely premised on notions of a common humanity with shared physical needs and broadly legible experiences of the world. While medical anthropologists have interrogated ideas of universal bodily subjectivities, articulations of well-being across species boundaries remain underexplored. This article offers a conceptualization of well-being that attends to species difference. Drawing on ethnographic research with an animal rescue organization, I argue that in the context of partially connected bodily experiences, rescue workers navigate distinctions between dogs' internal feelings and external actions, and they train their bodies alongside dogs' bodies to cultivate canine well-being. A multispecies perspective complicates ideals of autonomy and self-actualization long associated with well-being and opens up avenues for considering well-being as an intercorporeal relationship conditioned in unequal bodies and embodied interactions.

Companion animals and human health: benefits, challenges, and the road ahead for human-animal interaction.

There is ample evidence that human-animal interaction (HAI) is associated with health. Studies encompass three general categories: those that compare companion animal owners with individuals who do not own companion animals, those examining brief, 'one-off' contacts with animals, and those that review animal-assisted interventions. The health benefits demonstrated typically include reductions in depression and loneliness, while enhancing social interaction or social skills, and decreasing anxiety and arousal. Other health benefits associated with companion animals include the promotion of exercise or physical activity. The types of human-animal contact that have been evaluated include visual contact, physical contact, and looking at images of animals. The species used in interventions include dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, goats, hamsters and crickets. Despite these benefits, HAIs are also associated with problems, including allergies, asthma, zoonoses, animal bites and scratches, and human falls. Other problems include grief and negative emotions when a companion animal is injured or dies. Companion animal ownership is also expensive. Inconsistent policies concerning keeping animals in housing and enabling service animals to access public places make it difficult to live with companion animals or keep service animals in some circumstances. Additional research is needed to provide an evidence base to evaluate the efficacy of particular types of HAI using a given type of animal. This will document specific outcomes for an individual with certain characteristics and assist in promoting the future use of HAI to enhance human and animal health and well-being.

L'existence d'un lien entre la santé, d'une part, et l'interaction humains­animaux d'autre part, est amplement démontrée. Les études en la matière se répartissent en trois catégories principales : comparaisons entre la situation de propriétaires d'animaux de compagnie et celle d'individus ne possédant pas d'animal de compagnie ; études sur des contacts brefs et ponctuels avec des animaux ; études analysant les interventions thérapeutiques recourant à des animaux. Parmi les bénéfices pour la santé mis en évidence dans ces études figurent l'atténuation des états dépressifs et du sentiment de solitude, une meilleure interaction sociale, un renforcement des compétences sociales et une diminution des états d'anxiété et d'agitation. Les animaux de compagnie encouragent à avoir une activité physique, ce qui est un facteur bénéfique pour la santé. Les contacts humains­animaux étudiés sont le contact visuel, le contact physique et la contemplation d'images d'animaux. Les espèces suivantes sont utilisées à des fins thérapeutiques : chiens, chats, chevaux, lapins, chèvres, hamsters et grillons. En dépit de ces avantages, les interactions humains­animaux peuvent aussi provoquer certains problèmes tels qu'allergies, asthme, maladies zoonotiques, blessures dues à des morsures et griffures et chutes. Il y a aussi le chagrin et les émotions négatives qui peuvent s'emparer d'une personne en cas de blessures ou de mort de son animal de compagnie. La possession d'un animal de compagnie entraîne des coûts. L'incohérence des réglementations sur la présence d'animaux dans les logements et sur l'accès des animaux aidants dans les espaces publics rend parfois difficile la vie avec des animaux de compagnie ou le recours aux animaux aidants. Il convient de poursuivre les recherches afin de pouvoir évaluer l'efficacité de certaines catégories d'interactions humains­animaux suivant le type d'animal utilisé. Cela permettra de connaître les résultats spécifiques que l'on peut attendre chez un individu présentant des caractéristiques particulières et contribuera à promouvoir l'utilisation future d'interactions humains­animaux pour améliorer la santé et le bien-être humain et animal.

Existen abundantes pruebas de que la interacción de humanos y animales reporta salud. Los estudios realizados corresponden a tres grandes categorías: aquellos que comparan a las personas que tienen una mascota con las que no tienen; aquellos que estudian contactos breves y excepcionales con animales; y aquellos que se centran en las intervenciones auxiliadas por animales. Los beneficios para la salud más comúnmente observados y probados son un menor grado de depresión y sentimiento de soledad, acompañado de una mejora de las relaciones y aptitudes sociales, así como menores niveles de ansiedad y agitación. Entre otros beneficios para la salud asociados a la presencia de animales de compañía destaca el incremento del ejercicio físico. Los tipos de contacto entre humanos y animales que se han evaluado son el contacto visual, el contacto físico y la visión de imágenes de animales. Las especies utilizadas en las intervenciones son principalmente el perro, el gato, el caballo, el conejo, la cabra, el hámster y el grillo. Pese a todos los beneficios que deparan, las relaciones entre humanos y animales también pueden provocar problemas como alergias, asma, zoonosis, mordeduras y arañazos de animal o caídas de las personas. Asimismo, a veces surgen dificultades como el duelo o las emociones negativas que acompañan las lesiones o la muerte de una mascota. Además, la propiedad de un animal de compañía resulta cara. En algunas circunstancias, la aplicación de políticas incoherentes sobre el hecho de tener animales en las viviendas o de permitir el acceso de animales de servicio a lugares públicos dificulta la vida con mascotas o la posesión de animales de servicio. Para evaluar la eficacia de ciertas clases particulares de relación entre humanos y animales con el uso de un determinado tipo de animal se requieren más investigaciones que aporten una sólida base probatoria. Con ello será posible demostrar la obtención de resultados específicos con una persona de determinadas características y promover en el futuro la utilización de la relación entre humanos y animales para procurar a ambas partes mayores cotas de salud y bienestar.

Vegetative symptoms and behaviour of the therapy-accompanying dog of a chronically suicidal patient.

We herein present a 51-year-old single female inpatient with treatment-resistant recurrent depressive disorder. Her most recent depressive episode has been severe and followed a chronic course, lasting for longer than 2 years. During the exacerbation of the patient's suicidal thoughts and plans, we repeatedly and independently observed vegetative and behavioural changes of the therapy-accompanying dog of the patient. Our findings suggest a role for dog-assisted therapy for augmenting treatment as well as for enhancing and developing novel adjunctive strategies for risk assessment in patients with chronic depression and suicidality. Possible social-biological mechanisms and underpinnings are discussed, by drawing on the available literature and comparative psychology. Collaboration with animal behaviourists and animal welfare scientists, in order to improve behavioural and physiological data interpretation and humaneness of dog-assisted therapy, is emphasised as a crucial component of future research.