Caregivers are becoming interested in pet therapy as many studies have shown that pets can influence health, although most of the research has been conducted with dogs (the most common pet in America). Pets influence physical health in such ways as lowering blood pressure, heart rate and stress; they influence psychological health by decreasing loneliness. Other research has shown that dogs can help people with Alzheimer’s disease who exhibit certain behaviors.

However, there are many factors to consider if you are thinking of adding a pet to your home or taking a pet to visit someone in a health care facility. It is important that the person likes animals and is not afraid of or allergic to them. The animal has to be the right animal and have the right temperament to be a companion. Although puppies and kittens can be fun, they may not be the answer as they require lots of patience and training. The animal should be clean, free of parasites, and have up-to-date vaccinations. This is particularly important if someone is very frail, because animals can sometimes transmit disease. If you want to visit someone in a facility, check first to see if there any policies and procedures you must follow.

Talk to your physician or health care provider before introducing an animal into your household, and talk to a vet as well. They may be able to give you excellent guidance regarding the type of animal that might be right for you. You may also want to visit the website of the Delta Society at http://www.deltasociety.org. They are an organization dedicated to the promotion of the human-animal bond and they have many resources available.