Service Dogs have become an accepted part of our healing and healthy functioning. However, little is offered in the way of consultation & training for the medical & mental health professionals to be an effective facilitator of Service Dogs as effective intervention approach.
A person living with Celiac finds freedom with a gluten detection service dog trained to check all food for gluten.
Please reach us at karenagongola@hotmail.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.
Are you a medical or mental health professional working with clients with medical or mental health condition(s) that could (do) benefit from a task trained service dog?
Dr. Karena can provide instruction in the use of a service dog as part of treatment for specific medical & mental health conditions.
That is really up to you as a professional. Perhaps you want the client to include reports on day to day use of the service dog and track for improvement & worsening of functioning in part on performance of the service dog. Consultation & training will cover in detail how service dogs can task in specific medical & mental health conditions. You may simply suggest the possible 'use' of a service dog and recommend they add a professional for further work towards adding a service dog to treatment.
Alert to high and low blood glucose levels. As much as 30 minutes prior to what a monitor will alert.
Alert to wheat gluten, rye gluten, or barley gluten in foods at even trace amounts allowing the handler to avoid even the tiniest cross contamination.
For an individual in remission from cancer, a dog trained in detection of cancer can alleviate debilitating anxiety of the fear of the unknown. *this would only be a 'task' in a case in which the criteria are met for significant impairment due to anxiety
Specific tasking might include DPT deep pressure therapy. A task usually trained with the assistance of Occupational or Physical therapist assistance in assessment of the best protocol for the client.
Tasking including spacing, DPT, 'clearing room' (to alert handler to safety, guiding handler out of store if handler deteriorates, waking from nightmares, and other tasks specific to debilitating symptoms of trauma.
Curious about specific cases? Contact Dr. Karena to explore if consultation or training could be beneficial with the end goal of best client care.
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