Service Dogs Work Wonders for Veterans With PTSD: Study [Video]

Key Takeaways

Service dogs can help military veterans struggling with mental and emotional problemsVets given a service dog had 66% lower odds of being diagnosed with PTSDThey also had lower anxiety and depression

WEDNESDAY, June 5, 2024 (HealthDay News) — Military veterans often struggle with their mental health once their service ends, but the first clinical trial of its kind has found that having a service dog helps lower the risk of PTSD for these former soldiers.

Veterans paired with a service dog had 66% lower odds of a PTSD diagnosis, compared to a control group of vets still waiting for a service dog, researchers reported June 4 in the journal JAMA Network Open.

These vets also experienced lower anxiety and depression levels, as well as improvements in most areas of emotional and social well-being, researchers found.

“This research reinforces what we have been studying for almost a decade — that service dogs are linked to significant benefits for many …