Photos: Spanish hospital enlists therapy dogs to boost ICU patients' morale

Barcelona: Joel Bueno shed tears of joy as his four-legged guests entered the intensive care unit where he had been admitted due to a blood clot.

Bueno, 34, said that being showered with affection by therapy dogs, Vida and Lu, reminded him of his dog back home.

"It's great to have someone that loves you more than anything else," he said with a broad smile. "They give everything for you, no matter how you are with them."

The visit was part of a trial launched by the Hospital del Mar in Barcelona and the Affinity Foundation, which specialises in pet therapy, to improve the emotional wellbeing of patients in intensive care units (ICU).

Patients in the programme receive two visits each week of 15 to 20 minutes each.

"For now, it's just a perception, but it seems to us that there's a benefit for patients," said Lucia Picazo, an ICU doctor.

The project will analyse saliva samples collected from patients before and after a therapy session to check whether stress indicators like cortisol decrease. At the same time, those related to wellbeing, like oxytocin and serotonin, increase, she said.

Patients aren't the only ones benefiting from the project: Maribel Vida, who leads Affinity's animal therapy projects, said many members of staff in the emergency ward also enjoy having the canines around and bonding with them.

Bueno has no doubts about the benefits of the trial. He said that the news that some dogs might pop by for a visit was an immediate morale boost.