The benefits of pet therapy for children.

Pet Therapy is an educational method to intervene on children when they have certain types of disabilities. It is an intervention that acts as a reinforcement on traditional therapies. It can be aimed at all ages and various pathologies. recognized as an official cure since 2003 based on neurodevelopmental and psycho-motor disorders.

For which pathologies is it indicated?

Pet Therapy is an intervention often recommended for children with Down syndrome or with autism spectrum disorders. The animal helps the child to create positive emotions, develop empathy and emotional control, lowering the levels of anxiety and aggression., Done on balance, coordination, posture and muscle tone.

Pet Therapy: benefits and results

The use of animals as a care for children has countless benefits in the most fragile people, such as the elderly and children. The animals, in fact, have the function of acting as a "bridge" with the inner world of the other; they are the intermediaries of communication, they stimulate language and social skills.

Pet Therapy and Autism in Children.

Pet therapy is a particularly suitable method also for autism spectrum disorders; people in this condition have the greatest difficulties in the area of personal interactions. In these cases, the use of dogs has been shown to be able to reduce even some typical traits of autism.Pet therapy can help to insert these children into the school environment, favoring learning in children, going to counteracting lapses of attention and aggression, increasing concentration instead.

Living and growing together with a pet also brings benefits such as increased self-esteem; it goes to shape the personality and security; increases empathy and the ability to communicate with others.

Pet therapy which animals are used?

Before starting a pet therapy path, you need to choose the right animal. This varies based on several factors, including personal propensities, the type of disease, specific abilities, any allergies or fears. For example, in the case of the use of dogs it is also chosen based on the size, the type of hair (long or short) and the character of the animal. In addition to dogs, the most used animals are cats, rabbits, horses (hence hippotherapy) and donkeys.