ZOOTHERAPY: HISTORY, TYPES AND BENEFITS - ECONOMÍA - 2025

The zooterapia are individual or group interventions in which an animal, according to specific criteria and introduced by a qualified professional, is an integral part of a therapeutic process that aims to improve cognitive, physical, emotional or social functioning of a person.

This therapy associates the animal with a professional project or a specific competence. Its main objective is usually to investigate those relationships that appear because of the person-animal relationship.

This type of activity is used with both domestic and non-domestic animals to help man with health problems that he may present, both physical and psychological, and also with very good results.

The application of this technique has been progressively generalized around the world given its immense medical utility for the rehabilitation institutions that have implemented it. Currently, there are a large number of for-profit and non-profit groups that are professionally dedicated to this activity.

Brief history of zootherapy

As early as the 17th century, animals such as the horse were used to treat the physical disability of some people. Thanks to these attempts, these activities were extended to countries such as the United States.

Currently there are numerous horse riding programs with the rehabilitation purpose of people with physical disabilities. We also found data from the 19th century that support the benefits of using this animal for self-esteem and neurological disorders.

If we focus on zootherapy or animal-assisted therapy in general, we find data that affirms that they were used in New York for the rehabilitation of aviators in 1944.

They also participated to treat blind and physically disabled people in 1966 in a Norwegian center, but it was not until 1953 when it began to be applied scientifically by the psychiatrist Boris M. Levinson.

This caused a lot of curiosity in the scientific field, so years later the Corson brothers decided to carry out a study in a hospital to see if patients really benefited from this activity, thus obtaining excellent results.

Thanks to studies like this one, from the 70s on, animal-assisted therapies experienced a great expansion in European countries, thus multiplying the centers that decided to incorporate these practices with their patients.

Types of zootherapy

The type of animal to use will depend on the specific application. The animals normally used for zootherapy are horses, dolphins, cats and dogs, since they have better conditions to develop this activity:

Equine therapy or Hippotherapy

Since ancient times, the horse has been used to help improve the mobility of people with physical disabilities, and it is that people who undergo this therapy see very positive results.

Horse-assisted therapies are medical procedures in which the horse is used as a therapeutic means, capable of covering both physical and psychological-emotional factors.

We find two classes of therapies in which the horse is the protagonist: hippotherapy and equine therapy. With the first of them, physical problems are treated, while with the second mental problems are treated.

Normally in any activity carried out with this animal these two types of therapy are used together. A third activity called therapeutic or adapted riding is also carried out and although it is not a therapy in itself, it brings benefits to the people who perform it, since unlike the previous two activities, you have to control the horse and do different exercises with it..

Dolphin therapy or dolphin-assisted therapy

Dolphin therapy is considered as a set of aquatic methods that help physical and emotional rehabilitation taught by the therapist, in charge of motivating and developing the therapy, where the dolphin plays a fundamental role in the process.

It could be understood as a form of therapy that is not intended to prevent or cure diseases, but to rehabilitate as well as stimulate people with both physical and psychological problems.

Dog therapy or canotherapy

This type of therapy may be one of the best known, since the work is carried out in direct contact with one or more dogs. Within this there are three ways of working with the dog:

• Service dogs. Used to help people with little mobility, hearing impairment… These dogs are trained to improve mobility, reach objects and facilitate socialization and independence of the person. So this animal will know how to open doors, turn off lights, pick up objects…
• Therapy dogs. Like the horse or the dolphin, the dog is also used in this type of program in order to give both physical and psychological benefits to the person intended for the action.
• Visiting dogs. Dogs, being a domestic animal, are also used given their effect and company in hospitals and geriatric residences.

Cat-assisted therapy

The cat is also used for therapy since it teaches to be relaxed with awareness. In addition, its purr encourages positive emotions and its small signals of affection are very well received by its owners.

Benefits for different groups

There are many scientifically supported benefits of using these practices as therapy for people with a problem:

For children and teenagers

Children who grow up with animals or have a disability or problem, have less fear and more positive feelings.

It is also a good way to stimulate psychomotor and language development, so they will have better non-verbal communication and higher levels of self-esteem, as well as greater social competence and a sense of responsibility. It should be added that the softness and texture of some animals offer benefits to children such as safety.

In older people

For older people they are very useful, as it protects them from loneliness. They provide laughter and increase physical activity and muscle development, they also feel helpful in having someone to care for.

They optimize attention and perception, improve verbal communication, and increase positive facial expressions. They also stimulate the sense of sight, smell, hearing and touch.

Mental health benefits

Its use in psychiatric units with people with depression have decreased the number of suicides and the length of stay.

Furthermore, in adults with mental retardation, an increase in comprehensible oral vocabulary, greater motivation and non-verbal communication have been observed.

For chronically ill

In the USA, animals are used for sensory stimulation in some centers.

In people with physical disabilities

Animals are of great use to these people because there are trained animals whose objective is to make their life easier.

Benefits in prisons

The use of these practices in prisons has reduced violence and other non-social behaviors, in addition to suicides and drug addiction. Self-esteem has also improved and feelings of compassion, patience, and confidence have been developed; thus facilitating the reintegration of prisoners.

In addition, they have been used in minors' farms and in prisons with patients with mental and detoxification problems, even in cases of victims of abuse and mistreatment.

General benefits according to the type of therapy

Animal-assisted therapies produce multiple benefits depending on the group with which they are used. Next we are going to talk in a summarized way about some general benefits caused by different therapies:

In equine therapy

In equine therapy or hippotherapy, the horse transmits heat through its skin to the person, thus helping to distend and relax the muscles and ligaments. Thanks to the above, it improves the functioning of the circulatory system and the physiological function of the internal organs.

It also transmits rhythmic impulses to the pelvis, spine and all the lower limbs of the rider, thus helping motor skills, muscle tone and coordinated movement. In addition, it facilitates a locomotion pattern equivalent to the physiological one of human gait, something very useful for people with cerebral palsy.

It also helps stabilize the trunk and head, as well as correcting behavior problems. On the other hand, it develops and strengthens the muscles, reduces anxiety problems and promotes confidence.

Lastly, develop respect and love for animals.

In dolphin therapy

Since dolphin therapy tends to attract attention, it usually improves the relationships of the person who receives it with their closest relatives. Decreases aggressiveness and causes happiness. It produces advances in language, increases concentration and increases affectivity.

Regarding therapy with dogs or canotherapy we have to emphasize that since they have a more affective and attached attitude towards the human being, they are capable of regulating blood pressure, breathing and even heart rate.

In cat therapy

Finally, cat-assisted therapies provide positive emotions and calm us down, thus reducing the stress of daily life.

All of these types of therapy provide physical, psychological, and social benefits to those who receive it. Even so, we must know how to choose which is the best option depending on the type of problem we have to deal with, in order to give the person a service adapted to their needs.

References

1. Abellán, RM (2008). Animal-assisted therapy: a new perspective and line of research in attention to diversity. Indivisa: Bulletin of studies and research, (9), 117-146.
2. de Campos, MMPV (2014). Animal Assisted Therapy (TACA). Association of Pensioner Teachers of the Universidad Nacional Mayor San Marcos ASDOPEN-UNMSM, 18.
3. Estivill S. The therapy with companion animals. Tikal Editions. Barcelona, ​​1999.
4. San Joaquín, MZ (2002). Pet-assisted therapy. Well-being for the human being. Today's Topics, 143-149.
5. Senent-Sánchez, JM (2014). The relationship with animals: a new field of socio-educational intervention.
6. Various authors. Summaries of the 5th International Congress "Companion Animals, Source of Health". Purina Foundation, 2001.