Animal-assisted therapy in hospitals and institutionsAnimal-assisted therapy (AAT) is a means of therapy intended to help the patient progress in their recovery , this being able to be expressed with and through the animal. Patients are allowed to pet, groom and walk, ride or swim with the animal, giving them a chance to feed it and find companionship with it. Some of the goals are to improve the patient's social, emotional, and/or cognitive functioning. Therapists seek to establish a better relationship with the patient through the use of the animal that assists them in therapy. Due to institutional concerns, health care professionals worry about animal hair, dirt, and germs, but cleanliness procedures have been developed that would allow pet therapy programs in most hospitals and nursing homes. retirement. In an article in The Doctor's New Assistant, it is stated that animals in the pet therapy program must adhere to strict rules; they must comply with the rules established in their state through the State Department of Health. and the Association of Veterinarians. Animals must be immunized, cannot climb onto a patient's bed, and cannot enter the facility's kitchen. (2014) Although fears remain that the animal may bite a patient or become aggressive, an extra precaution is put in place requiring the animals to undergo obedience training. Canine therapy is the most common of all AAT programs and the easiest to access. to the general population. A UCLA study of heart failure patients included 76 patients. When patients were visited by a therapy dog, they showed a 10% decrease in heart and lung pressure, a 24% decrease in anxiety levels, and a 17% decrease...... middle of paper ......it the use of AAT in hospitals and institutions by reducing the pain and suffering of their patients, including decreasing their medications and increasing their quality of life. As research continues in this area, staff and patients continue to be educated on the use of AAT for the well-being of all. Citation page for current work (1) Animal-assisted therapy http://www.americanhumane.org/interaction/programs/animal-assisted therapy/American Humane Association (2) The new doctor's assistant called "arf" of opposing views (3) Cole, K., Gawlinski, A., Steers, N. and Kotlerman, j. (2007). Animal-assisted therapy in patients hospitalized for heart failure. American Journal of Critical Care, 16, 575-585(4) Patterson, D. and Jensen, M. (2003) Hypnosis and clinical pain. Psychological Bulletin 129, http://chp.sagepub.com/content/12/1/151 295-521