1. Pets improve our heart health. Dog owners especially tend to be more active people, because they walk their dogs frequently. The average person with a dog walks 300 more minutes a week, on average, than non-dog owners. Walking a dog several times a week has been shown to lower the risk of heart disease. Studies have also shown people who already have heart troubles benefit from pets. On average those who have had a heart attack or have abnormal heart-rhythms live longer than people with similar heart problems who don’t have pets.
2. Pets improve our emotional state. Your mood improves if you own a pet. Studies have shown that pet owners who interact with their pets have improved mental states, especially after a stressful work day. When pet owners are around their pets cortisol, a stress producer, lowers in the body and serotonin rises. Unless your pet eats your favorite pair of shoes of course!
3. Pets can prevent allergies in children. Clinical & Experimental Allergy published a study that found children who grow up around pets are less likely to have allergy problems later in life. Babies who grew up around pets may build up an immunity dander and allergens associated with allergies like hay fever. The news is even better for kids who grow up on farms. Babies in a farm environment with lots of different animals have stronger immune systems and are less at risk for asthma or eczema.
4. Pets can treat depression. We’ve mentioned the benefits that pets have for boosting our moods. Pets can treat more serious mental issues like depression as well. The bond with our pets can lift people out of depression. The British Psychological Society study on depression found that pets give those who suffer from depression a sense of purpose, distracting from the bad mood.
5. Animals help kids with autism. Studies have shown that pets in the classroom help autistic children better interact with their classmates. Animals in class can help bring the children together around a cause, integrating outcasts in a way that no other classroom activity can. The interaction with the animals helps the children work better on other tasks in the classroom and reduces cliques.
Pets really can do it all for us! Since your pet is improving your health, make sure that you’re taking care of your pet’s health as well! Learn about our veterinarian services to keep your pet happy and healthy throughout it’s life! For more pet tips follow us on Twitter!
