French poet Anatole France once spoke of the importance of pets – having a pet was to awaken a part of your soul.
Whether you’ve owned a pet in the past or are thinking of adopting one, there are psychological and physical benefits to having a pet. For those with children, welcoming a furry friend home can be a rite of passage. And with a variety of animals to love, there’s a pet for every family structure.
Yes, pets are a big responsibility, which makes some reluctant to take the plunge. For those on the fence, here’s how animals can enrich your life. For longtime pet parents, these amazing benefits can serve as a reminder to give your furry friend that little bit of extra love.
Pets get you moving
Anyone lucky enough to be able to adopt a pet can attest to the cardiovascular benefits of having a pet.
For dog owners especially, having a pet can add numerous long-term benefits to their health. The daily exercise dogs require increases our overall cardiovascular health. As our lifestyles become more sedentary, it becomes easy to make excuses not to exercise.
Having a dog throws all those excuses out the window. Dogs are powerful motivators. At the minimum, they require a daily walk and outside time to do their personal business. Dogs also encourage daily playtime. This affords owners time unwind and detach from the demands of a hectic schedule.
Whether it’s playing indoors with all of your dog accessories or participating in daily walks with your pooch, a four-legged friend may be what you need to lower your risk of cardiovascular disease and maintain your health.
Bolster immunity
Studies done by researchers for the Pediatrics journal have found that having a furry friend at home can make babies healthier. Children who grow up in households with a pet are less likely to get sick. Likewise, babies who are exposed to pet allergens growing up have lower risks of allergies and childhood asthma.
Adults will also find that having a pet will bolster their immune system too. Certain dogs have even been trained to be “early warning” indicators to detect certain illnesses or diseases. Dogs have been known to sniff out prostate cancer with 90% certainty.
Those with diabetes can benefit from a dog trained to help with hypoglycemia monitoring. Dogs are able to notify owners with significant accuracy when their blood sugar levels spike too high or dip too low. While the exact science regarding this is unclear, with researchers believing it has to do with odor cues, this can lead to fewer unconscious episodes and better health management.
Reduce stress
For some, stress can lead to depression, increased anxiety, fatigue, and increases the risks of heart disease or stroke. There are many contributing factors to increased levels of stress. From job stresses such as longer commutes and long or irregular hours to home stresses like family dynamics.
Pet owners may have always known that having a pet reduces stress, but now scientific evidence supports it. The University of Pennsylvania and a Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine study supports the notion that pets have tremendous psychological benefits to our health.
Both studies found that when a person physically interacts with a pet, muscle tension relaxed, heart rate and blood pressure lowered, and breathing became more regular. Stress-related hormones also diminished. Both studies also found that these positive effects worked almost immediately. In fact, these benefits occurred within less than 30 minutes after pleasantly interacting with a pet.
Increase social interactions
Pets are known to increase physical activity, but did you know they also increase social interaction? A fringe benefit of having a pet is that they make the perfect social lubricant.
They’re effective topics of conversation. Studies have shown that when a pet is present in assisted living facilities, residents interacted more with each other. Those suffering from Alzheimer disease showed an increase in socialization when a pet was present.
Dog owners, in particular, will find that walking with their pet helps create social cues for conversation. Dog owners are often viewed as more trustworthy and many will routinely meet people who want to engage with their furry friend.
Dogs aren’t the only pets to increase social interaction. A study by PLOS ONE found that pets of all kinds, including snakes and rabbits, can serve as catalysts for the formation of friendships.
Keep us present
Pets are phenomenal teachers. They serve as constant reminders to be present and enjoy every moment.
Companion animals don’t have ulterior motives, with perhaps the exception of cats who keep affection at arm’s length. For many pets, the concept of time does not exist. There is only the present, making what we do in the present moment important.
Pets offer unconditional love. They display affection and gratitude when they get to play and cuddle with us. Scientists in California have confirmed that domesticated animals are really capable of love. What’s more, neurochemical research indicates that pets release oxytocin in intimate circumstances.
The psychological and physical benefits of having a pet are evident. But please note, having a pet is a lot of responsibility. Animal companions are friends for life and pet ownership can play a significant role in your personal development.
If you are willing to invite a pet home to become a part of your family, you’ll find immeasurable love and support waiting for you at the end of every day.
AUTHOR BIO
Farah Al-Khojai is the Managing Partner of Pet’s Delight. A passionate entrepreneur, Farah holds a Bsc in Government from the London School of Economics. She is always on the lookout for new opportunities to develop and grow the pet and equestrian retail and wholesale market in the UAE and beyond, and is proud to be at the helm of the first and the largest pet care provider in the market representing world-class brands including Origen, Applaws, Hunter, Savic, Flamingo, Ruffwear and Rogz.