Felinoterapie, NCHK

Theory of felinotherapy
NCHK on-line course 
Term : 

Session 6
Use of individual animal species in AAI (brief overview)
Hygiene in zoo-rehabilitation in terms of diseases
Welfare

The use of different animal species in zoo-rehabilitation

Hipporehabilitation

Includes all activities and therapies involving man and horse. A modern rehabilitation method with a complex bio-psycho-social effect on the human organism.

Subdivisions
Hippotherapy (a form of physiotherapy that uses the three-dimensional movement of the horse's back in stride)
Activities using horses (methods of special/social pedagogy and social work that use the environment of the riding stable, contact and interaction with the horse as a means of motivation, activation and education of people with specific needs)
Psychotherapy using horses (therapeutic influence on mental illness)
Para-equestrianism (enabling individuals with disabilities to train in different areas of equestrian sport)

Canisterapy

some canine skill requirements may vary depending on the organisation where canister therapy is provided and the target population for which canister therapy is intended) 
 

Working with dogs in AAI. Possible applications (some may be applicable to other species):

• Stimulation of fine motor skills (treats to be taken by the client in the fingers and given to the dog, unfastening and fastening the harness, looking for staples in the fur, placing staples in the fur, fastening and unfastening or unscrewing and screwing the lid on the treat container - pouch, box, pouch, etc.)

• Stimulating gross motor skills (throwing balls, toys, etc.)

• Speech stimulation (commands, addressing the dog, handler, etc.)

• Sensory development ( using different collar colours, harnesses, blankets, treats, brushes, using different materials e.g. as a mat, bowls made of different materials, looking for staples in the dog's fur, etc.)

• Developing movement - walking, slalom, running, agility

• Warming up affected body parts (part of positioning, relaxing spastic limbs or parts of limbs)

• Coping with psychological problems (the animal does not judge, often communication is established over a bridge between human and animal rather than between two people)

• Learning - use with healthy and sick clients, teaching and prevention programs

• Social - creating interactions and building relationships, building bridges between people, emotional support

Requirements that should be met by a dog working in an AAI team:

• A balanced nature

• Good socialization

• Affectionate, friendly, should enjoy human contact, enjoy touching, petting and cuddling with strangers

• Playful, smart, intelligent

• Willing to cooperate

• Patient and should be able to withstand short and long term physical and mental stress

• Should have a strong attachment to the handler, but must also be able to cooperate with other people

• Healthy, clean and neat

• Must meet all animal welfare requirements

What a dog working in the AAI field should be able to do :

• Respond immediately to your name and to being called.

• Gently accept treats and be able to fetch objects.

• To have a high tolerance threshold (to touch, sound, smell). React appropriately to distractions and unexpected stimuli (never aggressive, alarmed or flight response).

• The dog should be able to perform basic handling exercises: sit, lie down, walk (with or without a lead, in calm or disturbed environments, in small or large groups of people or other animals, including other dogs).

• It should be able to calm down quickly.

• It should be able to stay in a certain position (e.g. lying on its side) for several minutes.

• It should be able to interact with a stranger without its handler present (not only stay in a standstill position, but obey basic commands, play or even tolerate some restriction of its movement).

• He should be able to communicate with physically, mentally or psychologically disabled persons. Be able to maintain eye contact with them, at least for a short time, and not turn his head away from them.

• He/she should get along well with other animals.

• He should not have unpleasant habits (marking, begging, jumping on people)....

Felinotherapy
Working with cats in the AAI area.

Benefits of incorporating cats of appropriate personality traits into AAT:

• relative accessibilityof a cat

• ease of space and feeding

• excellent communication skills

• provide social and psychological support in dealing with family crises, death of a partner, illness

• positively influence stress reactions

• they can promote an optimistic mood in the individual and in the collective

• can correct behaviour in school children

• support pain relief after surgical procedures (distraction, but also contact with fur, grunting)

The basic rule for incorporating cats as cotherapists in AAI is that they themselves should feel pleasure from human contact, including mutual touch. The positive effect of human-cat interaction must not only serve the client, but must also have a positive effect on the cat participating in the therapy and on the volunteer or therapist working with the cat. The forced participation of the cat in the process of so-called zoorehabilitation makes this zoorehabilitation not only worthless, but potentially dangerous (due to the frustration of the animal exposed to the stressful situation and emotional coregulation - the transfer of emotions - to the client and others involved).

The fact that the cats working in zoo-rehabilitation are kept in their own homes , have regular contact with people and are part of our families is a great advantage. They are well socialized. They are also not animals that can roam freely outside. Their visits are therefore relatively safe for the clients, both from a hygiene point of view and from the point of view of possible allergies. Johanes Odendaal states that animals working in therapy programmes pose less of a health risk to clients than visits from people. In addition, cats can be transported relatively easily to clients (low weight, small size and relatively low equipment requirements). The sensitivity with which cats are endowed is another positive element. They can very quickly sense the state of mind of the client and their human cat therapist. The eye contact, their purring (which in itself can have a therapeutic effect) and the milk step (a stereotype prevalent in adulthood where cats paw in place and alternately retract and extend their claws, originally used to massage the mother's mammary gland when sucking the kitten) give us immediate feedback on their pleasurable feelings, which we perceive as a positive calming element.
Further information is included in the following tutorials of this course.

Using other species of animals in zootherapy

The website of the independent portal http://www.tiergestuetzte-therapie.de/, which provides information on animal-assisted therapy and pedagogy, taught mainly to readers and those interested in this field in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, offers many interesting articles and contributions not only on the most widespread disciplines such as canitherapy and hippotherapy, but also on the use of small animals or service animals.

In his article "Kaninchenbesuche bei demenziell erkrankten Menschen" (Visits with rabbits for people suffering from dementia), Dr. Wolfgang Scharmann from the organisation Leben mit Tieren e.V. in Berlin describes the use and effects of these animals in nursing homes in Germany. Volunteers are also involved in this activity, especially by regularly visiting the dogs in the facilities and by keeping the small animals in the gardens of the facilities. As the author of the paper points out, some residents of nursing homes are no longer able to communicate with the nursing staff, but still retain the ability to perceive and express their feelings. At the same time, these people are no longer able to visit rabbits and other farm animals such as donkeys, sheep or goats in their gardens due to mobility difficulties.
Dr. Scharmann says: "Since there are only a few residents of the home who can visit the donkeys, sheep and goats, we also started breeding rabbits and guinea pigs five years ago to be able to visit the elderly who have difficulty walking or are even bedridden with these animals.
Rabbits and guinea pigs are excellently suited for such visits if they are accustomed and trained from a young age, that is, from the second and third week of life, to the touch of a human hand, lifting and carrying.
The visits, which are mainly carried out by volunteers, take place almost daily in various wards of the homes. In order not to overload the animals, they are used only two to three times a week, according to the rules, which can be achieved when keeping up to 20 rabbits and 10 guinea pigs."
Visits are usually carried out in a collective way, with residents gathered around a table on which the rabbits are placed. Volunteers encourage the clients to pet the rabbits, sometimes guiding their hand or sitting the rabbit on their lap. They help the clients to give the rabbits treats - such as lettuce leaves - to eat.
During the visits, activation of long-term memory, recollection of own experiences with animals in childhood or youth, positive emotional expressions, and support for speech skills were observed. It is also very important that the clients receive attention and support that the nursing staff no longer have time for during their work duties.
In conclusion, Dr. Sharmann summarises the findings to date: "Although animals only have a beneficial effect during visits and we cannot expect any lasting improvement in the condition, visits to dementia sufferers at least bring about a change and enrichment in the quality of their lives. So all the evidence points to an even stronger involvement of animal volunteers in the care and therapy of people with dementia than is already the case." 

 Another contribution in this area is the article Mit Kaninchen gegen die Demenz (With rabbits against dementia) by Zora Bombach from Balingen-Zillhausen. In the article, she talks to the healer Ramona Blind. Twenty-nine-year-old Ramona studied at the "Institut für soziales Lernen mit Tieren" (Institute for Social Learning with Animals) in Hanover and then focused on zootherapy. On a rented farm on the outskirts of Zillhausen, Ramona, her life partner and daughter look after five guinea pigs, three dogs, two donkeys and other farm animals in addition to three rabbits. On one of her recent visits, when Mrs Blind took her pig "Dr Fridolin" with her, a TV crew from SWR accompanied her.
Most of the animals come from shelters. Ramona would still like to get a few chickens. In the above article, the healer explains, "Especially the older generation has quite certain memories associated with chickens, but also with other farm animals." "Contact with the animal then awakens deeply stored feeling levels in the brain that are not affected by dementia", Ramona explains.
Ms Blind visits nursing homes, hospitals or facilities for disabled people with her animals. The visits often create a new level of trust between the nursing staff and the patients and build bridges between people that are familiar to anyone who is actively involved in zootherapy.

Further very interesting information can be found in the paper "Soziales Lernen mit Tieren: Esel als Lehrer" by Matthias Benirschke.
Sandra Thyke, an environmental and social educator, works in Bielefed, Germany with the organization Natursinn. She brings children from the Förderschule "Am Kupferhammer" (At the Copper Hammer) into contact with donkeys and teaches them how to handle them. It is an animal-assisted action in the field of so-called animal-assisted pedagogy. It is a field that can be used to extend pedagogical or nursing education in Germany. For example, Ms Thyke completed her further training in this field at the Istitut für soziales Lernen mit Tieren (Institute for Social Learning with Animals) in Lower Saxony. According to the head of the institute, I. Stephan, approximately 500 students have graduated since 2001 and interest in the field of study is on the rise.
Donkeys not only teach children how to handle animals and recognise non-verbal signals, but also teach them to be calm. Sandra Thyke, who runs the long-term school program, says the important thing is that the animals accept everyone as they are and appearance or brand of clothing plays no role for them.
This program is funded by an evangelical foundation because, as in the Czech Republic, in Germany the reimbursement of animal-assisted therapy or animal-assisted pedagogy by health insurance companies is rather exceptional.

Incorporation of farm animals into zoo-rehabilitation
This integration occurs mainly on small therapeutic and teaching farms. These farms are usually not primarily production farms; their activities fall into the areas of pet keeping, education and therapy.
The work with farm animals in the AAI area mainly involves the integration of disadvantaged or disabled people into society, the development of fine and gross motor skills, the improvement of clients' knowledge and skills, occupational therapy and the acquisition of social and occupational competences.
Activities on teaching farms :
Direct work and activities with animals - cleaning and combing animals, transferring them to grazing, milking, etc.
indirect work with the animals - preparing feed, putting grain in the cribs, bedding the boxes, keeping the livestock facilities clean, tending the farm premises (sweeping, raking, painting the facilities), maintaining the pastures, etc.

Legislative conditions for the use of animals in zoo-rehabilitation

Overview of Czech legislation in relation to animal protection :
Overview of legislation - animal protection | eAGRI

Hygiene in zoo-rehabilitation in terms of diseases

Diseases transmissible between humans and animals

Classification of zoonoses

(a) by disease agent

Microbial
Viral
Parasitic
Fungal

b) by source

Dogs
Cats
Horses
Rodents
Birds
Other animals

Microbial diseases

Chlamydiosis
Leptospirosis
Listeriosis
Lyme disease
Cat scratch disease
Salmonellosis
Tuberculosis
Tularemia
Viral diseases

Rabies

Parasitic diseases

Basic concepts

Parasite - an organism that obtains nutrients from a host organism and weakens it, but does not cause immediate death
Host - an organism on whose surface or inside its body the parasite is located and obtains nutrients from
Intermediate host - an organism in which the larval stages of the parasite develop or asexual reproduction occurs

Internal parasites

Guardia
Tapeworms, tapeworms
Coccidia

External parasites

Common tick, flea
Tapeworms
Predator
Redworm velvet

WELFARE
Source : http://www.zootechnika.estranky.cz/clanky/welfare_-tyrani-zvirat/welfare-obecne-
Deals with the preservation of the basic conditions of life and health of animals and their protection from negative factors that may threaten their health, causing them pain, suffering and psychological harm. The protection of animals against cruelty is regulated in the conditions of the Czech Republic by the relevant law and other legislation as amended. These laws regulate e.g. (nutrition, transport, breeding, killing, etc.).

Welfare is a state of fulfilment of material and non-material conditions that are a prerequisite for the health of an organism when an animal is kept in accordance with its environment.
The first welfare principles were defined in response to the British Government's 1965 report on livestock farming and subsequently formalised in a 1979 press release by the British Council for the Welfare of Livestock. They are known as the 5 freedoms from...They relate to:
Elimination of hunger, thirst and malnutrition in the animal - It is the duty of the keeper to provide the animal with clean, hygienic water, in sufficient quantities, without exception. The provision of food must be in sufficient quantity, of a suitable composition (proportion of suitable feed and its structure) respecting the physiology of the species. Age, health, sex, stage of gestation, etc. must also be taken into account.

The elimination of physical and thermal factors of discomfort - it is the responsibility of every keeper to ensure that the animal is kept in such conditions that it does not suffer from negative factors (wind, rain, frost, high summer temperatures, low winter temperatures, etc.). The keeper is obliged to provide the animal with suitable housing and a comfortable place to rest.

Eliminate the causes of pain, injury and illness - care, diligence and disease prevention should be the mainstay of any conscious breeder. The animal should not be exposed to harmful factors (e.g. sharp edges at the feeding trough, uneven and crumbly flooring damaging limbs, foreign objects in feed, unsanitary drinking water, poor handling techniques, etc.).

The keeper should always be able to give the animal first aid immediately and treat the animal without delay. If he/she already knows that professional help is needed, he/she must call a veterinarian and should help the animal to the best of his/her ability and knowledge until the veterinarian arrives. Unprofessionalism and overconfidence can mean in many cases (e.g. complicated birth, digestive disorders, intoxication, infection) severe harm to the animal, even death. In animal husbandry, the rule "save at all costs" should not apply, because the death of an animal is always a much greater loss.The basis of a correct husbandry concept is prevention and the basics of observing the 3D rule - disinfection, disinsection and extermination.

The possibility of normal behavioural manifestations - providing sufficient space for the species to be kept and sufficient equipment are a successful way to breed animals successfully and efficiently. Contact between animals and the formation of a social hierarchy that is characteristic of the species is very important. It should be noted here that in addition to knowledge of nutrition, genetics, physiology, technology and breeding techniques, the breeder should also know the basic ethological parameters of the species. They should also know, for example, how much time the species spends feeding, watering, sleeping, moving, etc. Animals often indicate a potential problem to the breeder by their "gestures", "movements" and behaviour. Animals must therefore be checked regularly every day. We should also notice unnatural displays, aggression and look for their causes. Only an animal kept in suitable conditions is capable of regular reproduction and production.

Elimination of fear and depression (anxiety) - psychological well-being is very important in all animal species. Fear and depression often lead to general deprivation of the animal, sometimes even to its death. Humans play a very important role in this respect, as they should be calm, observant, non-aggressive, but at the same time firm and confident (especially when handling and handling animals). Unnecessary stressful situations provoke a natural physiological response in the animal. This can result, for example, in a reduction in the dairy cow's pregnancy rate (adrenaline prevents the transport of oxytocin through the blood to the mammary gland, etc.), reproductive problems (non-marrowing, embryonic mortality, abortions, etc.). However, equally important is the change in the animal's psyche (due to anxiety), which in the most extreme cases can lead to aggression. Knowledge and understanding of behaviour is the basis for successful breeding.

In 2020, David Mellor, a New Zealand animal behaviour scientist and his colleagues defined the following welfare domains :

1. nutrition - ensuring an adequate consumption of a nutritionally rich diet is a pleasurable experience

2. environment - a safe, harm-free environment offers adaptive choice and diversity

3. health - an individual in good physical condition enjoys good health

4. behaviour - an individual may exhibit behaviours that are focused on the environment in which they live and activities with other animals that bring them satisfaction and belonging

5. mental or emotional state - the animal experiences comfort, pleasure, interest and security

Animals | Free Full-Text | The 2020 Five Domains Model: Including Human-Animal Interactions in Assessments of Animal Welfare (mdpi.com)

IAHAIO Principles for Working with Animals

These principles were established in 1988 in Prague by the General Assembly of IAHAIO (International association of human-animal interaction organizations):
Only healthy pets that have been trained using positive reinforcement methods and that have had and will continue to have proper protection and welfare care may be used.
Assurances are given and monitored that the animals used are protected from adverse influences, including commercial and social influences.
The inclusion of animals in activation, rehabilitation or therapy is potentially beneficial as long as the animals are not abused.
Ground rules are established and monitored to ensure:
the safety of all persons involved
provide physical and emotional security
ensure health, trust and freedom of choice, spatial conditions,
appropriate use of resources funding programmes,
appropriate workload and clearly defined roles, confidentiality, communication rules and training conditions.