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A Dog's Love Is Good for Your Health, Study Suggests. They say canines are humankind's best friend, but puppy affection could be more beneficial to our quality of life than previously considered. The study, published in the journal 'PLOS One,' researched pain levels among more than 200 emergency room patients. While some participants received no intervention for their pain upon questioning, others were allowed time with a therapy dog after rating their pain and then rated their pain again. The study found that those who spent time with the dog consistently said they were experiencing less pain. As a hospital visit is an often harrowing experience, experts say they see great potential in employing the help of service dogs to aid patients' comfort levels. "The presence of a therapy dog not only has the benefits of supporting the patient's experience, but I think it also serves as a comfort to the care providers.", Mike Macfadden, nurse practitioner, via CNN. Experts say they aren't surprised that unwavering love and support from a canine would correlate to experiencing lower pain levels. "The things that you can gain from pets and some of the positive emotions that could be elicited ... I think could have an impact on the pain experience itself.", Michelle Gagnon, assistant professor of psychology and health studies at the University of Saskatchewan, via CNN. THIS VIDEO MUST NOT BE EDITED FOR LENGTH TO COMBINE WITH OTHER CONTENT