Hello everyone!  I'm back and ready to begin my week long series covering some of the various types of therapies used in alternative and complementary medicine.  To kick off the week, I've chosen to start with Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT), in honor of my sister's graduation from Veterinary School this coming Saturday (Hurray!)!  Animal Assisted Therapy is defined as "the deliberate inclusion of an animal in a treatment plan".  Animals are non-judgemental and often help people recover from a number of ailments just by being there and giving unconditional love and attention.  They are used to relieve stress, anxiety and/or depression in hospitilized patients (and this subsequently lowers blood pressure in patients as well), to comfort burn victims and to help learning disabled children (including those with severe autism) develop faster.  They aid in psychological healing for victims of Post Traumatic Stress disorder and are often brought in after disasters.  These are just some of the many ways that Animal Assisted Therapy is used, the list goes on and on.

Any pet or companion animal can be used in Animal Assisted Therapy and although dogs (Canine Assisted Therapy) and Horses (Equine Assisted Therapy) are the most common, other animals such as hamsters and rabbits, birds and even lizards have been used. 
The following video is a good introduction to AAT.  The Delta Society Website is also another good place to look, if you'd like additional information.  Until tomorrow, enjoy the video!