Dog assistance: scientists study how animals help veterans cope with PTSD

Orlando – Saying retired Army Sgt Carlos Cruz relies heavily on his assistance dog, Hannah, is a euphemism. Cruz was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder after returning from service in northern Afghanistan, where he searched for enemy explosive devices.

He acquired Hannah in January 2018 and says that he was thanking her every day. "It's amazing what she's doing for me," Cruz told CBS News. "I do not even know how she knows half the time, it's like a non-spoken language, I guess we could say it."

Scientists say that there may be more than that.

About 100 veterans and their service dogs are being studied by researchers at Purdue University of Indiana. In this unprecedented study, Cruz collected saliva three times a day for three consecutive days this month to test her stress hormones.

He also wears a bracelet to track vital signs that Hannah might be affecting and Hannah will also be followed. They will be tested again in the summer.

"I think there are people who are wondering if help dogs are helping or not, and they are looking for numbers and scientific data," said Dr. Maggie O'Hair at CBS News. O. Haire directs the Organization for Research and Education on Human-Animal Interaction, a research group in Purdue that undertook this project.

O & # 39; Haire and his team are trying to find out if there is a chemical reaction in service dogs and vice versa, which could indicate with certainty that dogs can help and why.

Cruz can not define it, but he knows that Hannah helps.

"Sometimes just feeling your heartbeat and breathing helps calm me down," he said.