The Extraordinary Health Benefits of Owning a Pet
Although the general preconception is that pets are fortunate to live in a loving household, many overlook the benefits they have for pet owners. Taking care of your animal has been described as therapeutic, even providing numerous health benefits.
But is it true? Let’s delve deeper into how regularly bonding with your pet can significantly boost your overall physical and mental health.
Pets Know Us Better Than We Think
It’s pretty apparent to even non-owners that pets bring a tonne of enthusiasm and joy to a household. From playing fetch to snuggling up with your dog on the sofa, it’s safe to assume that animals contribute a great deal to making us feel good. However, some undermine these benefits, and it’s only now with emerging scientific data on human-animal bonding that we can confirm it’s validity.
Domesticated animals have evolved not only to co-exist with humans but to adapt to human emotion. According to a new study report, cats change how they sound towards humans when seeking food. When purring, they increase their frequency to mimic a baby’s cries. As such, we’re more likely to give in to their demands.
In contrast, dogs can recognize when a person is sad, despite not understanding what sadness is. Studies show dogs are highly attuned to emotions, providing comfort when you’re feeling down.
How Human-Pet Interaction Helps Mental Wellbeing
As pets can read human emotion changes, they instinctively become extra attentive during bad times. Dogs, mainly, can alleviate loneliness and provide security. And while we aren’t fluent in their canine tongue, it’s easy to recognize they have good intentions.
The therapeutic effect of pet interaction is among one of the most significant advantages of having one. Humans are hardwired to engage in physical contact, making touching an essential need. Touch deprivation can have long-lasting effects on your emotional well-being, as even a gentle touch can calm bodily functions like your heart rate.
Human-pet interaction like snuggling, petting, or playing can help reduce cortisol levels and lower blood pressure. According to WebMD, owning a pet even lessens anxiety bursts in Alzheimer’s patients and prevents depression in AID Carriers.
Physical Benefits
Aside from the mental boost pets give, their active lifestyles can encourage owners to adopt similar habits. From frantically moving a toy wand for your cat to pounce on to running with your dog, owners are forced to move in some capacity.
Although exercise will vary depending on your pet, increasing mobility has a world of benefits. Regularly walking with your dog can decrease blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels, while boosting cardiovascular health. Sure, you’re probably not to participate in a marathon anytime soon, but having a pet points you in the right direction.
Going outdoors more frequently also increases the likelihood of socializing, as pet owners typically like to chat with each other. Pet owners can also mix with others in training sessions, vet clinics, training classes, and clubs.
Choosing the Right Pets For Your Health
While your pet’s outdoor activity is expected, keeping a mindful eye on harmful germs could prevent household infection. Zoonotic Diseases such as Blastomycosis, Psittacosis, Trichinosis, and Cat Scratch Disease are transmittable from pets to humans.
Young children, pregnant women, or anyone with a weakened immune system are at risk from zoonotic diseases. When choosing a pet, consider these points to ensure a healthy household:
- Due to germ risks, children five years of age and younger must avoid caring for pet reptiles.
- Pregnant women should refrain from having a cat at home. Cat parasites can cause toxoplasmosis, leading to babies with congenital disabilities.
- Pregnant women should also avoid having pet rodents indoors, potentially causing babies to have lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus.
If you suspect your pet is infected, it’s highly recommended to visit your veterinarian to diagnose their condition. Many pet owners opt for pet insurance from trusted insurers like bivvy.com to save on medical care costs. If you lack the immediate funds to cover for emergency treatment, check out Bivvy for an accident-illness plan.
Research Indicates Animals Can Assist in Children Development
Children with autism spectrum disorder showed calmer demeanors while engaging with guinea pigs at school. During a supervised 10 minute session, children felt less anxiety in class when playing. Furthermore, they also displayed better social skills with their school peers, suggesting that a guinea pig’s unconditional affection may have been of influence.
Research has also suggested that dogs can positively impact children in a class. In one study, children with ADHD showed better focus and greater socialization skills when an animal was present. The test involved two ADHD children groups to go into therapy sessions for 12 weeks. The first group spent 30 minutes reading to a dog. The second group, meanwhile, read to puppets which only resembled dogs. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the first group of children showed a greater willingness to cooperate and volunteer while displaying less bad behavior.