Pet Therapy for Cancer

”A pet is a medication without side effects that has so many benefits. I can’t always explain it myself, but for years now I’ve seen how instances of having a pet is like an effective drug. It really does help people.”

- Dr. Edward Creagan, Oncologist at Mayo Clinic Rochester, Minnesota

Pet therapy, something also referred to as "animal-assisted therapy," has been gaining popularity in the last several years.From animal visits for children in hospitals to those with dementia, and now people with cancer, studies suggest there are some important benefits obtained from these furry visitors. And as the quote above says so well: it’s often like an effective drug but without side effects. What are some of the ways that pet therapy has helped those struggling with physical and mental illnesses, and what are we starting to learn about its role in cancer treatment?

History

Animals have been man’s companions since recorded time, but the use of this companionship to foster health and well-being has only recently taken off as a complementary therapy. Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) was first used to assist those with mental illnesses beginning in the 1800s and was found to be a helpful adjunct to psychoanalysis by Sigmund Freud. Yet animals as companions to those with physical illnesses became recognized only as recently as 1976 when Therapy Dogs International—followed closely by the Delta Society (now called Pet Partners)—was founded.

Pet therapy has been used and studied in many forms. Research has looked at both pet ownership as well as visiting pets. In this article, I’ll be focusing primarily on visiting pets, but I’ll also share some studies about pet ownership as they relate to overall health.

What Animals are Used for Pet Therapy?

The type of animals that have shared their lives with people who are ailing is also diverse.Most commonly studied have been dogs (canine therapy) with the most popular breed for pet therapy being golden retrievers, but benefits have been found via companionship with cats, birds, farm animals, and even dolphins.

General Benefits

Many studies have been done that have evaluated both the physical and emotional effects of pet companionship.

With regard to pet ownership, one study found that people with pets had significantly lower heart rates and blood pressure than those without pets. In another study people with dogs were more likely to be alive one year after suffering a heart attack than those who did not have a dog.

Focusing on visiting pets – animal assisted therapy – many physical and emotional benefits have been witnessed. Some of these have included:

• A decreased need for pain medications in those who suffer from chronic pain
• Lowered stress levels
• A calming effect in patients with dementia
• Improved mood
• Decreased anxiety in hospitalized patients
• Decreased loneliness and social isolation, and a sense of emotional connection

• Pet therapy may even enhance the will to live

As an added plus, it’s been found that pet therapy not only helps those with physical and emotional needs but appears to benefit the entire family, as well as the hospital nursing staff in those who are hospitalized.

Benefits for Cancer Patients

Fewer studies have been done looking at pet therapy for people with cancer than with other conditions such as Alzheimers, but those that have focused specifically on cancer patients have shown promising results. One study on radiation therapy patients found that those people who had dog visits rated their health as better than those who did not have dog visits as part of their therapy. Another study noted that pet therapy during chemotherapy improved depression as well as blood oxygenation (the amount of oxygen carried in the blood.) Other studies on people with cancer have found that AAT:

• Decreased pain and was helpful as a way to decrease the need for pain medication
• Decreased psychological distress, and
• Decreased fatigue

There are currently several clinical trials in progress to evaluate the benefits of pet therapy, some of these specifically for cancer patients.

Why Does Pet Therapy Work?

There are several theories that have attempted to explain why pet therapy helps those with physical and mental conditions. Intuitively it seems that relaxation, as well as buffering the stressors in our lives would play a role.

Researchers have actually found a physiological basis for what intuition tells us. A study on healthcare professionals who were visited by a pet therapy dog found that those who had time with the dog had a significant decrease in cortisol levels in the blood. This "biological" stress reduction was noted with as little as 5 minutes of time spent with the dog. Another study found that AAT decreased catecholamines in the blood.

To understand the significance of this, chemicals in our bodies such as cortisol and the catecholamine epinephrine (adrenaline) are known as stress hormones. These chemical messengers do have a place and a role in the functioning of our bodies. As instigators of the “fight or flight” response, they are what make us alert if we hear a prowler in the middle of the night, or have to fight off a lion in the jungle. On the other hand, chronic increases in these stress hormones have been linked with heart disease and possibly even cancer and cancer recurrence.

Pet therapy appears to affect another type of chemical in our bodies as well - endorphins. Endorphins are chemicals secreted by the body that act as the body’s natural pain relievers. They are responsible for what has become known as the “runner’s high.” At least one study has found that animal-assisted therapy has resulted in an increased level of endorphins in patients who have spent time with a dog.

Risks

Though research has found pet therapy to be safe even for hospitalized patients, it’s important to note a few potential concerns. (This is assuming that the pets have been screened to provide pet therapy and are up to date on immunizations.) Potential problems may include:

• Behavior problems – Animals – just like people – do not act perfectly all the time, even those who are carefully trained.
• Allergies – Some people have allergies to our furry friends.
• People who are immunosuppressed – People who have bone marrow suppression, for example, due to chemotherapy, should talk to their oncologist before considering pet therapy.
• Disease transmission – There is a small risk that diseases carried by animals may be transmitted to humans. These are known as zoonotic diseases. With animals that are carefully screened, the risk of zoonotic diseases should be small.
• Fear of animals – It goes without saying that for people who are frightened by animals such as dogs – pet therapy is just not a good idea.
• Respect for the animal – As a final note it’s important to think of the creature on the other side of therapy. Animals that are used for therapy should not be exploited or placed in situations that could be uncomfortable or harmful.

How to Access Pet Therapy as a Patient

If you are looking for a way to add pet therapy as a complement to your cancer treatment plan, there are a few places you can look to get started. First is to check with your cancer treatment center. Examples of some cancer centers that offer pet therapy include (there are many more and this is just a taste):

• Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center has a Pet visitation therapy program
• Siteman Cancer Center has a TOUCH Program - touch standing for therapy of unique canine helpers.
• Memorial Sloan Kettering has a canine therapy program.

How to Get Involved as a Volunteer

If you are interested in getting involved with pet therapy as a volunteer, there are many organizations that can help you get started.

First, if you wish to use your own dog, you'll need to see if your dog is a good fit. Check out this information training. The next step is to see if your dog passes the "Canine Good Citizen Test" developed by the American Kennel Club. You can search by state to find evaluators who can administer the test.

Once your dog is certified, there are several organizations that can assist you in finding people in your community that could benefit from pet therapy. Some of these include:

• Therapy Dog International
• The Delta Society
• The Good Dog Foundation

If you are interested in hearing more about a therapy dog in action, check out this interview:

Moments with Baxter: the “Hospice Angel” – Interview with Melissa Joseph, owner of Baxter, the pet therapy dog.

As a last note, it’s important to note that pet therapy isn’t limited to dogs. Research has found benefits from Therapy Cats as well as other animals.