Dogs as pets, visitors, therapists and assistants

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Human-Animal Interaction
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Dogs offer significant benefits in patient recovery.
• Key roles include companionship, animal-assisted therapy, and assistance dogs.
• Clinicians require guidance on integrating canine support into care.

Purpose of the Study:

• Define and differentiate the roles of dogs in patient recovery.
• Provide resources for healthcare professionals.
• Facilitate the inclusion of canine support in home healthcare and hospice care plans.

Main Methods:

• Literature review to define canine roles.
• Categorization of canine assistance types.
• Compilation of resources for clinicians.

Main Results:

• Dogs provide distinct benefits as companions, in therapy, and as assistance animals.
• Clear differentiation between these roles is established.
• Resources are identified for practical implementation by clinicians.

Conclusions:

• Canine integration offers a valuable dimension to patient care.
• Understanding the specific roles of dogs is crucial for effective implementation.
• Resources are available to support clinicians in incorporating canine support into care plans.