Canine Fitness Month: Supporting the Health of Our Four-Legged Friends

If you have spent time in the University of Kentucky College of Nursing (UKCON), you have probably seen therapy dogs visiting students, faculty, and staff. These visits are always something people look forward to, especially during stressful days in nursing school or clinicals. I know for me, even taking a few minutes to step away and interact with a therapy dog can completely reset my mindset and help me reset. 

As nursing students and future nurses, we are constantly balancing exams, clinicals, and the emotional demands of patient care. It is easy to focus on how therapy dogs help us manage stress, anxiety, and burnout. However, Canine Fitness Month is a good reminder that we also need to think about the well-being of the therapy dogs that are helping us. 

Therapy dogs play an important role in supporting mental health, but they also require proper care to stay healthy and effective in these environments. Exercise, nutrition, and routine veterinary care are all essential to maintaining their physical and emotional well-being. A healthy, well-cared-for therapy dog is more likely to stay engaged, calm, and safe during interactions. 

In literature, therapy animals can experience stress if their needs are not properly addressed, which is why their welfare should always be prioritized in animal-assisted interventions (Glenk, 2017). This is something we do not always think about in the moment, but it is important to recognize that these dogs are not just there for us; they also need to be protected and cared for. 

The month of April is a good opportunity to be more intentional about that. Whether it is supporting organizations that prioritize therapy dog welfare or simply being mindful during interactions, small actions can make a difference. 

Programs like the therapy dog visits at UKCON and in the hospital setting show how impactful these animals are in supporting both students and healthcare workers. Canine Fitness Month is a reminder that taking care of our own well-being is important, but so is taking care of the animals that help us do that every day. 

A note from Dr. Hannah Thomas, Snodgrass Veterinary Medical Center: 

“The care for a therapy dog starts before they begin their work in a therapy setting. Ensuring that they are properly socialized in a variety of public settings is crucial to their mental capacity for providing therapy needs. The work for this begins in puppyhood and extends to adulthood.  If stressors are affecting them in their duties, it is important to identify these and consult with a behaviorist and/or veterinarian.  

The physical needs are also important to address. A good foundation is providing for all routine prophylactic care such as vaccines, external and internal parasite prevention, physical exams every 6-12 month, and yearly lab screening. It is also beneficial for therapy pets to maintain a healthy body condition score so they are physically able to perform their duties with minimal stress to their joints.“ 

Reference: 

Glenk, L. M. (2017). Current perspectives on therapy dog welfare in animal-assisted interventions. Animals, 7(2), 7. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani7020007