'Bichoterapia': animals promote socialization and improve response to medical treatments.
As pets, they guarantee company, fun and promote socialization with tutors. In hospitals and clinics, they establish an affective bond with patients, help to minimize the sensation of pain and enhance responses to medical treatments. Pets can be more than good company and act as real therapists.
A pioneer in Belo Horizonte when employing dogs in the medical approach of patients, Hospital Madre Teresa, in the district of Luxembourg, in the Center-South region, created the Um Dia de Cão project, about five years ago. In monthly meetings, voluntary animals, previously selected and trained, provide comfort and assist in motor limitations, psychological and psychiatric disorders. “It is the moment when the focus leaves the disease and falls on life. The reports include changes in behavior, improvement in depression, greater interaction with the team and the doctor, collaboration, acceptance of the situation and even the beginning of movements (in an attempt to touch) in post-stroke patients ”, reports the medical coordinator of the initiative, Viviane Parisotto Marino. A Dog Day is a partnership with the Faculty of Medicine of UFMG.
Training
Responsible for the project alongside the doctor, trainer Lucinei Braga, in charge of selecting and training the animals, explains that the therapist dogs can be large (such as labrador and golden retriever) or small (different breeds). A prerequisite, however, is to have minimal obedience to be well controlled during visits.
“Training gives us support so that we can control the dog in any situation. We need well-controlled animals that are not excited around others, since the focus, at that time, will be on the patient ”, he details.
Before taking action, the dogs, who must have bathed the day before the meeting and need to be fasting to avoid pooping, have clean paws and mouths with a special solution. Lucinei reinforces that all guidelines regarding hygiene and health are strictly followed.
Cats and even rats
Psychologist and technician in animal-assisted therapies, Leonardo Curi has worked for almost ten years in BH with dogs, cats, and even mice therapists. He explains that each species is intended for a type of treatment. “Cats are ideal for patients with autism and depression, as they are more subtle than dogs and invite them to interact. With rats, we work on phobias and aversions ”, details the founder of Religare Animal-assisted therapies. Leonardo also points out that this type of approach goes beyond the ludic bias. “There is a whole preparation done by a qualified professional based on scientific studies. There needs to be adequate training. Some subtleties of animal behavior are extremely important ”, he emphasizes.
source: Nowadays