Wisconsin CNA State Exam Vocabulary Practice

What does pet therapy encompass?

1. A partial seizure without consciousness loss

2. Physical care given to pets

3. Items belonging to pets

4. Using animals to assist with health recovery or coping

The correct answer is: Using animals to assist with health recovery or coping

Pet therapy refers to the therapeutic benefits that a person can receive from interactions with trained animals, typically pets. This form of therapy utilizes animals, most often dogs or cats, to enhance patients' emotional, social, cognitive, and physical functioning. The presence of these animals can help improve a patient’s mood, reduce stress, and provide comfort, which assists with health recovery or coping with various challenges, such as illness, emotional distress, or disability. This approach is recognized in various healthcare settings, where trained therapy animals work alongside professionals to support patients in their recovery journey. The other options do not accurately capture the essence of pet therapy; they relate to different concepts unrelated to the therapeutic use of animals in health care or support contexts.