A systematic review analyzed ten randomized controlled trials involving patients with dementia. The researchers compared dog-assisted therapy to routine care to see how it affected behavior and daily life. The analysis included long-term follow-up data where available.
The review found that dog-assisted therapy significantly improved behavioral and psychological symptoms compared to routine care. Patients also showed better functional activity and less agitation or depressive symptoms. However, the therapy did not show a clear difference in cognitive function.
No serious safety concerns were reported in the included studies. Despite these positive results, the overall evidence is considered relatively weak because the underlying studies had small sample sizes and a high risk of bias. Experts caution that clinical benefits need long-term follow-up to fully verify before widespread adoption.
This meta-analysis suggests that dog-assisted therapy could be a useful non-pharmacological option for long-term care facilities. However, patients and families should understand that the current data has limitations and does not prove the therapy works for everyone.
