Dog-assisted therapy significantly improves behavioral symptoms in dementia patients compared to routine care in a systematic review

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Hu li za zhi The journal of nursing Published June 2, 2026 Medically reviewed June 2, 2026 Study authors: Tseng Tsuei-Yi, Luo Jia-Sin, Kuo Chia-Chi PubMed ↗ DOI ↗ By Dr. Ji-eun Park, MD · Brain, Mind & Pain

Key Takeaway

Consider dog-assisted therapy as a non-pharmacological intervention in long-term care facilities for dementia patients.

This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the impact of dog-assisted therapy on patients with dementia. The analysis included 10 randomized controlled trials comparing dog-assisted therapy to routine care. The primary outcome was behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, while secondary outcomes included functional activity, cognitive function, agitation, and depressive symptoms. The review found that behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia were significantly improved compared to routine care, with a standardized mean difference of -0.46 and a p-value less than .0001. Functional activity was enhanced with a standardized mean difference of 0.31 and a p-value of .03. Agitation and depressive symptoms were also significantly alleviated. Conversely, cognitive function showed no statistically significant difference between the groups. Safety data regarding adverse events, serious adverse events, discontinuations, and tolerability were not reported. The setting of the studies was not reported. Funding or conflicts of interest were not reported.

Study Details

Study typeMeta analysis

EvidenceLevel 1

PublishedJun 2026

PMID42151047

View Original Abstract ↓

BACKGROUND: Patients with dementia commonly exhibit behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) such as depression, withdrawal, and agitation. These symptoms are known to significantly impact both mental and physical health, increase caregiving burdens, and lead to higher rates of hospitalization and mortality. PURPOSE: This study was designed to evaluate using a systematic review and meta-analysis the effectiveness of dog-assisted therapy (DAT) in improving BPSD. METHODS: In line with the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines for systematic reviews of effectiveness, a literature search was conducted in seven databases, including AgeLine, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Embase, ProQuest, PubMed, and Airiti Library for relevant articles in Chinese or English published before April 2025. The keywords "dementia", "dog-assisted therapy", and their related MeSH terms and synonyms were used. The scope of the search was limited to randomized controlled trials (RCTs), with studies not meeting the criteria were excluded. A total of 10 RCTs were included. The literature was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute 2023 RCT appraisal checklist, the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation system was used to rate the quality of the evidence, and the meta-analysis was performed using RevMan version 5.4. RESULTS: The results of the meta-analysis revealed that DAT improved BPSD significantly compared to routine care (SMD = -0.46, p < .0001) and enhanced functional activity (SMD = 0.31, p = .03). However, no statistically significant difference was found in terms of cognitive function. The subgroup analysis results for BPSD indicate DAT significantly alleviates agitation and depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS / IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The findings indicate DAT has the potential to significantly improve BPSD in patients with dementia. However, the existing evidence relies primarily on small sample studies with an overall high risk of bias, making the evidence relatively weak. Based on current evidence, DAT should be used as a non-pharmacological care intervention in long-term care facilities, with long-term follow-up necessary to verify its clinical application benefits.