The Power of Pets

[PaBabyBlue]

The Power of Pets

DEARBORN, Mich. — Feeling sick as a dog? Patients at some Michigan hospitals may get comfort and a speedier recovery with a visit from their own pooch.

"We had a patient who kept saying she missed her pet so much," said Gail Daly, director of the Clinical Ethics Center at Oakwood Hospital and Medical Center. "So we arranged for her dog to visit. It was a wonderful thing."

The suburban Detroit hospital last year conducted a test program allowing patients to be visited by their dogs and cats.

The program has been expanded to Oakwood Healthcare System's four hospitals, and will run until April 2005.

The visits are meant to make patients feel at home with the comfort of their dog or cat at their side. Oakwood staffers say pets have proven medical benefits for patients, including decreasing blood pressure, anxiety and pain.

"We look for reaction on the patient, and we've seen a patient cry _ happily crying," Rustom said. "You can see the vital signs have been improved."

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I would love for my pets to visit me in the hospital if I was sick, I would miss them so much. I know when I go away on vacation and can't take them, I miss them. That's why this year, we found pet friendly vacation spots to take them to and they are going with us, as a treat to them too

[PaBabyBlue]

This article was also viewed from our local new website. It was written by the Associated Press.
the article is attached..

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/news/52104-oddity-pets.html

[capnsweets]

I wonder if that will catch on or not.

[Exotica]

my mother was in the hospital a couple of years ago, and she has a very strong bond with her JR terror *laughs* Anyhow, after about two weeks, the dog started grieving, she thought that my mom had died *she was close, but still living*
At the same time, my mother who was in and out of it, was missing her baby very much. The kind ladies at the hospital decided to let the dog come in to see my mom. My mom got worse after that, but that's not the fault of the dog, at least I dont think... but the dog sure did feel better....she started eating again, and it gave her hope. I think it's a great Idea, not just for the parents, but for the pets too, we often forget that our furbabies have feelings and emotions too.