Can a pet help with your chronic pain? ~ Confronting Chronic Pain

Pets are something that tens of millions of people around the nation have. People love them, have fun with them, and often find them to be comforting companions. While they may bring some joy to our lives, there is another reason that those who suffer from chronic pain may want to consider having a pet. Turns out, they may be a great option for helping with pain management, in addition to the many other benefits that they bring to our lives.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, pets have numerous health benefits, including that they can help lower blood pressure, cholesterol levels, triglyceride levels, and feelings of loneliness. They can also increase opportunities for getting exercise and engaging in outdoor activities, as well as provide more opportunities for socializing with others (1). Even without knowing these actual health benefits, millions of people with pets can attest to the fact that their pets make them feel better, bring them joy and comfort, and often give lonely people a sense of purpose.

Chronic Pain and Pets

For those with chronic pain, having a pet can mean all of those things, and more. According to the National Institutes of Health, around 25 million adults have had pain every day for the last three months, with another 40 million having experienced severe pain. It’s an issue that costs the country around $635 billion annually between treatment and productivity losses (2). Chronic pain is a widespread issue that calls for a variety of options to help people bring relief.

Individuals may lose work, as well as experience financial difficulty, due to their chronic pain. So if pets can make a dent in the suffering caused by pain, then the estimated $1,200 per year that it takes to care for a dog, or $1,070 for a cat, may be well worth it. The good news is that there is research to back up the idea that pets can help bring relief to those dealing with pain, helping to make getting a pet or using pet therapy in the medical office an easier decision and one that will bring benefits.

Benefits of Pet Therapy

Also referred to as animal-assisted therapy, pet therapy is something that has been used in many medical areas. They have found benefits of including pets in therapy in everything from working with veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder to children who suffer from anxiety. Being around pets can provide benefits in a wide variety of ways and help people who have many different issues. Dealing with chronic pain is no different, with researchers on numerous occasions citing the benefits of having pets become part of the overall management plan.

In the journal Pain Medicine, researchers studied brief therapy dog visits that patients had at a pain management clinic. Following the 235 dog visits that patients had, they reported that people had a significant improvement in pain and mood. They concluded that having therapy dog visits in an outpatient setting can help provide significant reduction in pain and emotional distress for those with chronic pain. They also found that therapy dogs can help improve the emotional well being of friends and family members who accompanied the person to the clinic (3).

In another study, the journal Revista Latino-Americana reported that researchers reviewed existing literature regarding animal-assisted therapy. They found 31 articles, with 18 of them following their criteria for being included. They found that animal-assisted therapy used for chronic conditions decreased levels of pain (4).

When you consider how pets can help those with chronic pain, there are numerous ways, including:

Being around pets helps to act as a natural pain reliever, possibly because of potential endorphin release in the brain when interacting with them.
People tend to have less stress, which reduces the amount of cortisol (a stress hormone) that is present.
Dog owners tend to be healthier than those who don’t have one. This could be because they also may keep people more active, as they spend more time walking and playing with them.
They are often ready to snuggle up and take a nap, making people feel comforted and loved.
They give people a sense of purpose, because each day they need to meet the needs of their pet.

Overall, pets often help to raise a person’s quality of life. That alone may be enough to help those with chronic pain feel some relief and assist them with managing their pain.

Who Benefits

Not only can people benefit from pet therapy at clinics, but they can at home as well. Those with chronic pain can use pet therapy as an addition to their pain management strategy, both in the clinic and outside of it. Keeping the information regarding studies and benefits in mind, clinics can aim to bring pet therapy into their center, as well as to offer that information to patients, so they can consider getting a pet at home so they can continue to get the benefits there, too. Pet therapy is a complimentary option that will work for just about anyone, and is good for clinics and individuals.

In the May 2015 issue of the journal FP Essentials, researchers report that nonpharmacological therapies have become a vital part of chronic pain management, and animal-assisted therapy is one of those options (5). Whether part of a treatment plan, or something the person does on their own, bringing a therapy pet into the picture can make a big difference in the life of someone who suffers from chronic pain.

Changing Attitudes

One of the problems that many people with chronic pain experience is that they also suffer from depression and anxiety. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, pain is a common symptom of anxiety disorder, and many chronic pain disorders, including arthritis, fibromyalgia, migraines, and back pain are common in people with anxiety disorders (6).

For those with chronic pain, being around pets, especially dogs, can bring balance into their lives. Dogs tend to make people feel happy and comforted. When people experience more positive feelings, it is easier for them to feel more hopeful and confident about the future, including with their pain management strategies. We know that one’s attitude can impact whether or not their treatment is successful or if they adhere to their pain management treatment plan long term.

Having a therapeutic dog in their life may just be the ticket they need to keep them thinking more positively and being more optimistic about a pain management plan. So many people with chronic pain also experience anxiety and depression—for them, having a therapy pet included as complementary treatment may just be what is needed to bring about some relief, especially where the person’s attitude is concerned. Therapy pets help people to feel happier, calmer, and less alone.

Additionally, those with chronic pain are often consumed with thoughts of pain, allowing it to be the dominant thought in their life. Having a therapy dog around them creates a positive distraction that gets their focus off of their pain and onto something else. It’s hard to ignore a dog that is giving you affection, getting you taking a walk outside, or have you focused on petting and caring for it.

Choosing a Pet

Whether at home or in a clinical setting, choosing a pet to have to help with chronic pain isn’t difficult, and people may enjoy the experience. Prior research has suggested that dogs are the most frequently used for animal-assisted therapy, because of their training and sociability skills. Additionally, it suggests that the therapy can be developed by pets themselves or by specially trained animals (7). In other words, you can choose a trained therapy pet, or you can get a pet and they will develop the therapy all on their own. Even therapy dogs that spend time in the waiting rooms of pain management clinics bring happiness and benefits to those who they come in contact with.

There’s no harm in considering both the trained and non-trained therapy pet options when considering a therapy pet, so you know what is available. You may find that a trained therapy dog is a better choice because they have the training to know what to do to help those with conditions, but you may also find that the cost of such an option is a deterrent.

Another option to consider is arranging with a family member or friend for you to have regular visits with their dog. This will give you an opportunity to try it out and see if it brings you relief, while not having to fully invest in bringing a therapy dog home with you, or having to attend a particular pain management clinic for sessions.

If you already have dog, but feel they could benefit from pet therapy training, that is also an option. There are places around the country that offer training, and your pet may make for a good candidate. Typically, those pets that are loving, able to interact well with strangers, are confident, and have exceptional self-control are ideal for becoming therapy dogs. Therapy dogs are trained in a wide variety of areas, including in handler skills and manners, as well as on being in a therapeutic environment, safe interaction, therapeutic relationships, and more.

Pet Free Options

While many people may agree with the information that there are some strong benefits to pet therapy to their life, there will still be some people who are apprehensive about doing so. There are issues that can arise, calling into question the idea of getting a dog to help with chronic pain. Among them include the fact that not everyone likes dogs, some people may be allergic to them, and still others may not live in a place that allows them to have a pet or is conducive to having a dog. The good news is that there are still options with each of these scenarios that will still allow you to gain the benefits that are provided from pet therapy.

For those who simply don’t like dogs, they may want to consider getting a cat, or allowing themselves the opportunity to spend time around a therapy dog only under controlled conditions. There are pain management clinics that have pet therapy dogs, where you can go spend 15 minute sessions a couple of times per week with the dog so you can gain the benefits. If you can’t find a clinic in your area that has therapy dogs, then find out what type of organization in your area has them, and find out how you can spend 15 minute sessions with one of them, so you can see if it brings you any relief. If you do begin to feel the benefits, you may change your mind about dogs.

For those with chronic pain who may be allergic to dogs, they can work with their doctor to find out if there is a particular breed that would not aggravate their allergies, or if spending a short amount of time per week with the dog would be acceptable. Certain breeds may work best in these cases, since some shed more than others. Poodles and some terriers don’t shed, rather their fur grows more like hair does, and they may be better for those that are allergic or those that simply don’t want to deal with the additional household cleaning associated with a shedding animal.

Additionally, those who may live in places that don’t allow dogs or are not good places to have a pet can seek out options where they can visit with a dog regularly, but not have the dog live with them. Check with pain management clinics and places that have pet therapy dogs to see what the options may be. Even getting in a couple of short sessions per week will give you a chance to see if pet therapy is something that brings you any relief or happiness.

The time spent with a therapy dog doesn’t have to be long in order to gain benefits. Research has found that even five-minute animal visits can significantly reduce the need for pain medications. The research was conducted on those who had joint replacement surgery, where trained dogs visited recovering patients for 5 to 15 minute periods each day during recovery. What they found was that those who received the animal-human connection had a 28 percent lower need for oral pain medication (8).

If there are no pain management clinics in your area that offer animal-assisted therapy, you may find it at other local organizations. Inquire with such places as nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, retirement homes, libraries, and mental health facilities. They may offer pet therapy programs that you can join.

Drawbacks to Consider

For anyone who has chronic pain and may be considering getting a dog to help, it is wise to also consider some of the drawbacks. By doing so, you will make sure that you are in a better position to care for the pet that you choose so that it doesn’t bring you more stress and pain. Things to consider include the size of the pet and whether or not you can safely manage it. The last thing you want, for example, is to opt for a large dog that you end up having difficulties taking for a walk or find that you are chasing it around the block as it breaks free of the leash.

You also may not want a pet that isn’t yet house trained and beyond the puppy stage. Those periods can be stressful and the additional duties may add to that, making the situation more stressful. If you are seeing a therapy dog at a pain management clinic or organization, then the tasks of choosing the pet have already been done for you. If you are going to be getting a pet to have in your home, be sure to consider these issues, so that you pair yourself up with one that brings you comfort, and one that gives you anxiety or adds to your stress.

Depending on the amount of chronic pain you experience, you may find that you are better suited for pet therapy sessions outside of the home, or having someone help to take care of the dog if you decide to have one in the home. Some people who experience a high level of pain may find it draining to take care of a pet on a full-time basis, considering there are vet visits, walking, feeding, and bathing duties that need to be done.

All of these things need to be taken into consideration in order to opt for the best route for your situation. Only you know what you are capable of, so keep that in mind when considering which pet therapy route to take and which direction to take it in. The overall goal is to bring relief and comfort, and not add stress and a difficult burden to your life.

Sitting Up and Taking Notice

With the natural mood enhancers that pets provide to people, it makes good sense to consider adopting the idea if you are someone who suffers from chronic pain. When it comes to chronic pain management, it’s about having a wide variety of options available to you, and finding out what works for you in order to help bring about relief.

Having a therapy dog is not going to magically get rid of your chronic pain overnight. But there’s enough evidence to support the idea that pet therapy is one that helps many people. It is one more tool that has been shown to bring people relief. Animal-assisted therapy is about helping to provide people with a better quality of life. Along with companionship and psychological benefits, there are some physiological benefits, too. When it comes down to it, it’s an affordable and enjoyable option that you may find also works for you!

Sources:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Healthy pets healthy people.

<http://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/health-benefits/>

National Institutes of Health. Chronic Pain: In Depth.

<https://nccih.nih.gov/health/pain/chronic.htm>

Pain Medicine. 2012 Jan;13(1):45-57. doi: 10.1111/j.1526-4637.2011.01294.x.

<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22233395>

Revista Latino-Americana. 2012 May-Jun;20(3):612-8.

< http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22991126>

FP Essentials. 2015 May;432:21-6.

< http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25970869>

Anxiety and Depression Association of America. Chronic Pain. <http://www.adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/related-illnesses/other-related-conditions/chronic-pain>