Pet Therapy

children with dog

If you have a child who is struggling, pet therapy for children is a proven therapy treatment that works for a variety of conditions. Your child will likely respond very well to an emotional support animal. Your veterinarian can offer more information about this form of treatment, too.

What is Pet Therapy For Children?

Pet therapy for children is the use of pets to provide emotional support for a child who needs it. Growing up is very tough, even when everything goes “right.” But when extenuating circumstances come into play, such as physical, mental, or emotional disabilities, then children may need more—and different—help than what they can get from their parents or caregivers.

Pet therapy provides that additional resource so that children have a non-judgmental living creature to relate to, confide in, and just spend time with. Pet therapy works in care environments like hospitals, but it also works when the pet is part of a family at home.

What Conditions Pet Therapy Can Help With

Pet therapy has long been used to help with a wide range of conditions, like:

  • Autism spectrum disorder
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder
  • Behavioral disorders
  • Developmental disabilities
  • Muscular dystrophy
  • Bell’s palsy
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder

Pet therapy not only helps the child. Pet therapy can also indirectly help parents and caregivers since having the pet as additional support can feel like having another source of therapy available in the home. When a child is unable to get what they need from an adult, they can turn to the pet for emotional support.

Advantages of Animal-Assisted Therapy

Animal-assisted therapy is a method of therapy where companion animals are used to help a person manage health issues and/or the side effects of certain prescription medications. Therapy animals may be visitors to children in hospitals or care facilities, or they may become permanent therapy animals placed in the child’s home, much like a family pet. The benefits of animal-assisted therapy include:

  • Lowered blood pressure
  • Improved heart health
  • Pain reduction
  • Improvement in fine motor skills
  • Improved social engagement
  • Increased exercise/physical activity

If you’re intrigued and excited by the idea of having a pet as therapy for your child, talk to your veterinarian. Your vet can help you to find emotional support animals and ensure that your new pet receives the best veterinarian care as well.

Sign up using the form below or call 508-234-6815 to make an appointment.

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Read What Our Clients Say

  • "I would like thank Dr. Lawrence and his exceptional team of professionals for their support, compassion, and exceptional veterinarian expertise this past week! ( and over the past 25 years Of being a client with our many pets). Our Great Dane puppy had an accident playing which left her lame on one leg. As parents to our puppy we were extremely anxious to get her into our vet for diagnosis asap! Agape worked us directly in for emergency visit first thing next morning! Our puppy’s injury was identified, and she quickly put on pain management medicine and treatment plan!! Honestly words can not express our family’s gratitude!"
    Andrea Malm
  • "Excellent Vet..All my interactions have been positive, informative and compasionate. I always know my dog is getting a thorough exam when I take him. I can ask questions and I get informative answers.

    Dr. Lawrence is just one of those people who is doing what he should be doing in life, and he a top notch vet.

    Overall I am very happy with there services over the past 8 years."
    Jones J. / Whitinsville, MA

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