Health Benefits of Owning a Pet
Posted on Mar 04, 2009 under Keeping chickens |
It’s often stated that dogs are a man’s best friend. However, that also rings true for many pet animals, including cats, fish, birds, and exotic animals. Just as all of these pets offer companionship to their owners, beloved animals also provide a significant amount of health benefits to their owners.
The most common pets in the United States are cats, dogs, and fish. Birds, and small animals such as hamsters and mice, are a distance third and fourth. Some pets that were formerly considered exotic, especially reptiles, are growing in popularity. Although dogs are found in more households than any other pets, more fish are domesticated than any other animal. Although most households only have a single cat or dog, most fish “guardians” own more than a dozen.
Some exotic pets such as reptiles and birds don’t seem all that unusual. However, there are a number of pets that you wouldn’t expect to see as family friendly household pets. Animals must be bred and trained, sometimes for many generations, before becoming suited to human interaction and earning the distinction of “pet.”
Uncommon pets that have grown in popularity include chickens, tame silver foxes, hedgehogs, monkeys, raccoons, piranhas, and even cheetahs. The list could continue, although some of the most unusual “pets” are actually domesticated illegally.
Regardless of what animal is selected by its owner, both receive benefits of the symbiotic relationship. Medium-sized pets, especially dogs, are great workout partners for a walk or run around the part. Fostering at least one pet has consistently been shown to provide such physical benefits as lowered blood pressure.
Some of the health benefits are directly related to physical fitness, but some of the most dramatic health benefits for the owner are psychological.
Therapeutic institutions provide animals for some of their patients to raise as part of the recovery process. Patients are given responsibility to care for another living thing. Studies have shown that pets help patients recovered from troubled pasts, and live healthier, longer lives. Another specific use of pets being beneficial to their owner is their use as guide dogs for the visually impaired.
Even though there are many valuable health benefits given to people who foster animals, owning a pet provides many difficult challenges. Many animals leave behind dander that may severely worsen allergies. The behavior and upkeep of pet animals may also provide a large amount of stress to their owners. In some cases, animals injure their owners or other people nearby sometimes even fatally. After all, animals aren’t meant to be domesticated; their natural home will always be in the wild.
Because pets are living things, with their own personality and interests, there are a wide variety of laws set to protect both the pet and the owner. A large number of states have law in place that limits the quantity of pets in a home, and regulates which types of animals are allowed. Many apartment and condominium complexes don’t allow their residents to raise pets, which is difficult for pet owners, but ultimately helps to ensure that pets are raised in a more suitable environment.
Although pets aren’t for everybody, they have a considerable list of benefits, physically and emotionally. Adopting pets is a great opportunity to provide a quality place to live for an animal in need of love and attention.
Daniel Millions
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/health-benefits-of-owning-a-pet-531709.html
March 21st, 2009 at 6:43 pm
What are the specific health benefits of owning a dog?
Some guy wrote a letter to the editor complaining about people who pay so much attention to their dogs and spend money on them when there are charities that need help. Some people have written in to tell him that while they own dogs they also contribute to charities, etc and how dare he tell them what their hobbies should be. I'd like to write a short response of my own mentioning health benefits since no one has touched on that subject yet.
March 21st, 2009 at 11:45 pm
Dogs relax us and make us feel good, no matter what anyone says. They give us a reason to live!! Dogs definately make us healthier.
References :
March 21st, 2009 at 11:47 pm
Well, I was a single mom for a few years. A very young single mom (19 when I had him). My life changed all the time. I moved quite a bit because everything looks good on paper, but then the reality of it set in and I realized that I really couldn't afford the place. Money was always an issue as well as my son's father not wanting to be a part of his life but still telling me that I wasn't a good mother. I worked full time and never went out with friends. I was stressed to the limit wondering if life would ever get an easier. One bill after another, not enough money for necessities, etc. My one constant throughout all that was Maverick. I got him when I was 15 and when I moved out of my mom's at 22 years old she wouldn't let me go without him. He needed me and I needed him. Mom knew. He was such a stress reliever for me. He loved me even when it seemed like the rest of the world was against me. Without him I don't know how I would have gotten through some of the really bad times. He was my rock.
The two dogs that I have now keep me in shape. They're so full of life and energy it's impossible to NOT want to be outside playing with them and walking them!
References :
March 21st, 2009 at 11:49 pm
Having pets can really make a person feel joy, which we all know is healthy! Studies have also shown that it can help to lower your blood pressure (unless you have my heathens… lol!). And for me it helps me to reduce my stress level when I come home and have all these guys looking at me so lovingly. Having pets is a great growing and learning experience, it teaches responsibility, unconditional love, and patience.
References :
March 21st, 2009 at 11:51 pm
yes, it has been proven that people who have a good & LOVING relationship with their dog have lower blood pressure and this loving relationship also reduces stress. we have dogs and we wouldn't take anything in the world for our little fluffers. they're always entertaining us or snuggling with us.. they make our lives calmer and just give us an overall feeling of happiness. until one has loved a dog, their soul remains unawakened! our dogs have really helped our son as well, whereas he use to have some anger issues..now that he has his dogs, it's like all that went away. the health benefits are deeper than many of us even realize. I LOVE MY DOGS!
References :
DOG LOVER
March 21st, 2009 at 11:53 pm
First I am not sure why some people have to speak out about every little thing. If dogs make people happy why should others question it? Sure charities need help but dogs also need homes and people need companionship. Everyone knows that dogs can lower people's blood pressure and also help to get them out and exercising (as long as they walk their dogs). Dogs also reduce the stress in the house, they are always happy to see you and greet you with love. Who couldn't use some of that affection? Other dogs are used in hospitals, nursing homes, etc. for therapy. They bring joy to sick people who would otherwise be alone. There are also working dogs who help those in need (blind, etc) or work on a farm herding sheep. There are a million benefits to owning a dog. I don't stick my nose into other people's business, if people are happy with their dogs just be happy for them. That's what I think! = )
References :
own dogs and love them
March 21st, 2009 at 11:55 pm
petting a dog can lower your blood pressure and resting heart rate. also, if you are active with you dog you get excerise by providing exercise for your dog. plus, if you like dogs i think having a happy and healthy dog makes you happy which helps promote better mental health which turn makes your overall health that much better.
References :
March 21st, 2009 at 11:57 pm
i know personally that owning my dog has done a lot for me. it filled a void that no else could for many reasons. such as he is always there to greet me at the door when i come home. some how he seems to able to calm me when I'm up set. this might sound wried to some people but he has never told a soul about what i talked to him about and he has never judged me. he makes me get out of the house witch can sometime be hard for me to do. he makes me feel safe when husband works nights as well. he great as foot warmer too. having a dog is much like having a child that never talks back loves you no matter what much like a new born. all that he wants is be loved and give love.
References :
March 21st, 2009 at 11:59 pm
Mental Heath, they are great companions and loyal friends many people feel happy around their pet. They are great for helping people not feel lonely or depressed. People shouldn't tell other people how to spend their money. There are so many rewards to owning a pet far more then the cost….I have two dogs and two cats and they are all priceless with what they give to me…unconditional love!
References :
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:01 am
lowered blood pressure
References :
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:03 am
Well I am a dog owner. I have four beautiful Shih Tzu pups!
Some of the benefits would be:
I get plenty of exercise by chasing them around the house when it is "bath time!"
Due to the cost related to having dogs (vet bills, food, toys, etc.) I never have enough money left over to buy "garbage" food for me and my children, so we have no fear of obesity.
I never have to worry about being lazy, because they wake me up every morning by 6am to go potty and they WON'T allow me to over sleep!
And finally, they make me smile when I am sad! They snuggle in next to me when I am laughing my fool head off! And I wouldn't change owning them for the world! (Now, my kids, that is another story…….)
References :
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:05 am
Dogs touch a part of your heart & soul that humans can't even come close to. when your dog loves you, its unconditional. and when eveything in your world goes pear shaped, how you could get through it with out them by your side? they were created to be our companion our stability when we need it most. even when your angery with your dog, they won't get defensive and pull away. they'll lick your face and love you even more, you just can't stay mad…
Dogs along with all animals bring JOY. and the world needs them. God knows we do.
References :
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:07 am
Dogs relax us and make us feel good
References :