Dictionary of Cancer Terms
View in Spanish: Terapia facilitada por mascotas de compañía
Pet-facilitated therapy (…fuh-SIH-lih-tay-ted THAYR-uh-pee)
A type of therapy that uses dogs or other pets to improve the physical and mental health of patients with certain acute or chronic diseases. It is being studied as a way to relieve distress in cancer patients undergoing treatment for pain. Also called animal-assisted therapy.
Source: National Cancer Institute Dictionary of Cancer Terms, available at www.cancer.gov/dictionary.