Patti & Michael Talk Pet Therapy

Many of us have pets and consider them part of the family. They offer emotional support, companionship, and bonding.  Did you know that they are very important for your health? Beyond pets, the medical field is now recognizing the healing qualities of many types of animals. Animal-assisted therapies are being incorporated into clinical treatment plans to improve health outcomes in many chronic conditions and diseases. Today we dive into the concept of animal-assisted therapy. We take a look into the literature as it relates to psychological outcomes, cardiovascular disease, and more. Today on The Lab Report:  2:35 Pets and the state of the literature 5:55 Effects of animal-assisted therapy in depression 9:42 Animals for anxiety and schizophrenia 11:00 Pet ownership vs. animal-assisted therapy 12:20 Get Outta Here! 14:20 Chickens, neurotransmitters, and hormones 15:50 Biophilia hypothesis 19:00 Question of the Day: What are the differences between service animals, therapy animals, emotional support animals, and working animals? Subscribe, Rate, & Review The Lab Report Thanks for tuning in to this week’s episode of The Lab Report, presented by Genova Diagnostics, with your hosts Michael Chapman and Patti Devers. If you enjoyed this episode, please hit the subscribe button and give us a rating or leave a review. Don’t forget to visit our website, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Email Patti and Michael with your most interesting and pressing questions on functional medicine: [email protected]. And, be sure to share your favorite Lab Report episodes with your friends and colleagues on social media to help others learn more about Genova and all things related to functional medicine and specialty lab testing. Disclaimer: The content and information shared in The Lab Report is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views and opinions expressed in The Lab Report represent the opinions and views of Michael Chapman and Patti Devers and their guests.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.