What type of letter should I write to recommend dog therapy for a patient?

Letter for Dog Therapy Recommendation

You should write an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) letter or a therapeutic animal-assisted therapy recommendation letter, depending on whether the patient needs the dog for housing/travel accommodations or for structured therapeutic interventions.

Type of Letter Depends on Clinical Context

For Housing/Travel Accommodations (ESA Letter)

• Write an Emotional Support Animal letter if the patient has a diagnosed mental health condition (depression, anxiety, PTSD) and the dog provides therapeutic benefit for daily functioning 1
• The letter should state the patient has a mental health diagnosis that substantially limits one or more major life activities 1
• Document that the dog provides necessary emotional support that ameliorates symptoms of the diagnosed condition 1
• Include your professional credentials, license number, and that you have an established therapeutic relationship with the patient 1

For Structured Therapeutic Interventions (Animal-Assisted Therapy Letter)

• Write a therapeutic recommendation letter if referring the patient to formal dog-assisted therapy programs for specific medical or psychiatric conditions 2, 3, 4
• This applies when recommending structured sessions with trained therapy dogs as part of a treatment plan 2, 4

Essential Components to Include

Patient Information Section

• Patient's full name and date of birth 1
• Your professional relationship and duration of treatment 1
• Specific DSM-5 or ICD-10 diagnosis that warrants the recommendation 1

Clinical Justification Section

• Document how the dog specifically addresses the patient's functional limitations - avoid vague statements about general well-being 1
• For psychiatric conditions: Dog-assisted therapy shows greatest potential benefit, particularly for PTSD, depression, and anxiety disorders 2, 3, 4
• For cognitive disorders: Dog-assisted activities demonstrate positive effects on wellbeing and quality of life in patients with severe cognitive impairment 4, 5
• Cite specific functional improvements expected, such as reduced anxiety (demonstrated effect size in research), improved emotional regulation, or decreased depression symptoms 2, 3

Treatment Integration Statement

• State that the dog is part of a comprehensive treatment plan, not a standalone intervention 1, 6
• Mention other concurrent treatments (medications, psychotherapy, rehabilitation) to demonstrate multimodal approach 6
• For formal therapy programs: Note that dog-assisted therapy should complement, not replace, evidence-based treatments 2, 4

Critical Pitfalls to Avoid

Documentation Errors

• Never write ESA letters for patients you haven't personally evaluated and treated - this violates ethical guidelines and may constitute fraud 1
• Avoid generic template language that doesn't specify the patient's individual functional limitations 1
• Don't promise that the dog will "cure" the condition - frame benefits as symptom management and functional improvement 2, 4

Scope Limitations

• ESA letters do NOT grant public access rights (only housing/air travel under Fair Housing Act and Air Carrier Access Act) 1
• Service dog designation requires specific task training for disabilities and follows different legal framework 1
• Be clear about which accommodation you're recommending to avoid confusion 1

Evidence-Based Language Examples

For Depression/Anxiety

• "Dog-assisted therapy has demonstrated significant reduction in depression severity (50% symptom reduction) and anxiety levels in controlled studies" 2, 5
• "The patient's emotional regulation deficits would benefit from the documented physiological effects of human-animal interaction" 2, 3

For PTSD

• "Dog training programs show significant alleviation of PTSD symptomatology through improved emotional and attentional regulation" 3
• "Animal-assisted interventions demonstrate evidence-based support as complementary treatment for PTSD diagnostic criteria" 3

For Cognitive Disorders

• "Dog-assisted activities show positive effects on wellbeing and quality of life in patients with severe cognitive impairment" 4, 5
• "Pet therapy demonstrates efficiency in improving cognitive function in long-term care residents with mental illness" 5

Letter Format Structure

Opening paragraph: State your credentials, relationship with patient, and purpose of letter 1

Diagnosis paragraph: Provide specific diagnosis and how it substantially limits major life activities 1

Treatment rationale paragraph: Explain how the dog addresses specific functional deficits, citing evidence-based benefits for the patient's condition 2, 3, 4

Recommendation statement: Clear statement that you recommend the dog as part of the treatment plan 1

Closing: Your signature, credentials, license number, and contact information 1