GITNUXREPORT 2025

Pet Therapy Statistics

Pet therapy significantly reduces stress, improves health, mood, and social skills worldwide.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

Pet therapy has been shown to reduce blood pressure in hypertensive patients by an average of 10 mm Hg

Statistic 2

Animal-assisted therapy can decrease levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, by up to 12%

Statistic 3

Regular interaction with therapy animals improved cardiovascular health in seniors, with a 5% increase in positive heart rate variability

Statistic 4

Pet therapy sessions have increased immune response levels in cancer patients by up to 25%

Statistic 5

Pet therapy reduces episodes of aggressive behavior in patients with dementia by approximately 30%

Statistic 6

Pet therapy can help reduce the use of sedative medications in elderly patients, decreasing medication costs by up to 15%

Statistic 7

72% of nursing home residents involved in pet therapy programs show improvements in social engagement

Statistic 8

A study found that hospital patients with therapy animals present reported 30% less perceived pain than those without

Statistic 9

Pet therapy is associated with a 17% reduction in healthcare-associated infections due to improved patient well-being

Statistic 10

In a study, pet therapy reduced hospital stay lengths by an average of 2 days for pediatric patients

Statistic 11

Therapy dogs have been trained to detect certain diseases, including diabetes and cancer, with up to 85% accuracy

Statistic 12

More than 70 hospitals in the U.S. have dedicated pet therapy programs

Statistic 13

Animal-assisted therapy has been incorporated into 60% of inpatient mental health facilities nationwide

Statistic 14

Pet therapy has demonstrated a 20% reduction in recovery time for stroke patients participating in rehabilitation programs

Statistic 15

Pet therapy reduces hospital readmission rates for elderly heart failure patients by 12%

Statistic 16

Pet therapy has proven to improve motor skills in stroke rehabilitation by up to 18%, contributing to faster recovery

Statistic 17

29% of hospitals incorporate pet therapy into their palliative care services to improve patient comfort

Statistic 18

74% of therapy animals are trained to handle stressful environments, ensuring safety in medical settings

Statistic 19

Pet therapy is used in over 50 countries worldwide as a recognized form of alternative therapy

Statistic 20

80% of therapy animals are dogs, followed by cats at 15%, and other animals at 5%

Statistic 21

The use of therapy animals in schools has increased by 35% over the past five years, as schools recognize mental health benefits

Statistic 22

83% of therapy pets pass their certification tests on the first try, indicating high training success rates

Statistic 23

Pet therapy programs have expanded by 50% over the last decade, driven by increasing recognition of mental health benefits

Statistic 24

78% of patients report feeling less anxiety and stress after pet therapy sessions

Statistic 25

90% of children in pediatric hospitals experience reduced pain and anxiety with pet therapy

Statistic 26

63% of elderly patients report feeling happier and more relaxed after interacting with therapy animals

Statistic 27

70% of long-term care residents show improved mood following pet therapy sessions

Statistic 28

85% of hospice patients reported that pet therapy made them feel more comfortable and less lonely

Statistic 29

92% of mental health professionals believe animal-assisted therapy is an effective complementary treatment for depression

Statistic 30

In therapy settings, animals are present in over 40% of pediatric oncology treatments to help reduce patient anxiety

Statistic 31

65% of college students reported that pet interactions helped them cope with academic stress during exam periods

Statistic 32

67% of pediatric patients with chronic illnesses experienced improved emotional well-being after pet therapy interventions

Statistic 33

In a survey, 88% of therapy animal handlers reported that they found pet therapy to be emotionally fulfilling and beneficial

Statistic 34

Pet therapy can help increase self-esteem in individuals with mental health challenges, with up to a 20% improvement noted

Statistic 35

Pet therapy reduces symptoms of PTSD in veterans by an average of 18%, according to recent studies

Statistic 36

Children with autism participating in pet therapy had a 14% increase in social initiations

Statistic 37

Pet therapy has been shown to boost oxytocin levels in patients, improving emotional bonding and social behavior

Statistic 38

75% of patients undergoing cancer treatment reported that pet therapy provided comfort and emotional support

Statistic 39

In a study of mental health patients, 65% showed reduced depressive symptoms after participating in pet therapy programs

Statistic 40

Therapy animals help reduce feelings of loneliness in nursing home residents by approximately 40%

Statistic 41

88% of pet therapy volunteers report increased job satisfaction and well-being

Statistic 42

In a study, children with autism who participated in pet therapy sessions showed a 10% increase in emotional regulation skills

Statistic 43

Patients who received pet therapy in emergency departments experienced a 22% decrease in perceived stress levels

Statistic 44

60% of school counselors incorporate pet therapy to improve student mental health and academic performance

Statistic 45

Pet therapy can improve social interaction skills in individuals with autism spectrum disorder by up to 16 points on standardized assessments

Statistic 46

Children with ADHD show a 20% reduction in hyperactivity symptoms after participating in pet therapy programs

Statistic 47

Pet therapy has been shown to improve sleep quality in patients with Alzheimer’s disease, with 45% reporting better sleep patterns

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Key Highlights

78% of patients report feeling less anxiety and stress after pet therapy sessions
Pet therapy has been shown to reduce blood pressure in hypertensive patients by an average of 10 mm Hg
Animal-assisted therapy can decrease levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, by up to 12%
90% of children in pediatric hospitals experience reduced pain and anxiety with pet therapy
63% of elderly patients report feeling happier and more relaxed after interacting with therapy animals
Pet therapy can improve social interaction skills in individuals with autism spectrum disorder by up to 16 points on standardized assessments
70% of long-term care residents show improved mood following pet therapy sessions
Children with ADHD show a 20% reduction in hyperactivity symptoms after participating in pet therapy programs
In a study, pet therapy reduced hospital stay lengths by an average of 2 days for pediatric patients
85% of hospice patients reported that pet therapy made them feel more comfortable and less lonely
Regular interaction with therapy animals improved cardiovascular health in seniors, with a 5% increase in positive heart rate variability
92% of mental health professionals believe animal-assisted therapy is an effective complementary treatment for depression
Pet therapy is used in over 50 countries worldwide as a recognized form of alternative therapy

Did you know that over 78% of patients experience significant reductions in anxiety and stress after engaging in pet therapy, highlighting its powerful role in transforming healthcare and mental well-being worldwide?

Health and Wellbeing Benefits

Pet therapy has been shown to reduce blood pressure in hypertensive patients by an average of 10 mm Hg
Animal-assisted therapy can decrease levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, by up to 12%
Regular interaction with therapy animals improved cardiovascular health in seniors, with a 5% increase in positive heart rate variability
Pet therapy sessions have increased immune response levels in cancer patients by up to 25%
Pet therapy reduces episodes of aggressive behavior in patients with dementia by approximately 30%
Pet therapy can help reduce the use of sedative medications in elderly patients, decreasing medication costs by up to 15%
72% of nursing home residents involved in pet therapy programs show improvements in social engagement
A study found that hospital patients with therapy animals present reported 30% less perceived pain than those without
Pet therapy is associated with a 17% reduction in healthcare-associated infections due to improved patient well-being

Health and Wellbeing Benefits Interpretation

While pet therapy offers a delightful dose of paw-sitivity across health spectra—from lowering blood pressure and cortisol to boosting immunity and reducing medication costs—it evolutionarily reminds us that sometimes, a wagging tail is the best medicine of all.

Hospital and Clinical Applications

In a study, pet therapy reduced hospital stay lengths by an average of 2 days for pediatric patients
Therapy dogs have been trained to detect certain diseases, including diabetes and cancer, with up to 85% accuracy
More than 70 hospitals in the U.S. have dedicated pet therapy programs
Animal-assisted therapy has been incorporated into 60% of inpatient mental health facilities nationwide
Pet therapy has demonstrated a 20% reduction in recovery time for stroke patients participating in rehabilitation programs
Pet therapy reduces hospital readmission rates for elderly heart failure patients by 12%
Pet therapy has proven to improve motor skills in stroke rehabilitation by up to 18%, contributing to faster recovery
29% of hospitals incorporate pet therapy into their palliative care services to improve patient comfort
74% of therapy animals are trained to handle stressful environments, ensuring safety in medical settings

Hospital and Clinical Applications Interpretation

Pet therapy's remarkable impact—cutting hospital stays, enhancing diagnosis accuracy, accelerating recovery, and boosting patient comfort—proves that sometimes, a wagging tail truly is the best medicine in modern healthcare.

Implementation and Growth of Pet Therapy Programs

Pet therapy is used in over 50 countries worldwide as a recognized form of alternative therapy
80% of therapy animals are dogs, followed by cats at 15%, and other animals at 5%
The use of therapy animals in schools has increased by 35% over the past five years, as schools recognize mental health benefits
83% of therapy pets pass their certification tests on the first try, indicating high training success rates
Pet therapy programs have expanded by 50% over the last decade, driven by increasing recognition of mental health benefits

Implementation and Growth of Pet Therapy Programs Interpretation

With pet therapy now spanning over 50 countries, driven by a remarkable 50% expansion and a 35% rise in school programs, it's clear that our four-legged friends are not just man's best friends but also steadfast allies in mental health, with dogs leading the charge in both popularity and success.

Psychological and Emotional Impact

78% of patients report feeling less anxiety and stress after pet therapy sessions
90% of children in pediatric hospitals experience reduced pain and anxiety with pet therapy
63% of elderly patients report feeling happier and more relaxed after interacting with therapy animals
70% of long-term care residents show improved mood following pet therapy sessions
85% of hospice patients reported that pet therapy made them feel more comfortable and less lonely
92% of mental health professionals believe animal-assisted therapy is an effective complementary treatment for depression
In therapy settings, animals are present in over 40% of pediatric oncology treatments to help reduce patient anxiety
65% of college students reported that pet interactions helped them cope with academic stress during exam periods
67% of pediatric patients with chronic illnesses experienced improved emotional well-being after pet therapy interventions
In a survey, 88% of therapy animal handlers reported that they found pet therapy to be emotionally fulfilling and beneficial
Pet therapy can help increase self-esteem in individuals with mental health challenges, with up to a 20% improvement noted
Pet therapy reduces symptoms of PTSD in veterans by an average of 18%, according to recent studies
Children with autism participating in pet therapy had a 14% increase in social initiations
Pet therapy has been shown to boost oxytocin levels in patients, improving emotional bonding and social behavior
75% of patients undergoing cancer treatment reported that pet therapy provided comfort and emotional support
In a study of mental health patients, 65% showed reduced depressive symptoms after participating in pet therapy programs
Therapy animals help reduce feelings of loneliness in nursing home residents by approximately 40%
88% of pet therapy volunteers report increased job satisfaction and well-being
In a study, children with autism who participated in pet therapy sessions showed a 10% increase in emotional regulation skills
Patients who received pet therapy in emergency departments experienced a 22% decrease in perceived stress levels
60% of school counselors incorporate pet therapy to improve student mental health and academic performance

Psychological and Emotional Impact Interpretation

With over 78% of patients experiencing reduced anxiety and a remarkable 92% of mental health professionals endorsing animal-assisted therapy as effective, pet therapy proves that sometimes, the best prescription for healing is simply a wagging tail.

Special Population and Condition Interventions

Pet therapy can improve social interaction skills in individuals with autism spectrum disorder by up to 16 points on standardized assessments
Children with ADHD show a 20% reduction in hyperactivity symptoms after participating in pet therapy programs
Pet therapy has been shown to improve sleep quality in patients with Alzheimer’s disease, with 45% reporting better sleep patterns

Special Population and Condition Interventions Interpretation

These compelling pet therapy statistics reveal that while furry friends can boost social skills and tame hyperactivity, their most profound gift may be helping our elders and loved ones with cognitive challenges enjoy a more restful night's sleep.