ALS Therapy Dogs: Unbelievable Animal Support Offering Comfort

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ALS Therapy Dogs: Unbelievable Animal Support Offering Comfort

ALS therapy dogs provide incredible animal support, leveraging the powerful bond between humans and animals to help those affected by Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Dogs with a soothing presence and a knack for companionship can greatly improve the lives of ALS patients, not just by offering physical support, but also through bringing emotional comfort.

The Role of ALS Therapy Dogs in Providing Animal Support

Create an emotionally touching scene in a cozy room. There's a cheerful pet therapy dog with a glossy golden retriever coat leaning into a comfortable couch. The canine's tongue is out, showing affection and bringing comfort. Sitting on the couch is a brave middle-aged South Asian man displaying a reassuring smile. He's happily receiving the dog's affection and care, clearly touched by the unconditional love. The dog has a bandana around its neck that reads 'Therapy Dog'. The room radiates warmth and the overall atmosphere communicates the powerful bond between the man and the therapy dog, showcasing the vital role such animals play in therapeutic settings, specifically for ALS patients.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is a neurodegenerative disease causing the loss of motor neurons that control voluntary muscles. This results in muscle weakness, difficulty in speaking, swallowing, and eventually, breathing. Currently, there’s no cure for ALS, leaving patients and their families to grapple with management of progressive symptoms and the provision of comfort and care.

Against such a backdrop, therapy dogs have emerged as a strong pillar of support. In essence, ALS therapy dogs can be a reliable source of comfort and companionship, providing emotional support to ALS patients in these trying times. These dogs, with their gentle demeanor and intuitiveness, can provide a soothing influence, helping to improve the mood of patients, reduce anxiety and stress, and create an overall positive environment.

But how exactly does this relationship work? What makes these therapy dogs an excellent source of animal support? Let’s delve into that.

Emotional Benefits of Therapy Dogs

Dogs, known as man’s best friend, have an innate ability to understand and respond to human emotions. They are naturally empathetic creatures, capable of providing emotional animal support even in the toughest of times. A study carried out by the American Heart Association revealed an animal presence helps to significantly reduce fear, anxiety and improve mood (1).

In the context of ALS, the emotional support offered by therapy dogs can be particularly beneficial. Coping with a progressive neurodegenerative disease like ALS can be deeply challenging mentally and emotionally. Therapy dogs, with their heartwarming care and companionship, can help such patients navigate this path with resilience.

Physical Benefits of Having a Therapy Dog

Besides emotional benefits, having a therapy dog has tangible physical benefits too. Interactions with an animal, whether it’s stroking the dog, grooming, or even observing the dog’s behavior, can lead to a relaxation response resulting in a significantly lowered heart rate and blood pressure (2). These physical improvements contribute to an overall sense of well-being for the ALS patient.

Therapy dogs might also facilitate physical activity for the patient, which is known to play a substantial role in enhancing the quality of life for ALS patients (3).

The Importance of Training for ALS Therapy dogs

Like any other therapy dog, an ALS therapy dog undertakes rigorous training to ensure they are well-equipped to deal with the requirements of the patient. The most effective therapy dogs are those that, beyond being inherently friendly and patient, undergo intensive training to appropriately respond to varying patient needs and sensitivities.

The International Association of Canine Professionals provides a detailed guide to training therapy dogs for various health conditions, highlighting the importance of creating a bond between the animal and patient for optimal support (4).

In Closing

ALS therapy dogs, undoubtedly, provide an unbelievable level of animal support, offering comfort to the patients living with this neurodegenerative condition. Their consistent companionship can alleviate feelings of loneliness and fear in ALS patients, destressing their environment, and facilitating a significantly improved quality of life.

If you have more queries regarding the ALS and Real Water case, or need assistance in providing care for an ALS patient, feel free to get in touch. Our contact page on our site has all the information you’ll need to reach us quickly and easily. You can also peruse more articles on our blog page for additional insights.

Remember that help is just a call away. Dial 702-385-6000 to talk to us directly.

Sources

– [[1] Pets May Help Improve Human Health. (n.d.). American Heart Association](https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-bond-for-life-pets/pets-may-help-improve-human-health)
– [[2] Animal-Assisted Therapy and Activities: A Study, Resource Guide and Bibliography for the Use of Companion Animals in Selected Therapies. (n.d.). NCBI](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3408111/)
– [[3] Exercise in neuromuscular disease. (2003). NCBI](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1738819)
– [[4] Therapy Dog Training. (n.d.). International Association of Canine Professionals.](https://canineprofessionals.com/therapy-dog-training)

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