Posted on June 18, 2010 by: WayCoolDogs

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The healing power of dogs has entered mainstream medicine, with physicians coming to the realization that therapy dogs can be used as office healing dogs to reduce stress, anxiety, hypertension and nervousness in worried patients arriving for their scheduled appointments.

It is also used successfully for patients with “white coat syndrome.” Dr. Bart Kairuz has three therapy dogs who are allowed full access in his medical office, with many patients cancelling their appointments when the dogs are at grooming appointments.

Both Dr. Kairuz and his partner, Dr. Jaime Santos, allow the dogs to roam through the South County Medical Clinical on the campus of St. Anthony’s Medical Center – the hallways, waiting area and exam rooms.

“Patients come in, tense and depressed; then one of the dogs comes around, and the patients are relaxed and smiling,” said Kairuz, 77, who lives in Sunset Hills. “Dogs provide a real healing benefit to people, lifting their spirits and making them feel happy.”

Dr. Kairuz’s wife, Jane, also works at the clinic and says the three therapy dogs are excellent conversation pieces, with most patients more anxious to see the dogs instead of the doctor.

Who the dogs are who show the healing power of dogs

The three dogs are poodle and shih tzu hybrid mixes. Collectively called “the Boyz”, they are quite unique. One six-year old is named  Dr. Chase, a black male with a white chest.  As a “doctor,” he usually accompanies his owner, Dr. Kairuz, into the exam rooms. His son, “Nurse Jett,” is also black with a white chest and cannot enter a room until he is invited by Dr. Kairuz.  However, their white with gray-brown marked cousin, “Intern Truman,” is everywhere in the clinic.

The dogs were picked out and trained by Bonnie Edmonds, the office manager,  even though the office staff had been discussing it before the first puppy was adopted by Bonnie.  That would be Jett, who was eight weeks at the time – now over six years of age. Chase followed three-and-a-half years later, followed by Truman in 2007.

White coat syndrome

White coat syndrome or white coat hypertension is estimated to affect approximately 20% of the population who visit hospitals and medical clinics. Signs of the condition are an increase in blood pressure that is seen only at the doctor’s office or medical clinic, occurring only on a subconscious level. Studies are beginning to show that white coat syndrome may develop into sustained high blood pressure requiring treatment.

The condition is dangerous because of how patients react to it. First of all, they do not consider the high blood pressure  dangerous because it only occurs temporarily at the doctor’s office – not at home.  Because of this, they do not seek treatment. On the other hand, many doctor’s or medical clinics assume the blood pressure reading is the true reading and over-medicates for  it.  People who are known to have white coat condition may have to wear a blood pressure device for 24 hours to find the true reading. The healing power of dogs can reduce a patient with high blood pressure who has white coat syndrome, such as in a doctor’s office.

Sources for white coat syndrome

WebMD - Questions About High Blood Pressure and White-Coat Syndrome

WebMD – Beyond White Coat Syndrome

Lowering Your Blood Pressure Naturally

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MORE CUTE STUFF . . .

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GRANDMOTHER’S  CORNER . . .

She was in the bathroom, putting on her makeup, under the watchful eyes of her young granddaughter, as she’d done many times before. After she applied her lipstick and started to leave, the little one said, “But Gramma, you forgot to kiss the toilet paper good-bye!”

I will probably never put lipstick on again without thinking about kissing the toilet paper good-bye.

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DAILY TIP FOR DOG CARE

“It’s Not Cool to Leave a Dog in a Hot Car”

Dogs and cats can’t perspire and can only dispel heat by panting and through the pads of their feet. Pets who are left in hot cars even briefly can suffer from heat exhaustion, heat stroke, brain damage, and can even die. Don’t think that just because you’ll be gone “just a minute” that your pet will be safe while you’re gone; even an air-conditioned car with the motor off isn’t healthy for your pet. The inside of the car can reach 120 degrees within minutes.

Also, it is very dangerous, and in some states illegal, to drive with a dog in the back of a pick-up truck. Not only can flying debris cause serious injury, but a dog may be unintentionally thrown into traffic if the driver suddenly hits the brakes, swerves, or is hit by another car. Dogs should ride either in the cab (in a crate or wearing a seat belt harness designed for dogs) or in a secured crate in the bed of the truck. (HSUS)

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