War is horrible in so many ways and one of the countless sad facts of war is that many veterans return to their home countries with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It’s a complicated illness that has been called a “signature wound” of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. There are a variety of approaches to try to address and/or treat PTSD including medication, behavioral techniques, cognitive behavioral therapy, and more. These are sometimes referred to as “evidence-based treatments” but the evidence does not always find that the approaches are effective. Some individuals still suffer after trying some or many of the possible treatments. What’s worse, there is a stigma associated with PTSD that can make it difficult for soldiers who are suffering to even speak up and accept treatment.

Researchers have been looking into the possibility that canine assistance therapy may be helpful for veterans with PTSD. Dogs provide companionship to people in many different contexts. For soldiers who are suffering from PTSD, dogs can potentially provide a range of emotional and social benefits. Fortunately, some scientific studies have been conducted into the effectiveness of canine assistance with PTSD, enough that researchers can review the literature to assess the field and where it’s going. The researchers note that 7.6% of veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan have been diagnosed with PTSD and about 25% of all veterans that seek health help get diagnosed with a psychological condition. Of that quarter of veterans, half end up getting diagnosed with PTSD. The problem is real and potentially widespread among soldiers. The researchers here believe that reviewing the current literature on canine assistance is vital to “move the evolving field forward” because treatment of PTSD needs to be “made a national priority.”

The researchers note that there are four different types of assistance dogs: “service dogs, therapy dogs, emotional support dogs and companion dogs.” Each fulfills a different type of role for the humans they’re assisting. On a social level, the literature showed that assistance dogs can give emotional support and, notably, provide “social interactions and networks for individuals who are at high risk for social isolation, depression, and potential suicidal ideation.” On a physiological level, interacting with dogs has been shown to raise oxytocin levels in people, and the literature also showed decreases in blood pressure after interactions with dogs “in a civilian cohort.” Still, there are concerns with canine assistance for PTSD including a lack of treatment standards or established “best practices.” Additionally, training a dog to assist with PTSD cases is expensive, since it’s not a quick or easy process.

Furthermore, there are animal welfare concerns with the process. The literature review noted that some authors are concerned that “animals may not have enough access to rest, recovery, downtime, and routine to remain psychologically healthy themselves.” Nonetheless, this study seems to identify a point where animal advocates and veteran’s advocates may find an intersection of interests. The consequences of PTSD are serious for soldiers – each day an estimated 22 veterans die by suicide – and assistance dogs show promise in being able to form relationships with soldiers in a way that helps them cope and survive. That being said, the concerns about the practice and its impact on dogs also need to be addressed. Until more investigation is done, some animal advocates may be slower to accept or promote the practice.