A new NIH-funded study has found that veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder get “significant benefits” from service dogs.
Anyone who has flown on a plane in recent years might have noticed that the use of service animals has seen a notable rise in, providing crucial support across various disabilities and conditions.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, the demand for service animals has grown due to their effectiveness in enhancing independence and quality of life for individuals with disabilities. Such animals range from guide dogs for the visually impaired to psychiatric service dogs helping those with PTSD.
On the flip side, there has also been a notable increase in the number of folks trying to get their untrained furry friends onto airplanes or into restaurants, ultimately making it harder on individuals who genuinely need their service animals to accompany them.
“Unfortunately, as the value and recognition of Service Dogs have increased, so has the temptation for people to pass off their regular dogs as Service Dogs. There’s a growing market for counterfeit Service Dog certifications, vests, and IDs, making it easier for pet owners to claim their dog as a Service Dog. However, according to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Service Dogs are not required to be certified or wear identifying vests or tags,” reads the Educated Canines Assisting with Disabilities website.
Still, more and more research is showing how such animals can help those who have made significant sacrifices for their country.
Here’s a bit of what Fox News published on the latest study bolstering the effectiveness of service dogs helping service members:
“The positive impact of service dogs on the mental health of U.S. military veterans has been widely recognized. Now, the first clinical trial funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) looked into exactly how pairing service dogs with PTSD-diagnosed veterans improves symptoms.
“As June marks PTSD Awareness Month, the University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine partnered with K9s For Warriors – the nation’s largest provider of trained service dogs, based in Florida – to study over 156 military veterans over three months, based on their self-reported symptoms and doctors’ assessments.
“The largest nationwide survey of its kind analyzed service dog partnerships in 81 vets compared to those who received traditional care without a dog. The study looked at each participant’s PTSD symptoms, including psychosocial functioning, quality of life and social health.
“Veterans with service dogs were found to have a 66% lower chance of a PTSD diagnosis compared to a control group without dogs.”
To read more about the study’s findings, click HERE.
