While we know that the bond between pets and their owners is a strong one, there are also numerous health benefits associated with owning a pet. Pets, especially our feline and canine friends, are actually good for our health, both physically and mentally, according to scientific research. And a pet doesn’t necessarily have to be a dog or a cat. Whether you own a dog, cat, rabbit, fish, bird or any other animal, the physical and mental health benefits can be tremendous.

 

 

Top ten health benefits of owning a pet

 

Here are the top ten benefits of owning a pet: 

 

Stay in shape

 

Dogs need regular, daily walks to stay happy and healthy, and so do we. A number of studies have linked owning a dog to losing weight. Walking your dog for just 30 minutes a day, five days a week, can help you get closer to reaching the recommended 150 minutes of exercise each week. These benefits aren’t just restricted to dog owners, either. Riding a horse, for example, is also considered a full-body workout.

 

Interesting fact: Dog owners spend nearly 300 minutes every week walking with their dogs. That’s 200 more minutes of walking than people without a dog.

 

Combat loneliness

 

80 per cent of pet owners say their pet makes them feel less lonely. This can be especially true for older people or those who live alone. A pet can offer social interaction when other people aren’t around. Cats and dogs, for example, make great companions – they’ll always be waiting for you to come home, and they’re usually up for a snuggle on the couch too. 

 

Interesting fact: Trials in one study show that loneliness in nursing homes could be reduced by just caring for a robotic dog.  

 

Facilitate social connection

 

Having a pet is a great way to meet new people. Pet owners are 60 per cent more likely than non-pet owners to get to know people in their neighborhood. A dog, for example, gets you outside, where you’ll naturally find yourself interacting and engaging with your neighbors, or other dog owners in the park, and you’ll find that people will stop to talk to you about your dog. 

 

Interesting fact: A survey of city dwellers in Australia found that dogs were “social ice-breakers”. 

 

Lower stress levels

 

Petting your dog, stroking your cat or simply watching fish swim around in a tank decreases the stress hormone cortisol. According to science, petting, playing with, or just maintaining eye contact with pets, releases oxytocin in the brain, which in turn lowers stress levels in the body. This helps to decrease blood pressure and triggers a sense of calm and relaxation, helping you feel less stressed. 

 

Did you know?

 

Animal-assisted therapy is recognized as a treatment for depression and other mood disorders.

 

Add structure and routine to your day

 

Pets provide us with a sense of purpose – routine and a responsibility to care for another living creature. That can be a driving force for getting you out of bed in the morning. Feeding, exercising and caring for a pet can help you stick to a daily routine, which can make you feel more grounded and focused. 

 

Did you know?

 

A study of pet owners living with a long-term mental health condition found that pets may disrupt inward attention from harmful symptoms or upsetting thoughts. 

 

Fewer heart attacks

 

Scientific research has shown that owning a pet lowers the risk of a heart attack. That’s because pet owners tend to have lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels than people who don’t own a pet. Plus, owning a pet decreases stress levels too, another factor in heart health. 

One study found heart attack patients with pets survive longer than those without. Another study found that one year after a heart attack, dog owners had a significantly better survival rate compared to heart attack victims without a pet. And dog owners were 8.6 times more likely to still be alive one year after a heart attack than people who didn’t own a dog.

 

Interesting fact: According to the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI), people who owned a cat were 40 per cent less likely to die of a heart attack than those without a cat. 

 

Boost your immunity

 

Pets spend a lot of time outside and bring all sorts of dirt and germs into your home. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing though – germs can help improve your immunity to colds and other mild illnesses. In fact, studies have shown that infants who live with a dog tend to experience fewer infections and are generally healthier than those who don’t.

 

Interesting fact: Pet owners over age 65 make 30 per cent fewer visits to their doctors than those without pets.

 

Fight allergies

 

A growing number of studies have shown that when children grow up in a home with animals, they are less likely to develop allergies and it reduces their risk of developing asthma. The same is true for children who live on a farm with large animals. Being exposed to pet dander early on in life can help prevent future allergies. Specifically, children under the age of 1 who had two or more dogs or cats as family pets saw a reduction in allergy development by the time they were 6 or 7.

 

Interesting fact: Early cat exposure reduces the development of allergies later in life, according to scientific studies.

 

Help children learn

 

Pets can help to set children up with essential life skills, from taking on responsibilities to forming daily routines, as well as instilling values like empathy and respect. Whether it’s playing with a cat, caring for a small pet or joining you on dog walks, pets also help to keep children active and away from screens. They are a source of comfort for many, and, according to research, interaction with pets may benefit children with learning difficulties by enhancing their communication skills. When a child with ADHD has a pet, it gives them practice with chores, planning and responsibility. 

 

Interesting fact: According to a study, children with autism spectrum disorder were less anxious while playing with guinea pigs in the classroom and did better with social interactions.

 

Help detect and treat illness

 

Animals have been known to help detect, treat and manage a range of illnesses and injuries. For example, service dogs have been able to help people with rheumatoid arthritis, traumatic brain injury and autism to improve their mobility and increase their independence, helping them to carry out normal daily tasks such as opening cupboards or getting dressed. Dogs have also been used to help soothe Alzheimer’s patients who are prone to emotional flare-ups. Other specially trained dogs have even been trained to sniff out illnesses such as bladder, skin, kidney, and prostate cancer in people. 

 

While there’s no scientific research to suggest that untrained pets can do the same, there is anecdotal evidence from dog owners who’ve reported that their dog helped to catch their cancer early, by pawing and licking at the area where a tumor was hidden beneath the skin. Some dogs also recognize changes in a person’s scent if their blood sugar starts dropping suddenly due to diabetes, and warn their human of impending hypoglycemia. While not all dogs will do this spontaneously, working dogs can be specially trained to sense a drop in blood sugar. 

 

Did you know?

 

Our canine friends have over 300 million smell receptors in their noses, compared with a human’s six million, giving them an incredibly powerful sense of smell.

 

 

Final Thoughts

 

Having a pet brings enormous joy to our lives, but the benefits extend well beyond mere companionship – pets help us to stay healthy, give us comfort in times of stress and provide ways to connect with others. So whether you have a furry, feathered, or scaly pet, there is no doubt that they are a valuable source of support and well-being in your life.