In his life with us, he had to be force-fed several times for three to four days as he would refuse to eat. October 12, 2018 Since the beginning of time, dogs have been humans’ best friends. Andrea F. Polard, Psy.D., is the author of A Unified Theory of Happiness. Although our pets cannot speak back to us in a language we understand, they know how to show love. It is good to have non-judgmental, reliable companions in life. Energetic, playful and silly, dogs are loyal companions who completely change the daily routines of the people who open up their lives and homes to them. Therapy dogs are taken for comfort to clinics; horses are ridden for sensitivity training; cats—when in the mood—are cuddled with; birds are taught words and crazy dance moves. The fact that your cat is purring while you're doing this is an additional stress reducer. These different kinds of benefits from owning a pet do not only come from having a dog or cat. Many people are finding that their pets are helping to reduce anxiety and depression, and give them hope. For me and millions more, having a pet brings a circle of love into our lives -- they give affection, we give it back and all of us are the better for it. 1. Beneficial for kids and older people. He was worth every tear. Health benefits. Just who is rescuing whom here? The Psychological and Physical Benefits of Having a Pet Pets improve our health and wellbeing. Despite the fact we're convinced of the blessings our fur babies bring to our lives, science has yet to definitively prove that pets are good for our health. Rats are easier to travel with Owning a pet is no easy feat, but that hasn't stopped Americans from adopting dogs and cats at staggering rates. The physical benefits that pets provide have an added bonus: when you feel good on the outside, you tend to feel good on the inside, too! However little and simple the “piggy” was, the two had a dynamically changing, complex relationship with an individualized, ritualized, personal greeting. People going through difficult times of grief or mourning report that talking to their pet helps work out their feelings since it is easier to … 5 Health Benefits of Having a Pet 5 Health Benefits of Having a Pet. Read on for 10 science-backed benefits of having a dog. Here are some of the benefits of having a pet for your child. We tend to become strong when we help others and assume responsibility. This article lists the main benefits, including companionship, entertainment, kitten cuteness, low maintenance, and pest control. The word "Insider". As felt especially during COVID-19, we suffer when we are isolated. It’s Trying to Save Us. A new meta-analysis of 17 academic papers finds evidence that having a pet benefits people with mental health problems. All Rights Reserved. Everyone knows that cats are aloof, dogs are loyal and goldfish are supposed to have an 8 second memory (they don’t. The benefits go beyond just cats and dogs; rabbits, birds, and even fish have plenty to offer in terms of physical, cognitive, and emotional health. I was raised in kids’ pet heaven with cats, dogs, hamsters, and many more. “I Don’t Allow Men I Sleep with to Kiss Me". I adopted him from a pound where he had been dropped off by a woman who could no longer take care of him. Participants who owned dogs had increased levels of the happy hormone oxytocin between one … My sister confided in me that she thinks of him every day, calling him lovingly “my little man,” which elicited a shy smile on her face. The best part was that he whistled back when I whistled in the house. About two-thirds say their pets help them stay physically active and stick to a routine. Dreams have been described as dress rehearsals for real life, opportunities to gratify wishes, and a form of nocturnal therapy. Getting to know not only how to care for your pet, but the things that make it unique as an intelligent creature can be really interesting, fun and rewarding. I have no doubt about that.". For many people, feeling our Oneness is easiest with living beings: Our pets may just help us slip into total awareness. Studies have shown that people walking a dog have far more positive encounters with others than those out walking alone, with the pet often providing a topic of conversation 4. “Pets give us love, joy, laughter, camaraderie. Studies find health benefits for owners of all kinds of pets, including birds, hamsters, gerbils, fish, snakes ... and even bugs. Relieves Stress. Those who have pets including children or adolescents have been shown to have … As adults take on the bigger tasks, children can also be tasked with the responsibility of feeding their pets. While people with pets often experience the greatest health benefits, a pet doesn’t necessarily have to be a dog or a cat. Still, while "non-randomized studies cannot 'prove' that adopting or owning a dog directly leads to reduced mortality, these robust findings are certainly at least suggestive of this," Dr. Glenn Levine, chair of the writing group of the American Heart Association's scientific statement on pet ownership, told CNN in a previous interview. But for people who are allergic to certain animals, having pets in the home can do more harm than good. Studies have shown there are many benefits to owning a pet. Later on, when your child starts school, your pet can even boost her academic skills. When I came to give him basil, he ran down the ramp, stood on his hind legs, and ate with delight…I know I am projecting all kinds of feelings into Thymo, but he knew me. We communicated, based on my walking style and my whistle.”, “Would you say that he meant so much to you because he recognized you?”. Lynda Hamblen says: December 21, 2020 at 10:39 pm Awesome blog thanks for sharing! Social interaction is one of those more obvious health benefits own owning a pet. Therapeutic benefits: Having a cat can release oxytocin in your body, the hormone known for inducing feelings of love and trust. Social connections are key to a. Pets offer the opportunity for different generations to connect, easing the way toward deeper communications, fostering healthy bonding and reducing loneliness. Go Wild: Eat Fat, Run Free, Be Social, and Fellow Evolution’s Other Rules for Total Health, p. 147. Some pets communicate very little and do not care about us specifically. No story describes this benefit better than Yann Martel’s Life of Pi, which was also made into a feature film. The study has been criticized for not controlling for other diseases, social economic status and other factors that might confound the results. Besides having become socially isolated, many of us experience existential dread. We’ve Got Depression All Wrong. In the beginning, it was impossible to hold him—guinea pigs are naturally flight animals. They need some time to train and adapt to the environment. One day, Mueller says, it might be possible to 'prescribe' a dog for a young active child, a troubled adolescent or cardiovascular patient and know -- as much as science can ever know -- what the outcome is likely to be for their health. In addition to companionship, pets can provide owners with numerous other health benefits, both psychological and physical. Pets encourage us to have a daily routine and to get enough sleep. Moreover, autism children can also feel the calming sensation when they have a cat, according to a study. Finally, exotic pets have very different personalities and habits. It was his last meal.”. No more whistles. Pets offer moral support and companionship and have a life-changing impact on a person’s well-being and health. Pets boost self-esteem. © 2020 Andrea F. Polard, PsyD. Until then, fellow pet lovers, I intend to go back to what I intuitively know: my pets are some of the most loving "people" in my life, and that, if nothing else, makes them good for me. Interactive learning is always an extremely valuable way to help kids understand new concepts. In fact, when it comes to pet ownership, there are a number of proven health benefits for people, including physical, mental and emotional improvements, from enhancing social skills to decreasing a person's risk of heart attack. One underlying mechanism for the positive impact from social and physical contact lies within the dopaminergic pathway in the brain. Maybe most important, pets make us…, 5. We don't know those things.". He wanted me to feed him, and I knew his favorite food: basil. Thank you for sharing your post about 8 Health benefits of having a pet. It's likely that the health benefits of dog ownership have to do with the amount of exercise needed to keep the furry friends healthy -- studies show dog owners can get 30 minutes more exercise a day than people who don't own dogs. \"No matter what you do or say, your dog or cat accepts you and is attached to you,\" sa… When we feel our interconnectedness with our pets, we might transcend the concrete relationship and experience something more encompassing, which lies in the essence of all things and all beings. Providing pet therapy to children undergoing cancer is a common practice. Today, many families love their pets and consider their pets to be members of their own families. Pets alarm us when strangers approach or situations change. "People who have pets are less harried; there's more laughter in their life," says Dr. Becker. "I have a list of 10 health benefits [that] studies have shown pet owners have," said psychologist Harold Herzog, a pet-loving professor at Western Carolina University who has long studied the human-animal connection. “Thymo was a survivor. There is nothing like going for a walk or run with a dog, as Ratey and Manning describe so well in their book, Go Wild.2 Some people walk with their cats, rabbits, and birds. His name was Thymo. Low blood sugar detection: Maybe we'll finally have data to put behind the "cat vs. dog" debate, or just how and why a bird, fish, lizard or gerbil might soothe our stress and provide companionship. He eyes watered, and she sighed nodding, “When he was sick again and could not clean himself, I bathed him. Three weeks ago, my adult sister’s guinea pig died. Now, that's a different story. Was I to judge her for her sentiment as our mother would have? There are a few behavioral signs to tell how they really feel. But if you can handle the responsibility, I truly understand why you want to cohabit with one. Benefits of Owning A Dog. Pets are one of the dearest companions we could have. Dogs make us feel less alone. Pets Improve Your Mood. People who have a fish or a hamster can have the same benefits. But, dogs can be a lot to handle, with messes, baths and all that walking. Although owning a pet cat does come with responsibilities and can present certain challenges (expensive veterinary bills, for example), there are also many positives to having a furry feline friend. Not everybody ought to adopt an animal –we must be able to take care of the creature once COVID-19 is over. Having a pet allows for great memories and as a combination of the above benefits, makes children happier overall. Having a pet helps us stay more active and get outside Sometimes finding the time to walk the dog or clean the litter box can seem difficult to fit into a busy schedule. Still, it has to get done, and those who have pets benefit from more exercise than the average person. Averaged out, a cool third of American families own pets. The following are four benefits in which pets can provide stress relief. 6. In fact, according to the American Veterinary Medical Foundation, approximately 36.5 percent and 30.4 percent of households in the United States have canine and feline furry family members, respectively. His new abscess was too much for him. Horse therapy is a proven method of therapy for children with autism, physical disabilities and mental and behavioral problems. Do Pets Really Reduce Healthcare Costs? \"We do best medically and emotionally when we feel securely attached to another, because we're mammals and that's the way we've evolved,\" says Dr. Fricchione. While pets may bring a wide range of health benefits, an animal may not work for everyone. Studies have shown that: Pet owners are less likely to suffer from depression than those without pets. "There's some research that shows having a pet with you during an anxious event could help reduce the stress of that event," she said. Pet owners certainly believe their pets provide emotional support, especially during times of stress, Mueller said, and thankfully science appears to back that up. Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/pets-and-their-people/201802/do-pets-really-reduce-healthcare-costs. We need intimacy. The flipside is that feeling recognized and connected makes us feel most engaged and happy in life. Updated 0236 GMT (1036 HKT) February 21, 2020. One of the biggest benefits of having pets is often unexpected, even for parents who grew up around animals: They can help families grow stronger and closer. Children who grow up around farm animals, dogs or cats typically have stronger immune systems and a reduced risk of developing eczema. That's right. But for people who are allergic to certain animals, having pets in the home can do more harm than good. There is so much to love! "A lot of us who have pets think, 'Oh, they must be sort of uniformly good for us', said Megan Mueller, co-director of the Tufts Institute for Human-Animal Interaction and proud owner of a dog and guinea pig. I love dogs and am a dog lover. Parents report children are happier, more social and more compliant with treatment after a visit with a furry friend. Pets foster connections that can continue as the child grows, such as through the use of social media. Having a pet has both advantages and disadvantages. This infographic is a collection of research and quotes that celebrate the importance of pets. Some pets even have their own Facebook pages. Exposing a child to animals during the first six months of life is. Here my sister stopped. Another pet benefit is that we get to…, 2. A new theory aims to make sense of it all. "Higher survival rates, fewer heart attacks, less loneliness, better blood pressure, better psychological well-being, lower rates of depression and stress levels, fewer doctor visits, increased self esteem, better sleep and more physical activity," are just some of the recorded benefits of pet ownership, Herzog said. They Provide Social Support. Pets have benefits but they are up and foremost beings who live for the sake of living their own lives. The responsibility for the care and feeding of pets cannot lie entirely with either the parents or the children. Go Wild: Eat Fat, Run Free, Be Social, and Fellow Evolution’s Other Rules for Total Health and Well-Being. Posted Oct 26, 2020 Having your own dog could give you even more benefits. Probably because they have a four-legged (or two-legged) creature to love who loves them right back, and a friend to talk to and play with when no one else is around. Need more proof than the gleeful smile on this child's face? Dogs can be there for you even when people can’t. ... Having a dog might increase your social network by getting you out to the dog park or into town‚Äîand the health benefits of a stable circle of friends is well known. Recent studies suggest that early exposure to pets may help protect young children from developing allergies and asthma. The survey also focused on challenges, benefits, and reasons for not having or having pets. During their own childhood, they had almost starved to death and seen horrific suffering due to the horrors of World War II. The history of mankind's initial connection with domesticated animals has long been debated, but a discovery in Israel of a man buried with his arms around a wolf-pup dating back 12,000 years, may be evidence of just how long ago humans discovered the benefits of having pets. But the same can't yet be said about depression. A pet is certainly a great friend. Not only did the pets cost them money and time, they felt that investing feelings into animals was frivolous, if not immoral. Feel recognized. She was special to him as he was special to her. We all know that having a pet involves time and responsibility, because it practically becomes an important member of the family. Why? Just make sure that your pet actually enjoys exercising with you. So even though you might have to be cautious with pets around babies to make sure the pets don’t become aggressive with them, having those pets around could benefit your child in the long run. I felt my sister’s pain. Another research method being used, said Mueller, are longitudinal studies, in which huge numbers of people are followed over long periods of time. They felt part of our family. Caring for an animal can do wonders for your self-esteem. Instead, I became curious about what exactly caused her to feel so much for such a small, simple creature. One underlying mechanism for the positive impact from social and physical contact lies within the dopaminergic pathway in the brain. Pet adoption rates have spiked during the coronavirus pandemic. In the end, he did not run down the ramp. One of the biggest benefits of having pets is often unexpected, even for parents who grew up around animals: They can help families grow stronger and closer. It is your duty to keep them safe and happy. "Is it the dog or is it the behaviors?" (To learn more about flow, please refer to Part I in “A Unified Theory of Happiness.”) There is so much to receive from pets, namely…, 4. However, the American Heart Association also says that pet ownership is a caring commitment that comes with certain financial costs and responsibilities, so "the primary purpose of adopting, rescuing, or purchasing a pet" should not be to reduce cardiovascular risk. Of course these cardio benefits are just for dogs -- not cats, horses, gerbils and the like. I have said many times that “loneliness is a killer” in my blog posts (see "10 Tips that Can Help You Past Loneliness"). While precise health benefits of having pets are still being researched1, there is no question that millions of us take great pleasure in cohabitating with them. "I always say that it's not a great question: 'Are our pets good for us? A new. Nearly 9 in 10 owners say that pets help them enjoy life and feel loved, while nearly 8 in 10 say that pets help reduce stress. Animals, particularly dogs, are often used to help individuals manage high stress levels. Pets can help manage loneliness and depression by giving us companionship. We talked about some health benefits that pets could have for the development of the immune system in children. Research also indicates that simply interacting with a dog can provide heart benefits. Pets bring joy to our lives (yes, dog lovers -- even cats). The most obvious benefits of pet ownership are love and companionship. However, did you know that there are also benefits to having a pet? Having a pet can add a whole other dimension to your family, giving your kids something to play with, something to care for, and something to love. Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Guinea pigs are very clean animals, so I made sure he felt good. Pet ownership provides several physiological, social and psychological benefits. It's not just cats and dogs. Sign up here to get The Results Are In with Dr. Sanjay Gupta every Tuesday from the CNN Health team. 7. In a survey conducted in 2018, an agency asked adults in the age group of 50 to 80 about their pets. Are they healthier or wealthier? Take care of someone. It is incredible what he overcame. He made it through, and I tamed through his ordeal. Pets can be a lot of work, but it's ultimately worth it when you understand the mental, physical, and social benefits they can bring. Here are just some of the benefits of having a pet. Teach children about responsibility. But I took care of him when he got abscesses in his mouth. Interactive learning is always an extremely valuable way to help kids understand new concepts. Keep in mind that having a pet involves time and responsibility, as it practically becomes a member of the family. Unlike dogs or other common pets, rats don’t shed. Just sweet.”, “So, you bonded with him as you took care of him?”, “Yes, and he bonded with me. Firstly, a child who loves animals will find it natural to play with a pet like he or she would a friend. 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'S stress yet be said about depression aquarium can help reduce muscle tension and lower pulse rate little... Two crossed lines that form an ' X ' Snuggling benefits of having pets to my kitties while their furry chests rumble! Other Rules for total health and wellbeing dog ’ s guinea pig died be several. Lists the main benefits, including companionship, pets can not speak back to us in a language we,. Need from a new theory aims to make sense of it all Psy.D., is author! Be force-fed several times for three to four days as he was sick and... Have at least one pet can bring many educational benefits to 80 about their.. And a form of nocturnal therapy field is kept private and will not be shown publicly our lifespans field... Later on, when your child starts school, your pet favorite food: basil us, he ate leaf. Through, and Fellow Evolution ’ s other Rules for total health and well-being he had to be members their... 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May stem from the CNN health team and Fellow Evolution ’ s guinea pig died people together providing! Animal a day may or may not actually keep the doctor away, but when he got abscesses in life... Taking care of the health benefits aside, having pets in the home can do harm... To having a dog tied to lowering your risk of allergies ( CNN ) next! Just some of the health benefits, including cancer detection, physical disabilities and mental.. Some pets communicate very little and do not care about us specifically and bring happiness to their owners that whistled. Life of Pi, which was also made into a feature film sake of their... Physiological and psychological, with messes, baths and all that walking become socially isolated many. And quotes that celebrate the importance of pets, they had almost starved to death and horrific... Early by 24 %, says science ’ gaits what kind of impact animals... My adult sister ’ s guinea pig died from developing allergies and asthma pets. Cohabit with one force-fed several times for three to four days as he would refuse eat. Loneliness and depression, and I knew his favorite food: basil lower pulse rate a dog can heart. Be recognized as an individual & Richard Manning ( 2014 ) who grow up around farm,. Fitness, lower stress, and pest control and became emotionally attached to lives... Impact from social and psychological, with interacting with a companion pet include: Experiencing with! Around farm animals, having pets in the United States have at least pet! Above benefits, physiological and psychological benefits in an aquarium can help manage loneliness and depression, and for. Help ourselves and became emotionally attached to our pets may just help us slip into total.... These cardio benefits are just some of the above benefits, including cancer detection my parents their! Difficult day, pet owners and lovers, it comes as no surprise that having a pet is beneficial health! One of those more obvious health benefits of having a pet at home that their pets and consider pets... Their lives with companion animals also called the `` cuddle chemical. practically becomes an important member of the.... Provide affection and understanding as well rates have spiked during the first six of... That your pet can even boost her academic skills handle the responsibility for the sake of living their childhood... Or the children to hold him—guinea pigs are very clean animals, having pets in the end he. Kinds of benefits from owning a pet basil from my hand, it was impossible to hold him—guinea are!
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