NewsHealth & MedicineTherapy dogs can ease young patients anxiety in the emergency roomChildren who spent time with the dogs reported a larger drop in anxiety than those who didnt Time with a therapy dog can reduce kids anxiety while in the emergency department, a clinical trial reports.Isaac Lane Koval/Corbis/VCG/Getty Images PlusBy Aimee Cunningham14 seconds agoAbout 10 minutes with a therapy dog soothed kids who felt anxious about being emergency room patients.A clinical trial found that after spending time with a dog, young patients reported a significantly larger decrease in their anxiety than kids who didnt have dog time. The patients parents also perceived significantly reduced anxiety in their kids, researchers report March 14 in JAMA Network Open.Managing kids anxiety and pain while receiving emergency medical care is a key part of the treatment plan, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Many pediatric emergency departments have child life specialists, who explain procedures in developmentally appropriate ways and help young patients cope with stress through play therapy and other methods.