How Animals, Like Dogs, Cats and Horses Can Assist Patients During Treatment
Full House star Dave Coulier is embracing life as a survivor after his latest scans showed no signs of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. During his cancer battle, he found comfort in his dogs, who stayed by his side through the challenges of chemotherapy.
Lymphoma is a type of blood cancer affecting the immune system, specifically targeting infection-fighting lymphocytes.
Research published in JCO Oncology Practice highlights the benefits of animal therapy—including pet and horse therapy—for individuals living with chronic conditions or cancer. It helps reduce anxiety, improve mental health, and promote relaxation.
A medically reviewed report suggests pet therapy can lessen the need for pain medication in chronic pain patients while also boosting mood, lowering stress, reducing anxiety, and alleviating loneliness and social isolation.
Treatment for lymphoma depends on the specific diagnosis. In non-Hodgkin lymphoma cases, cancer is more likely to spread unpredictably across different lymph node groups in the body.
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma treatment varies based on type, stage, and growth rate. Patients with aggressive forms of the disease often receive R-CHOP therapy—a combination of chemotherapy drugs, an antibody-drug, and a steroid—to treat diffuse large B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Full House star Dave Coulier, 65, is embracing life as a cancer survivor after reaching remission from stage 3 non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of blood cancer. As he reflects on his journey, he credits two unwavering companions—his dogs—for providing comfort and emotional support throughout the grueling process of chemotherapy.
“These two little guys, Ziggy and Cooper, didn’t leave my side (sensing that I was sick) while we navigated through the challenges of cancer and chemotherapy,” Coulier shared in an Instagram post.
The healing power of animals is well documented. Research published in JCO Oncology Practice affirms, “Therapy dogs can decrease anxiety, improve mental health, and increase relaxation,” making pet therapy a valuable tool for patients facing serious illnesses.
Pet therapy, a form of animal-assisted intervention (AAI), includes canine-assisted interactions (dog therapy) and equine-assisted therapy (horse therapy), offering both physical and emotional benefits. Findings published in Integrative Cancer Therapies, a peer-reviewed journal, highlight the positive impact of animal therapy on cancer patients.
Animal therapy is categorized into two forms: animal-assisted activities and animal-assisted therapies. The former includes casual interactions such as meet-and-greets, while the latter involves structured programs designed to achieve specific health outcomes. For example, horseback riding therapy is used to improve mobility in cancer patients.
Dr. Ann Berger, a physician and researcher at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, advocates for the therapeutic use of animals for cancer patients. She emphasizes the profound connection between mindfulness and animal interactions.
“The foundations of mindfulness include attention, intention, compassion, and awareness… All of those things are things that animals bring to the table. People kind of have to learn it. Animals do this innately,” Berger told the NIH.
Ongoing research continues to explore the deeper impact of animal therapy on patients battling illnesses, with the NIH actively participating in several studies.
“We’re trying to tap into the subjective quality of the relationship with the animal, part of the bond that people feel with animals, and how that translates into some of the health benefits,” said Dr. James Griffin, a child development expert at NIH.
WATCH: Richard Marks meets Bowie while undergoing chemotherapy.
Dogs, in particular, are commonly used as therapy animals for both children and adults. Studies show therapy dogs can help children with ADHD improve focus, while adult patients—especially those undergoing intense medical treatment—also experience significant benefits.
Cancer survivor Richard Marks, who battled bone marrow cancer, previously shared his experience with SurvivorNet, crediting his rescue dog, Bowie, for helping him cope during chemotherapy.
“When I’m doing chemotherapy, I’m waiting, and time goes by. Maybe I’m worrying about my numbers or how treatment is going. And all of a sudden, a cute little dog goes by, and then I’m not thinking about those things,” Marks told SurvivorNet.
“I’m only thinking about that dog,” he added.
Dave’s Cancer Journey
Coulier revealed he had been battling stage 3 non-Hodgkin lymphoma in late 2024. The actor was no stranger to the impact of a cancer diagnosis. His mom and sisters all were diagnosed with a form of cancer.
“I saw what those women in my family went through, and I thought to myself, ‘If I can be just 1/10th of a percent as strong as they were, then I’m going to be just fine,’” Coulier told US Magazine.
WATCH: For treatment, the type of lymphoma you have matters.
“Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is a big category,” Dr. Julie Vose, chief of hematology/oncology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, previously told SurvivorNet.
All non-Hodgkin lymphomas begin in white blood cells known as lymphocytes, which are part of your body’s immune system. From there, doctors separate these cancers into types depending on the specific kind of lymphocytes they grow from — B cells or T cells.
Knowing which of these you have can help steer you to the most appropriate treatment.
One way doctors divide up these cancers is based on how fast they’re likely to grow and spread. “The two main classifications I think of in terms of non-Hodgkin lymphoma are lymphomas that are more indolent and those that are more aggressive because those are treated very differently,” Dr. Jennifer Crombie, medical oncologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, told SurvivorNet.
Actor Dave Coulier arrives at the premiere of Disney’s ‘Planes’ presented by Target at the El Capitan Theatre on August 5, 2013, in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Angela Weiss/Getty Images)
Most non-Hodgkin lymphomas, about 85%, affect B-cells. These cells produce antibodies and proteins that react to foreign substances like viruses or bacteria in your body. The antibodies attach to another protein on the surface of the invading cells, called an antigen, to target and destroy them.
Coping With Treatment for Lymphoma and Its Side Effects
Lymphoma treatment largely depends on the nature of your specific diagnosis. For non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients, their cancer is more likely to spread randomly and be discovered in different groups of lymph nodes in the body. Hodgkin lymphoma cancers, on the other hand, are more likely to grow consistently from one group of lymph nodes directly to another.
WATCH: Understanding R-CHOP treatment.
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma treatment depends on the type, stage, and how fast it grows. People with aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma can expect to get a chemotherapy combination called R-CHOP, which is a drug cocktail consisting of chemotherapy drugs plus an antibody drug and a steroid to treat diffuse large B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
R-CHOP stands for:
R: Rituximab (Rituxan) is a monoclonal antibody that attaches to a specific protein called CD20, which sits on the surface of B cells. It targets cancerous cells and destroys them.
C: Cyclophosphamide is a type of chemotherapy drug
D: Doxorubicin hydrochloride (hydroxydaunomycin) is a type of chemotherapy drug
V: Vincristine sulfate (Oncovin) is a type of chemotherapy drug
P: Prednisone is a steroid which lowers inflammation
Patients receiving R-CHOP receive the drug in six cycles that are three weeks apart.
LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 18: (L-R) Actors Bob Saget, Dave Coulier, and John Stamos, winners of the Favorite Premium Comedy Series Award, “Fuller House,” pose in the press room during the People’s Choice Awards 2017 at Microsoft Theater on January 18, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
As noted earlier, Coulier received chemotherapy that spanned several months to treat non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
He lost his hair during treatment – a common chemotherapy side effect.
WATCH: Coping with hair loss during chemo.
Hair loss from chemotherapy typically begins three to four weeks after treatment starts and continues throughout the process. This occurs because chemotherapy targets rapidly dividing cells—including both cancer and hair cells. While regrowth usually begins four to six weeks after treatment ends, patients may notice changes in color and texture when their hair returns.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor If You Are Considering Pet Therapy
Will I be able to own a pet while on my cancer journey?
Should I avoid certain types of animals if pet therapy is an option?
Is there any special training involved in pet therapy?
What is the process of getting the dogs certified to be therapy dogs?
What kinds of outcomes have you seen the dogs have on other patients?
ANSWER QUESTIONS
