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　　Traditionally, service dogs have been used to guide the blind. But recently, they have emerged as effective therapy animals, helping people to reach specific rehabilitation or educational goals. It has been found that dogs can assist stroke victims, children with learning disabilities, and people with epilepsy.

　　Seizure-alert dogs have the uncanny ability to warn people with epilepsy of oncoming attacks anywhere from three minutes to twelve hours before a seizure2 occurs. They paw, bark or whine allowing their owners the opportunity to move to a safe place or call for assistance. Studies have shown that dogs’noses can detect scents as faint as 500 parts per trillion, making it possible that dogs sense a seizure-indicating pheromone3 prior to an attack.

　　As dogs can assist with physiological disorders, so also can they assist in drawing out those who have recededsintostheir minds. The elderly, who have become withdrawn due to stroke or age-related dementia,4 often respond positively to the unconditional affection that dogs offer. Studies have shown that visits with therapy dogs can lower blood pressure and heart rate. As we unravel this mysterious effect, dogs will undoubtedly come to play new roles in our lives.

　　传统上，狗被用作导盲犬来为人类服务，不过近来它们又成为疗效很不错的理疗师，帮助人们达到康复或教育的目的；因为最近发现狗对中风病人、学习有障碍的小孩和癫痫病人有帮助。

　　疾病警示犬有这样的神奇本领，可以在癫痫病人即将发作前3分钟到12小时之间发出预警。它们会用爪子扒、发出吠叫或哀鸣声，以便让狗主人有机会事先转移到安全的场所或寻求帮助。研究表明，狗鼻子能嗅出微弱到兆分之五百程度的味道，所以它能闻出显示癫痫即将发作的信息素。

　　如同狗能帮助身体有疾病的人一样，它们也能帮助心智退化的人恢复健康。由于中风或老年痴呆症而导致生活行为退化的老年人，对于狗提供的无条件的情感常常能作出积极的回应。研究显示，使用理疗狗可以让他们的血压和心跳次数降低。当我们解开这些神秘疗效的谜底后，毫无疑问，狗将在我们的生活中扮演新的角色。