We think #5 is the Most Useful
I have met all types of pet owners. People who got a cat or dog into their lives only as an obligation or responsibility that they would otherwise choose to avoid. But there are also certain individuals, like me and you, that are dedicated pet owners. For us, our furry friends hold a special position in our home and family. So do you know the top five health benefits of having a dog or other pet at home?
Even if you’re not as devoted as the rest of the pet owner community, it’s alright. Just keep reading, and you’ll soon realize that having a pet is a mutually valuable and beneficial relationship.
So I hope that the five points discussed below convince you to change your mind. And for those of you who don’t need any convincing, need a reminder about how your precious little furry friend has made your life better. You should also remember that even your pup needs a gift from time to time, whether it’s a new batch of food, or a new comfy collar.
Sometimes we don’t even realize that we have something until we lose it, right? Pets have the ability to boost our mental and physical health. They go as far as affecting your social and emotional aspects of life as well. So a pet at home can transform your lifestyle in more ways than you can imagine. Time to find out!
Featured image photo credit: lifewithcats.tv.
#1 Improve mood
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The majority of pet owners don’t take a long time to realize the pure joy of sharing their life with an adorable animal. So they know that having a pet offers plenty advantages over mental health. I mean there’s nothing more comforting and relaxing than snuggling up to your animal friend.
If you’re a pet owner, then your chances of experiencing depression are highly unlikely. In fact, you might also be less stressed out than someone who doesn’t own a pet.
The best part about having a cat or dog is that you need to play with them. And when you do that, you increase your serotonin and dopamine levels in the body. These compounds have the ability to help you relax and stay calm.
And here’s something that you might find relatable. When you have the company of an animal, you’re able to deal with loneliness in a much better manner. So when it comes to boosting mood, pets are the best options to rely on.
#2 Encourage fast recovery
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Now that you know the mental advantages of having pets, it’s time to move on to the physical ones. Few pet owners know about dog therapy. The activity of spending quality time and playing with a dog offers excellent benefits to patients in the recovery stage. It encourages socialization, mobility, and interpersonal contact.
Dogs are not only fond of the best dog food, but they also enjoy human interaction. And this might push you towards spending more time around people that are going through the same thing as you.
Anxiety tends to cause a whole lot of sicknesses and diseases. One of the most common conditions is a heart attack. So you should make it a point to indulge in activities that offer faster recovery from such tragedies. And the best way to do so is by getting a pet.
#3 Keep your allergies at bay
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How does a cat sitting in one room realize that it’s time for her to get to the automatic cat feeder in the other room? By sniffing the food, right? Both cats and dogs have an innate ability to sniff. But dogs do it better. They can sniff out illicit substances, which means they’re also suitable for detecting various allergens.
If you have a peanut allergy, then you can train your dog to detect any trace of the food anywhere in the room. And don’t underestimate the sniffing power of a dog. He will be able to detect that peanut even if it’s in the form of a small candy bar stored in your lunch bag.
And not just peanuts, you can train your dog to detect other types of foods as well. Teaching dogs new tricks can be tough, thankfully there a number of great books on the subject of training your dog which can help you along the way. So you don’t need to go through the trouble of dealing with asthma and other annoying allergies. Sounds like a healthier life, doesn’t it?
This brings me to the end of the third point of the five health benefits of having a pet at home. Two more to go!
#4 Reduce blood pressure
Photo credit: 3milliondogs.com
Let’s not forget about fish. They make good pets too, don’t they? Just imagine sitting next to your large betta fish tank when you’re in a hypertensive mood. Or petting your furry little friend during such times. You’re highly likely to feel better, aren’t you?
Dealing with stress requires you to improve the condition of your cardiovascular system. So when you have a dog, you take her out for a walk. And this goes a long way in keeping your blood pressure in check. So that’s an excellent recipe for a healthier heart.
#5 Speed up weight loss
Photo credit: puppyleaks.com
You don’t need to read five health benefits of having a pet at home when you come across this one. The importance of having pets extends to providing weight loss benefits as well.
Taking your dog out for a walk encourages you to be more consistent with your workout routine. If you’re a dedicated dog walker, you’re more likely to keep yourself physically fit rather than making silly excuses to skip the workout.
Plus, when you’re walking with a dog, you tend to move faster. So let’s replace humans with dogs when heading out for a walk. This way weight loss doesn’t seem like a pipe dream.
Final Note
Owning a pet can have an enormous impact on your mental and physical health. We know that now, don’t we? So I hope I don’t need to convince you any more to adopt a dog or cat right away! And if you’ve already done that, then it’s time to value them even more.
So tell me, when are you going to adopt one of them? And did you like reading the article?
Do you have any other five health benefits of having a pet at home to share with us here? Please feel free to drop in your thoughts towards the end of the article.
Thank you for staying on for so long. We hope to see you again soon!
About the author: Ruby Smith is the woman behind PetSoFun. She is very passionate about four-legged creatures. And this is why she chose to dedicate her entire blog to them. Her articles consist of fun and useful information about pet products and pet health care tips. Anything even remotely close to entertaining and informative in the pet category is what she loves to write about.
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