Canine companionship may relieve PTSD

By Staff Writer

Both the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the military are beginning to wonder if dogs might be a low-tech alternative to treating soldiers who suffer from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), reports Time Magazine.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 7.7 million American adults 18 and older suffer from PTSD.

Many question whether dogs can help alleviate PTSD, but a number of veterans recovering from the traumas of war vouch for their canine companions.

For instance, a veteran who suffered spine and ankle injuries while clearing mines in Afghanistan is now afflicted with PTSD. He was terrified of leaving his apartment, in a state of hypervigilance and would scan his suburban streets for snipers. However, since receiving a dog, many of his fears appear to have gone away, according to the news source.

The dog is part bodyguard, part therapist and an extra set of eyes and ears. When the veteran is having a nightmare, the canine will wake him from his sleep by licking his face.

Currently, organizations such as Veterans Moving Forward, Inc. provide veterans with physical and mental challenges trained service dogs

To learn more about the effects animals can have on traumatized soldiers, both the VA and the army are launching studies into the matter.