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production of stress hormones, leads to better physical and mental health in people. These discoveries explain why therapy dogs are so effective. Therapy animals provide people who may not be able to have a pet with the same benefits of pet ownership. Recent studies performed on animal-assisted therapy show that in addition to providing comfort and emotional support, therapy dogs also provide cardiovascular, psychological, and cognitive benefits. The cardiovascular benefits obtained from therapy animals are the result of the reduction of stress levels. Lower levels of stress lead to fewer instances of heart problems. In fact, there are a number of studies that have shown that people who have contact with dogs after having a heart attack or stroke are less likely to have another event. It is therefore beneficial for patients suffering from heart disease or other related medical issues to have contact with therapy dogs as part of their rehabilitation.

Scan here to view a short video about how therapy dogs can help people in a rehabilitation setting.

What is a Therapy Dog?

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