Perioperative nursing and animal-assisted therapy.

Interacting with animals has been shown to reduce blood pressure and cholesterol, decrease anxiety, and improve a person's sense of well being. Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) can be incorporated into the care of perioperative patients. Some of the goals that can be met by using trained and certified therapy animals are reducing stress preoperatively, motivating patients to have a positive attitude, promoting postoperative activity, and reducing the need for pain medication. Infection control, immunosuppressed patients, and research are issues regarding AAT in the hospital setting that must be covered by policy and procedure. Suggestions for setting up an AAT program are discussed.