Can A Bunny Be A Service Animal

My Pet Rabbit Helps Me Live with Parkinson'south

(Photo by Jean Mellano)

"Until one has loved an brute, a role of one's soul remains unawakened." ― Anatole France

Dogs can assist as emotional and concrete back up animals for humans with various disabilities and chronic illnesses, including Parkinson'due south. These animals help make life easier for their humans and ameliorate their quality of life.

Rabbits tin't be classified every bit support animals considering they can't be trained to assistance with physical tasks. However, they can provide emotional back up by furnishing comfort and other therapeutic benefits to their owners through companionship.

Budgie Bunny

In 2010, my Budgie Bunny was found wandering in a park, fending for himself. Members of a local rabbit rescue organization asked me to foster him until his forever dwelling house could be constitute. That was x years ago. Needless to say, I failed at being a foster parent. As a friend once said to me, there are worse things in life to fail at.

Picayune did I know that five years after saving Budgie, I would exist diagnosed with Parkinson's. Now he is helping to salve me.

How could a 4-pound fur ball possibly help someone with Parkinson's? More than in one case when I was in the depths of despair, having a pity party for myself over my current health situation, I have crawled into a brawl on the floor and started crying. Many times, Budgie would come over and give me bunny kisses. My tears would cook away, and I would exist filled with gratitude to take such a bang-up footling buddy who seems to sense my emotions. I do non experience so solitary having Budgie in my house.

What else has my bunny done to help me fight Parkinson's?

Living with a rabbit has taught me some valuable lessons. Budgie has helped me to live in the moment. He taught me to be more patient. And he helped me go on laughter in my life.

Live in the moment

Budgie gets me out of bed in the morning. If I don't feed him on his schedule, he volition brand a racket past pushing effectually his food bowl. If he wants attention, especially when I attempt to meditate in another room, he will create a lot of dissonance by working on a bunny construction project or thumping his hind leg. At times like these, I forget in that moment that I have Parkinson's, and I go enlightened that Budgie needs something from me.

His life is and so precious and he gives me so much comfort.

Patience is a virtue

Since rabbits are prey animals, they tend to be agape of their own shadow and do not automatically trust humans. It takes a deliberate investment for 1 to build a human relationship with a rabbit. Initially a bunny may exist shy, agape, independent, or hesitant to trust a man. I developed a lot of patience waiting for Budgie to be comfortable with me. It took him a long time to realize I wouldn't eat him for lunch.

Now that I experience bradykinesia, a Parkinson'due south symptom, I can become impatient with myself when I become dressed in the morning. Nevertheless, the patience I adult while caring for Budgie has helped me to better cope with my slowness of motion.

Laughter is the all-time medicine

Budgie's antics never fail to make me smile or laugh. Just this calendar week, I forgot to put his litter box in his pen and he decided to employ his nutrient dish as his litter box. Much to my surprise, he didn't fifty-fifty miss!

Instead of getting annoyed, I chuckled and gave my sugariness bunny a few scratches behind his ears.

Laughter can change dopamine and serotonin levels that are reduced in low. Low can affect up to half of all people with Parkinson's at some point during the course of their disease. Budgie keeps me laughing, and laughter makes me experience good.

Although Budgie cannot provide physical help or balance and support similar a guide dog, he does provide companionship and makes a slap-up emotional support animal for me. Studies have linked pet buying with reducing signs of depression in people with chronic illnesses and with reducing loneliness.

Having Parkinson'due south can bring about many emotional and mental health problems. The calming nature of a therapy or emotional support brute (yes, even a rabbit) can help ease anxiety, release endorphins, and reduce stress.

"Rabbits will always take a special place in my heart. They are oft discredited as being good pets because they don't 'practise annihilation'—inquire whatsoever rabbit owner and lookout man how they express joy!" – Shenita Etwaroo

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Note: Parkinson's News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical communication, diagnosis or handling . This content is non intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment . Always seek the communication of your doctor or some other qualified health provider with whatsoever questions you may accept regarding a medical status. Never disregard professional medical communication or delay in seeking it considering of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Parkinson's News Today or its parent visitor, BioNews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to Parkinson'southward affliction.

Virtually the Author

Jean Mellano When New Yorker Jean Mellano'southward life partner, Steve, passed abroad in March 2015, she took solace in writing virtually him and establish purpose in bringing more awareness to mental wellness past telling Steve's story. At age 62, 7 months after Steve died, Jean was diagnosed with Parkinson's. Several neurologists have told her the emotional trauma she suffered before and after Steve passed might take triggered the onset of her Parkinson's. Jean hopes to be a voice for people afflicted with this disease. She also wants to help others sympathise the daily struggles of people with Parkinson's.

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