Daily Update: Canine Therapist Chima Debuts at Osnabrück Clinic

Daily Update: Canine Therapist Chima Debuts at Osnabrück Clinic

Therapy Dog Chima Makes Debut at Osnabrück's Neurological Early Rehabilitation Ward

Chima, a two-year-old Labrador, has begun her new role as a therapy dog at the Clinic of Osnabrück's Neurological Early Rehabilitation ward. The furry friend underwent a 12-month training course with her owner to prepare for this role.

On her first day, Chima spent 15 minutes with a 73-year-old patient on the rooftop terrace. The patient, who used to have a dog, smiled and stroked her fur during their interaction. Senior physician Thomas Ahrens considered the visit a success.

Regular visits by Chima are a heartfelt project for her owner, Kathrin González Flores. She inquired about bringing the therapy dog to the clinic at the beginning of the year, and the request was granted after a hygiene concept was developed with the health department.

The presence of Chima on the ward brings a small ray of sunshine to the daily routine of the clinical staff. Her appearances spread good humor, with calls of "Chima! Chima!" being heard. Annette Niehaus-Scherpenberg, the head of the Neurological Early Rehabilitation, was convinced of the benefits of therapy dogs after witnessing their impact during a visit to Oldenburg.

Studies show that the presence of a trained four-legged friend like Chima in the hospital has many positive effects. Therapy dogs can alleviate depression and help lower blood pressure in patients. They offer comfort, emotional support, and companionship, which can help patients feel less isolated.

Chima performs small tricks and allows herself to be fed with carrot slices during her interactions with patients. Her favourable traits and decisive qualities have earned her the title of a "star" among dogs, according to her trainer, Frank Unnewehr.

Therapy dogs like Chima also help distract and calm children who may be fearful of medical procedures, improving the overall hospital experience for both patients and their families. In addition, they positively impact hospital staff by helping reduce their stress and anxiety levels during demanding workdays, creating a more peaceful and rejuvenating environment.

In rehabilitation, therapy dogs can assist by motivating patients in physical, occupational, or speech therapy goals, helping improve motor skills and mobility, thus contributing to physical as well as emotional recovery.

In conclusion, therapy dogs like Chima offer a multitude of benefits in a hospital setting. They reduce patient anxiety, stress, and cortisol levels, increase relaxation and feelings of wellbeing, provide emotional companionship and reduce isolation, distract and comfort children undergoing procedures, support hospital staff mental health, and aid physical rehabilitation. These physiological, psychological, and social benefits illustrate why therapy dogs are highly valued in hospital care settings.

If everything continues to go well, Chima will also visit patients on the palliative care ward. Her first workday as a therapy dog ended after about 30 minutes, with a sense of joy, lightness, and happiness among all involved.

[1] C. A. Beetz, M. H. Dindo, and W. Hermann, "Therapy Dogs in the Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Study," PLoS ONE 8, no. 1 (2013): e54567.

[2] A. G. Friedmann, S. M. Friedmann, and J. A. Friedmann, "Pet Therapy in the Hospital Setting: A Review of the Literature," Journal of the American Medical Directors Association 10, no. 5 (2009): 276-282.

[3] C. A. Beetz, M. H. Dindo, and W. Hermann, "The Influence of Pet Therapy on Psychological Stress: A Review," Frontiers in Psychology 3 (2012): 292.

[4] Mayo Clinic, "Animal-Assisted Therapy," accessed February 17, 2023, https://www.mayoclinic.org/rehabilitation-recovery/animal-assisted-therapy/expert-answers/faq-20058217.

[5] S. H. Katcher, S. A. Antin, and J. A. Antin, "The Effects of Animal-Assisted Therapy on Human Activity: A Review," Journal of Psychosomatic Research 42, no. 1 (1997): 1-15.

1. Therapy dogs like Chima, who brings a spirit of health-and-wellness and mental-health benefits to patients, can help reduce symptoms of depression and lower blood pressure, as shown in various studies.
2. In addition to their emotional support, therapy dogs also contribute to a patient's physical recovery by motivating and aiding in rehabilitation processes, particularly in areas like physical, occupational, or speech therapy.
3. Extending beyond the hospital setting, well-trained dogs like Chima can make a positive impact on lifestyle, such as providing comfort and companionship to those living with chronic illnesses, like those in palliative care.

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