Animals as therapy

Animals As Therapy

Recent Advances in Animal Science Conference

Askham Bryan College

Dr Sara Kelly

Science Communications

WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition

Proprietary information: Not to be reproduced or distributed without the express consent of Mars Inc. ©Mars 2016


Overview

• WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition

• Physiological and psychological benefits of human-animal

interaction (HAI)

– Pet ownership

• Animals as therapy

• AAI in special populations

• MOA of AAIs

• AAI research – the future


WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition

• Fundamental scientific

research centre (Mars Petcare)

• Companion animal nutrition

and welfare

• Study of the human-animal

bond and HAI

• Support for HAI field

– Funding and resources

– National Institutes of Health (NIH)

• NICHD

Source: WALTHAM

Benefits of Human-Animal

Interaction through pet ownership



Pets and Physical Wellbeing

• Positive association between pet

ownership and 1 year survival

rate following heart attack

• Physiological indicators of health

among older adults

– Lower systolic BP

– Lower triglyceride, cholesterol

• Response to stress

– Less cardiovascular reactivity

– Faster recovery

Source: Dollarclub stock photos

Friedmann & Thomas, 1999. Am J Cardiology. Vol 76, 1213-1217.


Pets and Psychological Wellbeing

• Pet ownership helps people

cope with psychological effects

of stress

• Pet ownership associated with

less depression in men with HIV

• Pet attachment related to ↓

depression

– Older adults

– Bereaved older-adults with less

social support

Siegel et al., 1999. AIDS Care. Vol 11; Garrity et al., 1989. Anthrozoos. Vol 3.



Healthy Child Development

• Emotional support, comfort,

confidantes

• Development of positive behaviours

(empathy, responsibility)

• Higher levels of physical activity

• Australian study

– Young children (5-6yrs) less likely to

be overweight/obese

• ↓ allergies, stronger immune

system – less school absence


Melson, 2001; Melson et al., 2009. Katcher & Beck, 1986


Pets and Healthy Ageing

• Preserving physical, mental,

and social well being

• Dogs are a motivator to

remain active and to get

outside

• Social support

• Pet attachment related to

lower rates of recent illnessSource: Dollarclub stock photos

Krause-Parello 2012. Geriatric Nursing. 33, 194–203

Animals as Therapy



History of Animals in Healing

194410, 000 BC

Humans-animals in

therapeutic relationships

1860

Notes on nursing

1st scientific article

1980s

Effects on

human health

Human-animal bond focus

1960s

Visitation programmes

2008

WALTHAM NICHD

partnership


Introduction to AAI

• Including animals in programmes to aid treatment of physical

and psychological disorders

• Dogs most common animal used

• Cats, guinea pigs, cockatoos, birds, horses, goats, chickens,

donkeys, pot-bellied pigs, Llamas, dolphins, fish aquaria



Spectrum of AAIs

Animal-Assisted Interventions

Animal-Assisted Activities

Animal-Assisted Education

Animal Hospital/Nursing

Home Visit

AAA for At-Risk or Delinquent

Youth

Animal-Assisted Therapy

Animal-Assisted Psychotherapy

Animal-Assisted Social work

Animal-Assisted Physical/Speech

Therapy

Adapted from Fine et al., 2015. Handbook on Animal-Assisted Therapy

AAI Research in Special Populations



Older People in Residential Care

Loneliness• Cat, dog visitation

programmes, bird care

• Cognitively intact older adults

in long-term care

• Improvements in:

– systolic and diastolic BP

– perceived health

• Self-care, anxiety, depression,

physical functioning and life-

satisfaction

– loneliness

– social interactionBurnstein et al., 2000. Anthrozoos. 13, 213-224.

Long conversations

Banks & Banks, 2002. J Gerontol. 57A, 428-432.


Mental Health - Dementia

• Need for non-pharmacological

treatments

• Dog therapy interventions

– ↓ Agitated behaviour

– ↑ Social interactions

– ↓ Risk of fall accidents

– ↑ Quality of life

• Fish aquariums ↑ nutritional intake

in Alzheimer’s disease

• No effect on cognitive performance Source: Dollarclub stock photos

Edwards & Beck, 2002. West J Nurs Res. 24, 697-712; Filan & Llewellyn-Jones, 2006. Int Psychogeriatr. 18:597-611 .


Mental Health – Depression and Anxiety

• Mild/moderate clinical depression, hospitalised patients

with major depression, depressed adults in rehabilitation

• AAT with caged birds, farm animals, dogs

• RCT, follow up at 6 months

– No significant change in anxiety during intervention

– Anxiety significantly lower at follow up vs. baseline

– No difference between groups for depression

• Some studies have shown significant improvement in

depression and anxiety scores as well as self-efficacy

Pedersen et al., 2011. Issues in Mental Health Nursing. 32. 493-500


Advanced Heart Failure

Variable Volunteer dog vs.

volunteer only, p value

Systolic pulmonary artery pressure (mm Hg) 0.01

Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (mm Hg) 0.003

Noradrenaline (pg ml) 0.02

Adrenaline (pg ml) 0.04

Cole et al., 2007. Am J Crit Care. vol. 16, 575-585

• Cardiopulmonary pressures, neuroendocrine levels

• Dog visitation


Children and Adolescents

• Equine facilitated learning

– ↓ salivary cortisol levels

• Therapeutic horse riding in autism

– ↓ Irritability

– ↓ Hyperactivity

– ↑ Social cognition

– ↑ Social communication

– ↑ Words spoken

• Canine intervention in ADHD

– ↑ Social skills

– ↑ Prosocial behaviours

– ↓ problematic behaviours Pendry et al., 2014. HAI Bull. Vol2, 80-95; Gabriels et al., 2015. J Am Acad Child

Adol Psyc. Vol 54, 541–549. Schuck et al., 2013 JAD.



Mechanisms Of Action of AAIs

• Physiological state of relaxation + increased attention1

• Form of stress-reducing or stress-buffering social support2


AAI Research – The Future

• Need for methodologically stronger studies of effects on

variety of biophysical and psychosocial outcomes

• Further research

– MOA

– Settings

– Characteristics and species of animals

– Conditions

– Other special populations (cancer, AIDS, children)

• Further RCTs are necessary

– Improved quality

– Reporting of efficacy data, adverse events


Summary

• AAIs have historically been beneficial to health

• Integrative approach to enhance treatment of various

health concerns

• Moderate effects in improving outcomes

– Medical difficulties

– Mental and behavioural disorders

– Autism-spectrum symptoms

• Opportunities for further implementation into health care

• Further high quality research required

For more information……

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Visit: www.waltham.com

Evolution of Research into the Mutual Benefits of Human-Animal

Interaction. Animal Frontiers, 2014, Vol 4, issue 3, pages 49-58.

http://www.waltham.com/


Thank you