Pets Help Reduce Pain Meds

Recovering With Four-Legged Friends Requires Less Pain Medication

"Adults who use pet therapy while recovering from total joint-replacement surgery require 50 percent less pain medication than those who do not..."

"'Evidence suggests that animal-assisted therapy (AAT) can have a positive effect on a patient's psychosocial, emotional and physical well being,' said Julia Havey, RN, study presenter and senior systems analyst, Department of Medical Center Information Systems, Loyola University Health System (LUHS). 'These data further support these benefits and build the case for expanding the use of pet therapy in recovery.'"

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