Our Pets Keep Us Healthy

There is nothing better than coming home after a stressful day and having a wagging tail or a furry purr waiting for you at the door.  You quickly feel a wave of calm and contentment as you realize the unconditional acceptance and love that your pets provide.  Pet parents and animal lovers everywhere know that being around an animal can lift your mood and make you feel better after a hard day.

Even more than just lifting your mood, pets are known to keep you healthy and balanced in your life, and research shows that your pet buddy is truly good for your physical and mental health.

Mental Health

SOCIAL INTERACTION

Pets help us avoid loneliness. Dogs, cats, horses, birds, fish, and other pets allow us to focus on them, not on ourselves. Dogs are especially good for interacting with others, since we need to go out and walk them. Having a cat or bird to talk to allows us to interact and care about another living creature.

Pets can help you with your social life by going out on walks and to the dog park.  People seem to be more inclined to talk if you have a dog with you and the topic of dogs is an excellent icebreaker for conversation starters. Having an interest in animals is a great way to connect with others in social situations and may even help you to overcome your issue with social awkwardness.  If you are not ready to meet people in person, using social media, online social networking sites like dogster.com, catster.com and others or joining Facebook groups that are focused specifically on pets and animals are a great way to converse and socialize.

STRESS AND DEPRESSION

Pets help relieve stress. The level of cortisol, a hormone associated with stress, is lowered when we pet animals. Simply being in the same room as your pet can have a calming effect.  A powerful neurochemical, oxytocin, is released when we look at our companion animal, which brings feelings of joy.  It’s also accompanied by a decrease in cortisol, a stress hormone.

Research shows that individuals suffering from AIDs who had pets were less likely to suffer from depression than those without pets.  It also shows that individuals with high blood pressure who adopted a cat or dog saw lower blood pressure in subsequent stressful situations.  In only 15 minutes with your furry pet your body undergoes physical changes that dramatically reduce stress and improve your mood.

Playing with pets helps to increase your levels of serotonin and dopamine, which improve your mood. This can help to reduce levels of harmful chemicals, like cortisol and norepinephrine, that are increased when you are stressed. These chemicals can increase your chances for illness.

Pets are lift our moods and are natural mood enhancers. The production of serotonin, an important chemical associated with well-being, is increased. Animals give something to focus on instead of the negative thoughts a depressed person is prone to have.

Gently petting an animal can help to relax and reduce stress levels in both the human and animal. It is believed that the pet and the owner’s heart rates slow down and blood pressure drops because of the release of oxytocin, a hormone linked to emotional bonding.

Companion pets can also give you a sense of meaning and boost your self-esteem, and they provide you with positive mental energy, by raising serotonin and dopamine levels while decreasing cortisol, just from playing or having a snuggle session.

There are so many benefits to a human-animal bond that exceeds what is observed on the outside. Pet parents are generally happier, not as lonely, and tend to be more trusting.

Physical Health

PHYSICAL FITNESS

A dog is the best companion for a stroll—even better than a friend.  A study at the University of Missouri  found that dog walkers improved their fitness more than people who walked with other people. A separate study found that dog owners walked 300 minutes a week on average, while people who didn’t own dogs walked just 168 minutes a week. And a study in the Journal of Physical Activity & Health found that not only did dog owners walk more than non-owners, they were also 54% more likely to meet the recommended levels of physical activity.

BONE HEALTH

Exercising with a pet can lower your chance of getting osteoporosis. Taking a dog for a walk, riding a horse, and even running around your house with your cat is a good form of exercise. Exercise strengthens bones and can help prevent osteoporosis.

CHOLESTEROL

Pets may lower your cholesterol.  If you have a dog, those daily walks are helping to keep your cholesterol in check.  A survey by the Australian National Heart Foundation revealed that people who own pets, especially men, tend to have lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

BLOOD PRESSURE

Pets can lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart problems.

Owning a pet can lower your blood pressure. Preliminary studies conducted by a research team documented that interacting with dogs help us psychologically and physiologically.

It’s a win-win situation – petting your pooch or kitty brings down blood pressure while pleasing your pet. Researchers at the State University of New York at Buffalo discovered that in people already taking medication for hypertension, their blood pressure response to stress was cut by half if they owned a cat or dog.

HEART HEALTH

Pets reduce your cardiovascular disease risk.  According to the American Heart Association, there is a link between having a pet around, especially dogs, with a reduced risk for heart disease and greater longevity. Findings from a study by the National Institute of Health, with heart-related studies on people who have pets, showed that pet owners had decreased blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels which minimizes risk of a heart attack in the future.

PETS CAN HELP CHILDREN WITH AUTISM AND ADHD

It is common among children with autism to have sensory issues that can make interacting with people a challenge. Since animals tend to have the magical ability to easily hold the attention of children with autism, animals are recruited to assist with life changing activities. A part of sensory integration activities helps children get used to the way something feels against their skin, like the feel of a horse or the coat of a dog, which can provide a calming sensation.  

Children with ADHD can benefit from working with and even adopting a companion pet (with permission and supervision of a parent). Some benefits include: a great way for both pet and child to release energy, being given the task of keeping a pet care schedule helps a child with ADHD to be responsible, and the bond between a companion pet and a child is so strong and loving that children with ADHD learn about self-esteem.

PREVENTING ALLERGIES & ASTHMA IN CHILDREN

Children who grow up with furred animals have a decreased chance of developing allergies or asthma, and research continues to prove this fact. In a study published in Clinical & Experimental Allergy, children who were exposed to pets before they were six months old were less likely to develop allergic diseases, hay fever, and eczema as they got older.

A pediatrician at the University of Wisconsin-Madison said that “If a dog lived in the home, infants were less likely to show evidence of pet allergies — 19% vs. 33%. They also were less likely to have eczema, a common allergy skin condition that causes red patches and itching. In addition, they had higher levels of some immune system chemicals — a sign of stronger immune system activation.” In their first year of life, babies who are exposed to dogs in the household are more likely not to have allergies, asthma, and fewer upper respiratory infections.  The theory is that if exposed at an early age to dander and allergen, we may be less reactive to them over time.

Research also shows that infants at risk for developing asthma were much less likely to do so if they were raised in a home with cats, unless their mother had a cat allergy, then they were far more likely.

And, children who grow up around farm animals, dogs, or cats typically have stronger immune systems and a reduced risk of developing asthma or eczema.

As a final note, do your homework before adding a pet to your household. It is important to consider your lifestyle, the cost of pet ownership, and the reasons you want a pet. Talk to pet owners, read about pet breeds, and please do visit your local animal shelter. If you want a specific breed, you can find a breed rescue online.