Army veteran Brad Schwarz plays with his service dog Panzer (© Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Dogs are many veterans' best defense against PTSD

8/11/2012

Man’s best friend just got even better, as recently returned veterans have been finding dogs to be a powerful ally in battling post-traumatic stress disorder. When soldiers return home with uncontrollable anxiety or depression, dogs draw the warmth, love and calm back to the surface. Training can remind veterans how to be assertive without being aggressive, and having a dog standing guard over the home can help them relax their vigilance. Plus, research suggests bonding with a dog actually elevates levels of oxytocin, the chemical that helps us trust and overcome paranoia. So yeah, scientifically, dogs are pretty much perfect.[Source]

Check out the msnNOW.com homepage to read more trending stories.

most recent

How does your pet help improve your life?