Observing the etymology of the word “cynotherapy”, the term “cino” comes from the Greek and means dog. In this sense, we can understand cynotherapy as a type of therapy that uses dogs in its process.
The use of animals as part of the treatment of humans is not something new in the world. Some research shows that Europeans already used animals as therapists.
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Here in Brazil, Doctor Nise da Silveira was the first to implement treatment with animals in people with schizophrenia. Today, some researchers already show how this treatment has positive results.
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the positive results
The main point of treatment is trust between the patient and the puppy. This offers security and improves mental health, as there is an identification between the human and the animal.
In the first 15 minutes with the therapy dog, the benefits are already felt. Among them are the improvement of anxiety, blood pressure, stress and high heart rate. Contact still offers a feeling of well-being, as it promotes the release of endorphins and adrenaline.
With recurrent treatment, the benefits are extensive. According to data from the zootherapy institute, cynotherapy promotes significant improvements in socialization, memory, self-esteem and affectivity.
How does the therapy take place?
Not every animal is capable of being a therapy dog. There is a strict standard of requirements that pets need to submit to start meeting. They need to be calm, be able to deal with all age groups, be trained and have good coexistence with other animals.
In addition, it is important to maintain regular animal hygiene. They need to be vaccinated, dewormed and up to date on exams. Therefore, the health of the pet makes all the difference at these times, as he needs to be well to serve well.
The therapy dog makes weekly visits to a responsible institution. So, outside the institution, his life goes on like any other puppy.
Who is it for?
Cynotherapy is indicated for cases of anxiety, autism, learning disabilities, schizophrenia, cancer and hospitalized patients. It is up to the doctor, analyzing the condition of each patient, to indicate the treatment. If you are interested, just go to your doctor and clear all doubts.
If you consider the possibility of your dog being a therapist, look for the institution closest to you that offers this type of training. Finally, some hospitals also accept animals to help treat their patients. There is definitely one near you!