Health Effects of Dog Therapy
What kind of health benefit do therapy dogs provide us?
There are many reports where some became more cheerful, and some have started to smile more often. However, there were little objective data about their effects in the past. At Japan Rescue Association, we publish test results conducted with psychiatrists, university research team, and medical personnel.
In order for therapy dogs to become part of a medical care program, it is necessary to test the effects they could have on dementia, psychological care and rehabilitation from every angle, and collect these data.
We are working with leading researchers and professionals from each field to test their effects.
Test result example: “Dog Therapy Treatment towards Senior Dementia Patients”
18th Japanese Psychogeriatric Society, Mitsuhiro Mano, Madoka Naien, Ken Nishimura
Abstract
We attempted dog therapy towards 10 senior moderate Alzheimer’s disease patients (two male, eight female) placed in a special elderly nursing home.
Specially trained therapy dog was used for the therapy once every week for 30 minutes. To evaluate the effects of dog therapy, we used a daily activity observation chart created by partially modifying Nishimura’s Dementia Scale and GBS Scale before and after the therapy. In addition, behavior observation chart, specifically created for this study, was used during the therapy.
As a result, 2 patients had secondary emotional improvements after the dog therapy under the Nishimura’s Dementia Scale. 7 patients improved notably especially in regards to consciousness, patients and against sleeping disorder after the dog therapy under the daily activity observation chart.
As for behavior observation during the dog therapy, patients showed interest up until 2nd to 3rd sessions, but showed signs of getting used to and boredom.
The results indicate that if the program is modified in such way to maintain patient’s interest, dog therapy can help improve senior dementia patients’ daily behavior.
Other test result examples
Dog Therapy Treatment towards Elderly Dementia Patients
Nanayama Hospital Joint Research Team
Director: Yoshiharu Honda
Occupational Therapist: Mariko Ogawa, Yumi OowanClinical Psychotherapist: Yumi Nanri
Osaka University of Health and Sport Sciences, Short Term College Department Professor (Mental Health Welfare Major): Hidetaka Suzuki
Nonprofit Organization Japan Rescue Association: Hitomi Ooyama
Examining Various Indexes Before and After Dog Therapy at Geriatric Health Services Facility
Geriatric Health Services Facility
Arontia Club President: Doctor of Medicine Takayoshi Yagi
*Please contact us for details on all the test result examples.
Conference presentations
10th Japanese Psychogeriatric Society
2nd The Japanese Society for Dementia Care
12th World Congress of Psychiatry at Yokohama (August 2002)
18th Japanese Psychogeriatric Society
*Please contact us for details on all the conference presentation.
Test guidance and advice
1. Field on geriatric and dementia care
St. Marianna University School of Medicine, President Kazuo Hasegawa
Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital, Psychiatric Medicine Research Director Akira Honma
2. Field on child medical care
Tokai University School of Medicine, Mental Science Department Professor
The Japanese Society for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry President Kousuke Yamazaki
Social Welfare Corporation: Eihou-kai President, Doctor of Medicine Hideki Kitahata
*Please contact us for details on all the test guidance and advices.