For those of us with pets, coming home to a wagging ball of fluff whose sole desire is to love us, can be a powerful way to de-stress at the end of a long day. It’s estimated over 71 million households in America have pets. That’s 62% of us. For most, they’re a part of the family. As such, they affect the quality of our lives everyday, improving our health and well being through their unconditional love and acceptance. Research studies have found that people with pets are healthier, stay home sick less often, make fewer visits to the doctor, get more exercise, have less pain and are less depressed. The better we understand this unique bond, the more we can use it to improve people’s lives.
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Pets Reduce Cardiovascular Disease: In 2013, the AHA (American Heart Association) reviewed numerous studies examining the effects of pet ownership on cardiovascular disease risk and concluded that having a furry friend, particularly a dog, is associated with a reduction in risk and increased survival among cardiac patients. A survey by the Australian National Heart Foundation revealed that people who own pets, especially men, tend to have lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels. And petting your pooch or kitty brings down blood pressure. Researchers at the State University of New York at Buffalo discovered that in people already taking medication for hypertension, their blood pressure response to stress was cut by half if they stroked their pet's fur.
Pets Boost Health: A dog is the best companion for a walk, even better than a friend. Johnson—co-author of Walk a Hound, Lose a Pound—led a study at the University of Missouri that found that dog walkers improved their fitness more than those who walked with other people. A separate study found that dog owners walked 300 minutes a week on average, while people who didn't own dogs walked just 168 minutes a week. And a study in the Journal of Physical Activity & Health found that not only did dog owners walk more then non- owners, they were also 54% more likely to meet the recommended levels of physical activity.
Pets May Prevent Allergies In Children: If you had a pet as a kid, you may be in luck. In a study published in Clinical & Experimental Allergy, children who were exposed to pets and farm animals before they were six months old were less likely to develop allergic diseases, hay fever, and eczema as they got older. In the first year of life, babies who are exposed to dogs in the household are more likely not to have allergies, asthma, and may experience fewer upper respiratory infections. If exposed at an early age to dander and allergens, we may be less reactive to them over time and have a stronger immune system.
Pets Monitor Health Changes: Pets are very sensitive to their owners' behavior, which can be helpful for those who suffer from diabetes. Some animals can sense plummeting blood sugar levels before their owners can. "When diabetics get low blood sugar they get ketoacidosis (when they can't use sugar as a fuel source), which changes the smell of their breath, and trained dogs can pick up on that scent change," explains Christopher Buckley, director of veterinary medicine at the Human Society of West Michigan in Kalamazoo. "It's not in the innate ability of every dog, but they can be trained to do that." Need a furry minder? There are several organizations that specifically train dogs to aid diabetics, including Early Alert Canines, Dogs4Diabetics, and Dogs Assisting Diabetics.
Pets Help With Stress: Simply being in the same room as your pet can have a calming effect. "A powerful neurochemical, oxytocin, is released when we look at our companion animal, which brings feelings of joy," says Johnson of her work at the university of Missouri. "It's also accompanied by a decrease in cortisol, a stress hormone." Through her research with veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Johnson has witnessed the powerful effects of animals. "One veteran couldn't leave his home without his wife until we placed a dog with him and in less than a week he was able to go around his town," she says.
Pets Relieve Depression: Pets can provide social support for their owners, who tend to have better overall well being than non-owners, according to a study published in Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. A large review of studies by the British Psychological Society found that dogs especially promote therapeutic and psychological well being, particularly lowering stress levels and boosting self-esteem, as well as feelings of autonomy and competence. "The calming presence and the social bond that pets bring can be very powerful," says Dr. Christenson. "Animals give something to focus on instead of the negative thoughts a depressed person is prone to have. When a pet pays attention to you, they're giving you unconditional love and acceptance."
Pets Boost Self Esteem: Pets are completely non-judgmental, don't have an agenda, take you at face value, and they don't care what you look like or how you behave—they love unconditionally, and that boots self-esteem. Confidence can be improved by the fact that dogs love you no matter what, and to the same extent, cats are very loving to their owners. Research published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that pet owners had higher self-esteem, as well as feelings of belonging and meaningful existence than non-owners.
Fewer Strokes Occur Among Cat Owners: Doctors aren't sure why. It maybe partly do the effects owning a pet can have on circulation. But researchers think that cats may have a more calming affect on their owners than other animals. It may also have something do with the personality of a cat owner. Cats often become the focus of their owners interest, which diverts their attention from stressful worries.
Pets Help Build Connections: One key to a healthy mind is to stay engaged with others. And pet owners tend to walk and talk more then those without a pet. A dog is a conversation waiting to happen. People, especially those with dogs often approach and talk when they see you walking your pet. Go to a dog park to socialize with others while your pets play.
Pets Can Work With A Counselor: Some mental health therapist use a dog in therapy. A dog in the office may help someone be more comfortable. And a remark to or about a dog may show what is really on someone's mind. One therapist tells about a couple in his office who started to argue. The dog, which usually just slept during the session, got up and walked out. He used the dogs behavior as a way to help the couple see how they're fighting affected others, especially their children.
Walking Your Dog Can Build Stronger Bones: Walking your dog counts as a weight bearing exercise that strengthens your bones and the muscles around them. It also lets you spend time outdoors. If you have osteoporosis, use a short leash so you won't get tangled and don't walk a dog that is liable to jump on you and make you lose your balance.
Stretch Like Your Cat: Have a cat at home? Watch him, see how often they're stretching and moves throughout the day? Next time, when he moves take the opportunity to move as well every time he does. If you can get down on the floor and go through the same motions go for it. If you can't get on the floor, sit on a chair or a couch and follow along to stretch your upper body.
Pets Help Us Value Relationships: A recent study published in the Journal of Applied Developmental Science showed young adults with a deep bond to their pets felt more connected in their relationships and to their communities than those who did not have animals. They were more likely to take on leadership roles and tended to be more confident and empathetic. The authors felt its reasonable to believe that this would be the case with older adults as well.
Pets Bring Family Together: Whether you make your kids take turns walking the dog or it's always your job to feed the cat, research has proven having a pet is good for the whole family. Pets can be a very important bridge between family members. Often grandchildren have a hard time talking to a grandparent, so pets can be a natural bridge, providing a convenient and easy topic of conversation. Additionally, children often have their first death experience through animals, which is a teachable moment. Pets can provide the ultimate learning experience—kids learn how to treat others with kindness and caring, and they teach responsibility.
Dogs Can Help Manage Seizures: These dogs have been trained to live and work with people who have epilepsy. Some bark and alert the parents when a child has a seizure others lie next to or on a person having a seizure to prevent injury. And some work has been done training dogs to warn before a seizure happens. This gives the person time to lie down or move away from a dangerous place such as a hot stove.
Pets Help People Maintain Independence: Specially trained dogs can do tasks that let people with Parkinson's disease keep their independence. They can pick up dropped items or retrieve items as needed. They can provide balance support, open and close doors, and turn lights on with their paws. They can also sense when someone with Parkinson's "freezes" and will touch the foot to let the person keep walking. Groups like Pet Partners can help you find a good service dog.
Pets Can Relieve Chronic Pain: Having critters around the house can help distract from chronic pain. Petting your animal releases endorphins -the same hormones that give a runner's high- and act as a powerful pain reliever. (I'll discuss this in more detail in the post on Friday)
Pets Can Improve Quality Of Life: Visits from therapy dogs help people recovering from devastating illness or an event such as a stroke. Some dogs are trying to understand a range of commands which lets them help those with aphasia (a language disorder common in older adults, but also in those who have had a stroke) feel good when they see the dog understands them. Petting and scratching a dog can help someone rebuild strength while recovering from a stroke or other illness while creating a feeling of calm. Researchers are also studying what happens when they bring specially trained animals into clinical settings, such as hospitals and nursing homes. One of the biggest advantages of letting people spend time with animals in such places seems to be improved mood and less anxiety.
Pets can be an amazing option for many of us, but it’s not a cure all. It is a serious commitment for the life of the animal. Dogs need to be walked and they all need to be fed, groomed, and taken to the vet. If you can’t handle those demands right now, ask to walk a friend’s dog a few days a week, or volunteer at an animal shelter. Anything that gets you out and keeps you physically active is good for your health. Make the most of your time together. Get outside and walk, play games, cuddle and spend as much time as possible with them as you can. Your pet, and your health, will be better for it.
Teaching your dogbasic manner skills and providing her with enough mental enrichment and physical exercise will prevent her from developing anxiety and other stress related behaviors such as destructive chewing, inappropriate barking and aggressive display. Training can improve the life of your pet, strengthen your bond together, create a fun and enjoyable activity for you to share, and even save your dog from potentially dangerous situations. I recommend Sasha from Paw Prints– Sasha has been with me and my family for decades keeping our family and pets happy and safe.
Sasha, owner of Paw Prints Dog Training (pawprintstucson@aol.com)
Organizations that can help you adopt a pet:
A few nonprofit groups can make it easier for you to adopt and care for a pet. Contact your local community elder services center, local pet stores (Petsmart is where I adopted my pets) or try one of these organizations:
• PAWS Seniors for Seniors
PAWS will place you with a pet that matches your lifestyle, at a reduced adoption rate (425-787-2500, ext. 850).
• Pets for the Elderly Foundation
This foundation will pay a portion of your adoption fee if you’re 60 or over and you adopt a pet from one of its participating shelters around the country (480-625-4679).
• Seniors for Pets
If you’re having trouble affording a pet, this organization will help you pay for medical care (941-473-0778).
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