Newflabel Therapy Dogs

Very important

🐾 Warning for Lake Macquarie dog owners
🐾 Just a heads-up for local dog owners who may have missed this story in the Newcastle Herald. A rare and potentially fatal disease affecting dogs has been detected at Speers Point (NOT at the Speers Point fenced dog park).
🐾 Vet Andrew Cornwell is treating a pup which has contracted the bacterial disease known as leptospirosis in the Speers Point area. The disease has not been seen in the local area for decades.
🐾 Full story by Michael Parris at Newcastle Herald below on this link:
https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/7711279/fatal-pet-disease-resurfaces-at-speers-point/?src=rssutm_email=5363

A rare and potentially fatal disease affecting dogs has appeared in Lake Macquarie for the first time in decades.
Vet Andrew Cornwell said a 12-week-old Belgian shepherd pup had presented at Cardiff Vet Hospital last week with vomiting and diarrhoea.
Tests confirmed the dog had leptospirosis, a bacterial disease most often contracted via rat urine. The disease can affect animals and humans. Symptoms range from gastroenteritis to liver and kidney failure.
"An outbreak occurred in Sydney from 2017 to 2020 and infected 17 dogs within three kilometres of Surry Hills," Mr Cornwell said.
"That was the first time it had been seen since 1976.
"This is the first known infection in a pet in the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie urban area for many decades.
"It is usually seen in the tropics but is rare in urban areas of NSW."
All 17 dogs infected in the Surry Hills outbreak died.
The Speers Point pup, Storm, is alive but is being treated in intensive care at the Small Animal Specialist Hospital in Sydney.
"This pup lives in a property in Layton Street at Speers Point that has a small park next to it that contains rats. This is the likely source of the infection," Mr Cornwell said.
"This is a notifiable disease, and the appropriate authorities were informed.
"Sydney Uni applied a 3km protocol in relation to the Surry Hills outbreak.
"If we did similar here, which seems reasonable, it would mean that dogs using the leash-free park at Speers Point would be strongly advised to be vaccinated against lepto."
Infection occurs in pets when they are exposed to puddles or soil contaminated with rat urine.
The bacteria enter their body through drinking from puddles or contact with cuts and abrasions.
They favour warm, moist environments, ponds, stagnant water and areas exposed to flooding.
Mr Cornwell said the 3km radius also included Warners Bay, Boolaroo, Argenton, Teralba, Booragul and Macquarie Hills.
He said pet owners should contact their vet for advice.

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🐾Emotional benefits of pet therapy for seniors
Increased self-esteem and confidence
Improved social skills
Reduced risk of depression
Lessened levels of anxiety
Reduced feelings of loneliness
An increased ability to show gentleness and caring

Benefits of therapy dogs at university
Researchers have found university students reported significantly less stress and anxiety, and increased happiness and energy, immediately following spending time in a drop-in session with a dog present, when compared to a control group of students who didn’t spend any time with a therapy dog.

More recently, therapy dogs are being used as a form of engagement with students at school and university.
Benefits of therapy dogs at school
Research shows therapy dogs can be used to assist with social/emotional learning needs.
A recent report highlighted children working with therapy dogs experienced increased motivation for learning, resulting in improved outcomes.
Therapy dogs are being used to support children with social and emotional learning needs, which in turn can assist with literacy development.
Research into the effects of therapy dogs in schools is showing a range of benefits including:
• increase in school attendance
• gains in confidence
• decreases in learner anxiety behaviours resulting in improved learning outcomes, such as increases in reading and writing levels
• positive changes towards learning and improved motivation, and
• enhanced relationships with peers and teachers due to experiencing trust and unconditional love from a therapy dog. This in turn helps students learn how to express their feelings and enter into more trusting relationships.

Physical benefits of pet therapy can differ depending on the type of therapy being practiced but often include
Increased levels of exercise
Lowered blood pressure
Reduction in depression, stress, and anxiety levels

Pet therapy provides incredible mental benefits for seniors, especially for those living with dementia or another form of cognitive impairment.
Improved mental stimulation
Increased socialization
Memory stimulation
Calming negative behaviours associated with dementia

Benefits of therapy dogs in the workplace
Little things like petting a therapy dog can increase levels of the stress-reducing hormone Oxytocin and decrease the production of the stress hormone cortisol. Studies have shown that stress reduces productivity. Studies have also shown that a therapy dog’s loving boost can help increase productivity as the stress diminishes.
Therapy dogs can help employees feel more resilient at dealing with stress and lessen their reactions to stressful situations. Lower stress equals lower blood pressure and fewer heart problems. How is that related to workplace productivity? Employees who are healthier take fewer sick days, need lower health insurance premiums and contribute better at the workplace than those who fall sick often or suffer chronic health issues.

Studies show that just 15 minutes with a dog, cat, or another service animal can increase brain activity and serotonin levels. Serotonin is known as “the feel-good hormone” and plays a crucial role in bodily function as well as our experiences of positive emotions.
A recent study conducted in Germany involved dogs visiting 17 nursing homes, residents suffering from dementia. The study found the participants who took part in the animal assisted therapy sessions had improved verbal communication function and greater attentiveness after the completion of the program. Changes in personal circumstances, side effects of medication, and lifestyle changes can all result in seniors feeling less connected. But there are plenty of things you can do to keep the blues at bay, including cuddling up to a cute and cuddly pet. A study on the effectiveness of animal-assisted therapy measured wellbeing and mood in nursing home residents. The group who had spent time with animals reported feeling ‘enthusiastic’, ‘interested’ and ‘inspired’ significantly more than those who did not spend time with pets.

Dogs in the Classroom Improve SEL, Cognitive, and Even Reading Skills What the research shows.