Animals can help to heal?

AAT is based on the idea that the presence of an animal is a soothing element in the life of a patient with disability or a heavy medical condition. Florence Nightingale, the instigator of many techniques of modern health care, kept a tortoise in his service during the Crimean War as it was observed that the presence of an animal decreased anxiety wounded soldiers. More recently, an American psychotherapist observed in the 1950s, the comforting influence of his dog on one of his autistic patients and launched psychotherapy facilitated by the animal. Anglo-Saxon countries use much these approaches, despite the lack of large cohort studies necessary for an objective validation. AAT, which includes all types of therapy involving animals remains controversial, even in countries where it is used. Its worst detractors accuse pose a health risk to patients and endanger animals for an effect that would be enough to get robots and other specialists, more moderate recognize an effect only related to a placebo effect or increased by the simple event presentation to an animal socialization.

Without objective scientific data, the use of these methods remains a matter of conviction and personal experience of the therapist, who plays a key role anyway. A "mediator" The most common use of animals in medical practice is around the elderly . Many associations do indeed come from the same dogs or cats in homes or services of palliative care with the sole aim to encourage older people to leave their rooms and their silence. Patients caress animals, question their lifestyle and discuss these visits long after their departure. Animals and affect the morale of the patients but also their health by forcing them to move more. Many GPs also recommend to their patients retired to adopt a dog to encourage them to keep regular physical activity. For those who are isolated, the animal gives a reason to get up, thinking about the need to eat and go out to be in contact with other dog walkers.

 In France, experts speak more readily animal mediation, recognizing the role of the animal rather as an intermediate care or improving the quality of life factor. Thus, guide dogs can not cure blindness, but they can facilitate many daily tasks, thus reducing the burden of disability. Other types of dog can assist patients with motor disabilities by turning on lights, opening the fridge or finding the remote control fell under the couch! Finally, the use of horses to raise children usually immobilized in a wheelchair can bring a smile on their face but also on the people who accompany them and who often feel powerless to help.