More and more people are adopting pets into their lives and homes for a lot of good reasons. Having a dog, cat, or any other pet is a great thing – you are never alone, you can take care of someone and they make our lives a bit more colorful. However, these are not the only benefits of having a pet. Actually, pets can significantly improve your health and wellbeing, so let’s see how.
How They Improve Your Health
Any pet can actually improve your health and wellbeing. What’s more, you don’t have to have a dog or a cat in order to get the health benefits. A pet rabbit can be a great pet, too, especially if you are allergic to other animals or have a small home. Additionally, birds can help you improve your health and encourage social interaction. And even having a lizard, snake, or any other reptile or fish can help your body reduce muscle tension and lower your pulse rate.
Additionally, many studies have shown that:
- People with pets are less likely to have depression symptoms
- They also have lower blood pressure when dealing with stress.
- That playing with a dog, cat, or other pets can elevate the production of serotonin and dopamine
- Pet owners have lower cholesterol levels
- Pet owners over the age of 65 make much fewer visits to the doctors.
Increased Physical Activity
When you have a pet, especially a dog, you have to provide it with regular walks. That is why having a dog, for example, is fun, and rewarding and you can get a healthy daily dose of exercise. According to many studies, dog owners are more likely to meet their exercise requirements on a daily basis, and this is great for the animal, too. And even if you are scared that your dog might run away while you are outside, there are great solutions to keep it safe. You can provide the dog with extensive training, and really bond with it, or you can get something to track it. You can really put your mind at ease with smart tags for pets and always know where your pet is. This will make running around the park much less stressful, and you both will get your exercise.
Companionship
Loneliness is something that every human being fears, and with pets, this becomes much less of a problem. When you have a companion, you can prevent illness and add a few years to your life. Isolation and loneliness can trigger various symptoms of depression, and this is how pets can help us take care of our well-being. If you have a pet that you take care of and love, you will feel needed and wanted and you can shift focus away from your problems. Additionally, having a dog or a cat can help you work through your troubles and there is nothing more sincere and happy than a wagging tail or a purring cat on your lap.
Socialization
If you are shy or don’t know how to socialize that easily, a pet can help you with that. Pets can be an amazing social lubricant for you since they can help you start new friendships. For example, when you are out for a walk with your dog and meet another dog owner, while the dogs are greeting each other and playing, you two can easily start a conversion and socialize. Additionally, there are so many great stores, clubs, and classes for pets where people can socialize and meet new friends.
Reduced Anxiety
The company of an animal can significantly help ease anxiety as they offer us comfort. Additionally, your pet can help you build and boost self-confidence if you are anxious about going out in the world. Pets do live in the moment and have no worries, and this can help you adopt a similar attitude and let go of the past and future and simply live in the present and enjoy it.
Meaning and Joy
Having a pet can help you find meaning and joy in life. This is especially beneficial to people of older age since with age you can lose things that previously occupied your time. If you don’t have a career anymore or simply seek the meaning of life, you can easily find that joy in your new best friend – a pet. Choosing to adopt a pet from a shelter can add to the sense of fulfillment in your life since you know you have given a loving home to a pet that otherwise may have been euthanized.
If you have a pet you already know how fulfilling that is. Now you know that your loving pets can bring you so many health benefits. And if you don’t have a pet, maybe it is time to give one a home.
