Over the past decade, there has been a rise in interest in the use of therapy animals across the United States for individuals with emotional, mental and physical disabilities. There are several different types of classifications, including assistance animals, service animals, emotional support and service animals. A wide variety of animals can be used as support animals and can be used in a variety of different ways. Typically once only stigmatized as a “seeing eye dog,” veterinarians are now noticing that a wide variety of service animals that are brought into any animal hospital phoenix az has to offer is seeing anything from therapy cats to birds, depending on the needs of the individual.
Provided that the person and the animal meets the mandates required for the animal to be considered classified as a therapy or service animal, it seems as though the possibilities are now endless. Veterinarians are now seeing a new flux of patience in their waiting rooms, and more of them. Now that animals need more regular checkups for travel purposes, for paperwork purposes and the animals to be allowed in specific locations, animal hospitals are seeing an increase in pet checkups to ensure that mandate requirements are met.
If you are interested in having your pet become part of a pet therapy program, your local veterinarian may be a good place to start. First of all, they will be able to tell you if your pet is healthy enough for the position. After a thorough check up, they will be able to provide you the resources that you will need, and some may even have the paperwork on hand for the application process. Of course, it may be a little easier to have a dog or cat apply for the process, but these days, anything is possible if it can be proven that the pet provides an emotional support to its owner.
It is important to note that if your pet does become part of a pet therapy program, you may want to consider pet insurance to help you cover the cost of veterinary bills. You will want to keep your pet therapy animal healthy so that it can provide you the physical or emotional support needed. Since there are more health mandates required for pet therapy pets, medical bills can become a little more expensive, because the pets are out in the public more frequently. It is just a thought to give some consideration to.
Regardless if you are looking for a pet to help you with your mobility or to calm your anxiety or if you just like having Fido around for a game of fetch, it is important for you to have your pet’s health checked regularly. Calling your local animal hospital for at least an annual appointment for a checkup is important, not only to ensure that they have all of their shots, but to make sure that small problems do not turn into larger problems later on. Whether your pet is a service animal or not, it is important to have them seen regularly at your local animal hospital.