Therapy Dogs Reduce Anxiety in Children Visiting the Emergency Department

Comforting Canines May Ease Pediatric ER Anxiety

Mar 15, 2025

∙ Paid

A modern, professional medical illustration depicting a therapy dog in a pediatric emergency room interacting with a young child. The child appears calmer and more relaxed, while a nearby healthcare provider observes with a reassuring demeanor. The background includes soft, warm lighting to evoke a sense of comfort and positivity. Medical icons subtly integrated into the design, such as a heart rate monitor or a brain with neural connections, symbolize the scientific aspect of anxiety reduction. The style is clean, modern, and approachable, ensuring an engaging and informative visual representation of the study findings.

Topline:

A randomized clinical trial found that therapy dogs significantly reduced anxiety in children visiting the emergency department, with both child-reported and parent-reported anxiety levels decreasing after exposure to therapy dogs.

Study Details

Anxiety is a common experience for children in emergency departments (EDs), often exacerbated by medic…

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