CHILD’S BEST FRIEND

A FRIENDLY pooch can give a huge boost to children with mental health issues, a new study has found. Some 23 youngsters aged under 13 from the Day Hospital at the Hospital Clin-

Dog therapy a big hit at Spanish hospital

By Alex Trelinski

ic de Barcelona took part in sessions over two years assisted by professionals from the Centre for Assisted

Therapies with Dogs (CTAC).

The children were either autistic, had behavioural disorders, or suffered from excess anxiety.

Mental

Diabetes risk

PEOPLE who have been infected with Covid-19 could be at increased risk of diabetes, according to a new study.

Doctors at Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre in Los Angeles analysed the medical records of 23,709 adult patients who had at least one documented Covid-19 infection between 2020-2022.

When the researchers distinguished between those who had been vaccinated against those who weren’t, they found that the vaccinated had almost no increased risk of diabetes after Covid-19, but the un- vaccinated had a nearly 80% higher chance of a new diabetes diagnosis. health nurse Elias Guillen said: “We discovered that 75% of emotional incidents with the children were on days where there was no dog therapy.” Sessions were carried out weekly with 45 minutes allocated to each patient.

Researchers said the difference was not statistically significant and more data is needed.

“On the days that the dogs visited, there was a different atmosphere, which allowed us to assess the children far more easily,” added Guillen.

Youth

The hospital’s head of youth psychiatry, Dr Astrid Morer, said: “It is incredible how the children face situations like an examination with a dog, which they would not have done without forming an affectionate bond with the animal.”

The CTAC selects the dogs that are put through their paces to see if they would be suitable for therapeutic tasks.

All kinds of breeds ranging from large to small were used in the Barcelona study, which was supported by ‘La Caixa’ Foundation and animal food manufacturer Purina.