Watching your pet enjoy the simple things in life helps you relax and be more mindful overall. Photo by AAS Pups. You fall in love with a puppy or pick out the perfect aquarium fish and bring it home to be part of your life. Even though you discover being a pet parent has its challenges, you love caring for your pets and find it enriching and rewarding. But did you know it can also be therapeutic?
There’s much evidence, both anecdotal and through various studies, that show pet ownership brings a variety of health advantages that those without pets don’t experience. Read on to discover three therapeutic benefits to being a pet parent.
There’s much evidence, both anecdotal and through various studies, that show pet ownership brings a variety of health advantages that those without pets don’t experience. Read on to discover three therapeutic benefits to being a pet parent.
The routine of caring for pets helps alleviate depression, as does looking at their adorable faces. Photo by Dan Derrett. Benefit #1: Pets reduce your stress. It turns out that going to happy hour or the gym isn’t the only way to destress after work. Caring for, playing with and petting companion animals eases anxiety and promotes relaxation. It’s not just the emotional comfort of having the unconditional love and affection of a furry, feathered or scaly companion that relaxes us -- there’s physical components, too. Studies have found that playing with pets increases dopamine and serotonin, chemicals in the brain that calm and relax. And exercising with your pets, such as walking the dog or playing chase with a cat, increases endorphins to better relax you as well.
Being a pet parent can also teach you mindfulness. Companion animals are excellent examples of being present and finding joy in the simple things. Watch your pets for a while. They don’t worry about deadlines or stress about tomorrow. Your cat can bask in the joy of sunlight coming through the window for hours at a time, and your dog can take enormous pleasure in playing with a ball till you have to pry it away from him. Taking a cue from your pets to enjoy the moment helps you be more mindful in yours, lowering your blood pressure and overall stress.
Benefit #2: Pets improve your health. “Early to bed and early to rise keeps a man healthy, wealthy and wise,” Benjamin Franklin said. And he was right. But pet ownership keeps you healthy, too--both physically and emotionally. There’s evidence that pet owners have lower instances of allergies and stronger immunity overall. In fact, people 65 years and older with pets go to the doctor 30% less than those without. And caring for pets makes you heart healthy, too. Indicators of heart disease (higher cholesterol or triglyceride levels in the blood) are found much less frequently in those with pets than those without.
Having pets in your life makes your heart happier as well. Pets give you a sense of connectedness and provide affection that hold isolation at bay and keep us mentally and emotionally happy. I mean, how can you not smile when looking at their cute faces? And when you do, the so-called “love hormone”, oxytocin, is released into your blood, increasing that heart happiness even more. And studies have also shown that being a pet parent alleviates depression by providing the structure of a routine to help you keep moving forward.
Being a pet parent can also teach you mindfulness. Companion animals are excellent examples of being present and finding joy in the simple things. Watch your pets for a while. They don’t worry about deadlines or stress about tomorrow. Your cat can bask in the joy of sunlight coming through the window for hours at a time, and your dog can take enormous pleasure in playing with a ball till you have to pry it away from him. Taking a cue from your pets to enjoy the moment helps you be more mindful in yours, lowering your blood pressure and overall stress.
Benefit #2: Pets improve your health. “Early to bed and early to rise keeps a man healthy, wealthy and wise,” Benjamin Franklin said. And he was right. But pet ownership keeps you healthy, too--both physically and emotionally. There’s evidence that pet owners have lower instances of allergies and stronger immunity overall. In fact, people 65 years and older with pets go to the doctor 30% less than those without. And caring for pets makes you heart healthy, too. Indicators of heart disease (higher cholesterol or triglyceride levels in the blood) are found much less frequently in those with pets than those without.
Having pets in your life makes your heart happier as well. Pets give you a sense of connectedness and provide affection that hold isolation at bay and keep us mentally and emotionally happy. I mean, how can you not smile when looking at their cute faces? And when you do, the so-called “love hormone”, oxytocin, is released into your blood, increasing that heart happiness even more. And studies have also shown that being a pet parent alleviates depression by providing the structure of a routine to help you keep moving forward.
Having a pet can be a great icebreaker and vehicle to meet like minded people. Photo by Baltimore RecNParks. Benefit #3: Pets improve your social life.
In addition to promoting relaxation and good health, pets can also help enhance your social life. Tending pets helps you develop essential skills for social connection, such as compassion and empathy. Even if you consider yourself to be shy, having pets can increase your self confidence to get out into the world, making you take more chances to connect to other humans. In fact, studies have shown that pet owners are 60% more likely to get to know neighbors than those without pets.
Having your pet with you when you’re out and about gives you an instant icebreaker, as the people you meet ask about him/her. But your pet doesn’t have to be with you to help you make social connections. Mentioning your guinea pig or parrot in a conversation with people invites them to them talk about their pets or other interests, giving you common ground to make friends and connections. You can also join clubs, online discussion groups or pet play date groups to meet likeminded people and expand your social circle--as well as your pet’s.
With all of these therapeutic benefits to pet ownership, it’s no wonder pet parents’ lives are so enriched by their animal companions. If you’re considering becoming a pet owner, check out local rescue organizations and shelters to adopt and give an animal a forever home. Your heart, health and social life will be better for it!
Sources:
Health Benefits of Dogs and Cats
Pets Can Help Their Humans Create Friendships, Find Social Support
Pets for Depression
Vet Talk: Health Benefits of Pet Ownership
In addition to promoting relaxation and good health, pets can also help enhance your social life. Tending pets helps you develop essential skills for social connection, such as compassion and empathy. Even if you consider yourself to be shy, having pets can increase your self confidence to get out into the world, making you take more chances to connect to other humans. In fact, studies have shown that pet owners are 60% more likely to get to know neighbors than those without pets.
Having your pet with you when you’re out and about gives you an instant icebreaker, as the people you meet ask about him/her. But your pet doesn’t have to be with you to help you make social connections. Mentioning your guinea pig or parrot in a conversation with people invites them to them talk about their pets or other interests, giving you common ground to make friends and connections. You can also join clubs, online discussion groups or pet play date groups to meet likeminded people and expand your social circle--as well as your pet’s.
With all of these therapeutic benefits to pet ownership, it’s no wonder pet parents’ lives are so enriched by their animal companions. If you’re considering becoming a pet owner, check out local rescue organizations and shelters to adopt and give an animal a forever home. Your heart, health and social life will be better for it!
Sources:
Health Benefits of Dogs and Cats
Pets Can Help Their Humans Create Friendships, Find Social Support
Pets for Depression
Vet Talk: Health Benefits of Pet Ownership
 Jennafer Martin is a professional writer and pet psychic, helping humans and animals better understand one another. Read articles on the emotional lives of pets at PetInsightsByJennafer.com. |
RSS Feed