How pets boost health and wellbeing

by admin · February 3, 2021

How pets boost health and wellbeing and benefit humanity- a scientific look.

by Dr Margit Gabriele Muller

Pet lovers are crazy about caring for their pets. A dog, cat or any other kind of furry or feathery companion. They do everything possible to keep them happy, safe, and healthy and spend countless hours enjoying their unconditional love. But there are numerous other benefits that pets provide that boost our health and wellbeing.

Love with Benefits

Let’s start with the most logical benefits, the ones that boost our physical wellbeing. Pets shower us with unconditional love and accept us how we really are, without any pretenses, prejudices, or expectations. Our pets help us to chase away loneliness, reduce our social isolation and fulfill our social needs. They simply boost our mood and make us happy beyond imagination. Interaction with our beloved pets even changes the hormonal levels in our bodies. Just three to five minutes of cuddling a pet increases the wellbeing hormone ‘endorphin’, the happy hormone ‘dopamine’ and the love hormone oxytocin. Pets are the best natural painkillers as they even help reduce pain!

Feel the burn

Dogs are particularly helpful in our weight loss efforts as we lose an average of 14,4 pounds per year just by walking them daily for 20 minutes. Dog parents also benefit from reduced triglyceride levels, lower blood pressure, and have a lower risk of cardiovascular diseases. Dogs make us not only healthier but also help us to live longer. The survival rate of dog owners after suffering a heart attack is much higher than in non-dog owners. Even the risk of stroke is reduced in dog owners.

Pets are not just good for adults – children can greatly benefit from them too. Children growing up with pets suffer much less from allergies than children without pets as their immune system are boosted. Furthermore, children suffering from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder are much more relaxed and focused when having pets.

Pets boost health and wellbeing- Keeping us sharp

Now, let’s dive into the amazing benefits of pets on our mental health. Pets allow us to experience and enjoy each moment as something special and to focus on what we are doing right now. Our pets keep us grounded in the present. Nothing heals us better than talking to our companions without any fear that they will judge us. Talking to pets eases our worries and can help us better cope with our daily lives. Even in stressful and challenging times. They give us a clear daily structure which is so important during Covid-19 lockdowns. Pets can reduce mood disorders, depression, and anxiety.

Purpose

Even fish will do. Watching them in an aquarium can support Alzheimer’s sufferers by improving their cognitive function and an increased attention span. Dementia patients can be reminded of their long-lost memories when cuddling pets and interacting with them. Pets, especially dogs, are an amazing help for post-traumatic stress disorder patients as they let them feel safe and protected.

But that’s not all. To maintain good mental health, we need to live a life of purpose and meaning. Often our mental health declines if we don´t feel valued, appreciated, or accepted. But our furry companions can be the key for finding and enjoying a meaningful role. They give us the chance to care for another living being which is a vital contributing part for our wellbeing.

Pets boost health and wellbeing-Life lessons

But it’s not just about physical and mental health. Let’s have a look at our emotional health and the life skills that we can learn from our pets. When we are content in our own skin and feel satisfied in achieving our goals, our wellbeing improves automatically. Pets can teach us to strengthen our character traits and personality to a great extent. Hope, resilience, bravery, and willpower are just a few of the traits they master.

They never give up and serve as fabulous role models for us. By having pets and especially large dogs or unusual pets like birds or reptiles, our self-esteem increases. We become more extroverted by meeting like-minded people and interacting with them. Communication with other people gets easier. We develop more positive relationships which helps us tremendously with our families and colleagues.

Dogs, especially, are fantastic natural leaders who trust themselves and others. Cats are amazing in teaching us creativity and non-traditional thinking. The enthusiasm of our pets never fades. If we can preserve their joy and encouragement in our own lives, we will live each day to the fullest. Life with pets also leads to much better time management, multi-tasking and enhances our responsibility. These are character traits and life skills that can change our personal and professional lives for the better.

How pets boost health and wellbeing- Conclusion

As a final note, it’s important that we get the pet that’s right for us. One that suits our living conditions, our time, our character and, of course, our heart. There is a perfect pet for each one of us. They have so much more to give to us than we commonly know and think. Let’s appreciate them for what they really are – our best friends, companions, teachers and healers.