How Owning a Pet Improves Your Health

The important roles animals play in helping people to live with and overcome physical and mental illness are becoming increasingly recognised. More research is being conducted into the extraordinary ability some animals have of being able to sense when their owner’s health is at risk, whilst just stroking and interacting with a pet can improve your stress levels.

It seems that owning a pet may have more health benefits than has ever before been realised.

Mental Health

Pets can help to combat mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety. Sufferers can often become withdrawn and find certain tasks difficult, such as getting out of bed in the morning. A pet enables those with mental illness to establish a routine, and gives them a reason to get up.

Studies have shown that exercise is particularly helpful for people with depression and walking a dog provides a means for this, as well as a reason to leave the house. Meeting other dog walkers also creates social opportunities, and therefore helps to build confidence in those who may have lost it through illness.

A pet is a non-judgemental companion providing unconditional love and a listening ear for their owner in need and in doing so, boosts their self-esteem.

Stress

A massive factor that contributes to ill health is stress, and just stroking a pet can improve stress levels and lower blood pressure. Contact with a pet releases various hormones such as oxytocin and serotonin that help to reduce stress and anxiety.

It also decreases cortisol levels, the hormone synonymous with stress. A pet can also be a useful distraction from everyday problems as stroking, playing or walking them can provide something else to focus on.

Children

The common misconception is that pets increase the likelihood of ill health through spreading germs, especially in children. However, studies have shown that growing up with animals can boost the immune system, actually making children healthier and less susceptible to allergies and asthma.

Pets also prove beneficial for children with conditions such as autism and ADHD. There is evidence to suggest that pets help to improve an autistic child’s ability to socialise, sometimes just by providing them with something to talk about. A child with ADHD can be restless with lots of excess energy, and a pet provides them with an outlet for that.

Extraordinary Abilities

Although not much is known about how they do this, many pets have exhibited the ability to detect certain medical conditions and in doing so, save their owners’ lives. There has also been evidence of some pets’ capability to sense when their owners are going to have an attack related to their condition and are able to alert them.

There have been instances of animals detecting when their diabetic owners’ blood sugar levels are dangerously low, or when their owner is about to have an epileptic seizure. Humans are becoming increasingly more reliant on animals, and the skills we didn’t realise they have.

Emotional Support Animals

The value of having animals as emotional support pets is becoming increasingly recognised. Their presence instils a calming effect on their owners in situations where their illness would usually make them feel stressed or unable to cope.

However, whilst assistance animals that help their owners to live with a physical disablement are allowed the privilege of unlimited public access, emotional support animals are not.. Although the US has recognised their importance by allowing them to have the same privileges, the UK have yet to follow suit.

For instance, it can be difficult to gain permission for an emotional support animal to reside in rented accommodation where pets aren’t allowed, as well as public areas such as restaurants. However, there is evidence of a shift, as emotional support animals are now approved by some airlines.

Insurance

It is worth insuring your pet, so you can have peace of mind that you will be covered if something unexpected were to happen. At Animal Friends we offer a range of pet insurance policies for dogs and cats which may suit your needs.