TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – A new study at the University of Arizona is proving that veterans with service dogs have fewer PTSD symptoms and a higher quality of life.

While this has always been believed, there has been a lack of research on using service dogs in medical care.

According to the National Library of Medicine, more than 20% of veterans experience PTSD in their lifetime, and suicide and thoughts of suicide are also closely linked to PTSD.

A report from Veterans Affairs shows more than 17 U-S military veterans die by suicide daily. Now, University of Arizona researchers believe their findings could lead to life-changing improvements in healthcare for veterans.

This study involved 156 service members, half of whom were paired with a dog. Researchers then checked in every single day and said it was incredible to see the impact these dogs had on people.

Veterans came back and said their quality of life was better and that they had lower levels of depression and anxiety.

This idea has been in the works for about ten years and was recently published in the medical journal JAMA.

Rescue dogs and shelter dogs were used for this, and researchers say that no breed in particular did better or worse than others. However, it was also added that when dogs are bred to be service dogs, labs and retrievers are usually the most successful breeds.

”We often find that they are so excited to reach out the day they get the dog and just share pictures and stories with us about how the dog is already making an impact in their life,” the Associate Dean for Research in the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Arizona Maggie O’Haire said. “For the team and myself, I think the most meaningful part of this work is really getting to hear their stories, to work with them, to talk to them every day of the week and learn how their life is and share that story in a way that could help make a difference for them.”

Research on this hasn’t been done yet. Next, they want to do a similar study with more veterans and follow them for about a year to see how much more those dogs can help them.

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