Doctor Wrote a Human Patient an RX for a Cat and It Might Have Saved Her
On October 9, in Grottoes, Virginia, a woman named Robin Sipe shared a story about how her pulmonary physician Dr. Earl King wrote her a very special prescription that she couldn't get filled at any old Walgreens pharmacy.
Her doctor wrote her a prescription to adopt a cat.
This was one smart doctor, because according to the CDC, pet ownership has proven to have so many health benefits for humans, including decreasing blood pressure, cholesterol levels, triglyceride levels, feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and symptoms of PTSD.
The article states that Sipe told her doctor, "I was very very sad. Dr. King asked me why I was so sad because he was concerned about my overall well-being. I told him I had lost my beloved pet, a cat, and I was very sad about her loss,” Sipe said.
That was when Dr. King got creative with his treatment.
“I’d recommended that proceed to get a new cat and I actually wrote her a prescription to get a cat. Cats and dogs are important for patients for comfort or touch or wellbeing of their cardiovascular health, lung health,” Dr. King said.
That's when Sipe met a tiny three-legged kitten named Earlene she hopes to one day use as a therapy animal to comfort other people who have lost limbs.
Sipe said this of Dr. King, "He was compassionate, he was caring, he went the extra mile for me. And I hope that everyone can have a doctor in their life just like Dr. King.”
Husson University reported that In a 2007 study published in the American Journal of Critical Care, researchers found that visits with therapy dogs improved cardiovascular health in heart patients, precipitating lowered blood pressure and lowered stress hormone levels. The American Heart Association has found that working with therapy animals improves the health of heart failure patients in the hospital.
It doesn't matter if the animal is a cat or a dog (Or a horse for that matter!) , spending time with animals is good for both your physical and mental health. People heal faster, exercise more, and get more enjoyment out of life. If only more doctors wrote RX's like Dr. King.
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