By Jennifer Cassetty, M.S.

Pet owners feel that the unconditional love and companionship from their furry friends can increase the quality of their lives. The health benefits of pet ownership are increasingly being recognized. Pets are uncomplaining and unjudging in the relationship with their owner and are suggested as a drug-free way of coping with stress. Dogs also encourage owners to exercise. Is it possible that a pet can actually make you healthier? The following are aspects of our lives that pets can help improve:

Mental:

• Pets allow the owners to talk about problems and fears without being judged.
• Pets are always willing to listen to your concerns and problems.

Psychological:

• Children who own pets are often less self-centered than those who do not.
• Patients with mental disorders are happier as a result of caring for a pet.

Emotional:

• Pets provide companionship and promote a general feeling of well-being. For example, pets in retirement homes improve both patient and staff morale.
• Pets can lessen the feelings of isolation and loneliness while providing a sense of purpose for elderly people. Making the effort to care for a pet on a regular basis provides a feeling of fulfillment.

Social:

• Pets have been described as a social lubricant providing a topic of conversation. Attending dog-training classes, visiting the vet and walking in the park all provide opportunities to meet and talk to other people.

Physical:

• One United Kingdom study showed that keeping a pet significantly reduced levels of cholesterol and blood triglyceride (two factors believed to influence heart disease).
• An American study showed that those patients who owned a pet had a much better chance of surviving for more than a year after a heart attack — a difference that could not be explained by the extra exercise the dog owners enjoyed.

Stress Reduction:

• Stroking a pet or simply watching a fish swim in an aquarium helps us to relax. Indeed, the mere presence of a pet seems to have the same effect, reducing heart rate and lowering blood pressure.

For additional information please contact NIFS at 317.274.3432.