Auckland Hospital is researching a brand-new, four-legged solution for managing acute pain in patients.
Gus the labrador is the first comfort dog to be trialled in the hospital's acute pain service, and early results are positive.
The two-year-old puppy is putting the 'lab' in labrador.
"I've had a bit of a sad morning, so this has made me feel so much better," patient Aleesha Stone told Newshub.
Gus belongs to consultant anaesthetist Lora Pencheva.
After seeing therapy pets working wonders elsewhere in the hospital, Pencheva thought she'd train her dog up to help patients suffering from acute pain - and it's paid off.
"We finally managed to get him approved to come and be a pain dog," Pencheva said.
Gus is a bit of a maverick at the hospital. He's their first pet therapy dog in their acute pain service, and if he plays his cards right, it could become a fully-fledged programme.
Gus now has his own hospital ID, and comes to visit the acute pain patients in the surgical and orthopaedic wards, once a month. It's fair to say he's been a hit.
"They've just loved the experience of having an animal coming into hospital," general surgery and trauma nurse educator Adam Drake said.
"Not just for patients, but for the staff as well."
And the puppy's work isn't just a bit of fun.
Early research shows benefits include lowering blood pressure, improving cardiovascular health, lowering depression and most importantly, lowering the pain scores.
"There's enough science literature outside to suggest that actually this therapy is really quite effective," Pencheva explained.
If the programme does get rolled out further there's a chance he could soon be joined by more furry friends.
"We're just at the very beginning of research and we can do so much more," she said.
"I mean we can develop a whole new pathway that we are virtually just tapping into now."
The programme seems to be just scratching the surface.
