London: A children`s hospital in US has developed a new `pet therapy` under which a golden retriever dog visits patients in intensive care to cheer them up.
The eight-year-old dog, Jake, visited the Le Bonheur Children`s hospital in Tennessee, and met a six-year-old patient Alex Gosa as a part of the hospital`s new Pet Therapy scheme.
The boy, who lost a toe in an accident recently, stroked the golden retriever as part of "doctor`s orders".
When he was told the dog is two years older than him the boy replied: "I`m catching up with him."
The treatment, more commonly known as AAT -animal-assisted therapy- has been used to treat patients with mental and physical health problems since the late 18th century, the `Daily Mail` reported.
The study published in the US Early Childhood Education Journal showed that children in particular benefit from AAT.
Staff at the hospital said pet therapy has resulted in a better outcome for patients.
It concluded that as a child perceives animals as non-judgemental it is easier for the child to build up a `social and emotional support system` with them.
The programme has been going on for two weeks and it is the first time animals have been allowed in the intensive care unit.
Hospital spokesperson Sara Burnett said both patients and staff have benefited.
"We all stop and pet them. Grandparents do. Physicians do. Family members and siblings. I think there is something disarming about seeing a dog in a hospital. It makes you stop your `busyness` - to take a minute and pet a dog," she said.
PTI
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.