We all know that cat and dog snuggles improve our daily lives, but have you ever considered just how much a pet actually improves your overall health wellbeing?
The first thing having a pet improves upon is your fitness. Whether you were active before your pet or not, you surely are now. Cats and dogs require a lot of attention, playtime, and exercise. As the owner, you get to join in on all of it. Dog jogs and daily walks are important, and studies from BMC Public Health show that because of this, dog owners walk approximately 22 more minutes per day than people without pet dogs.
Pets are also a major known anxiety relief, which is why therapy animals are so effective. Pets are able to sense emotions, and know when we’re having panic attacks or in pain, and then come to our rescues, forming close bonds with us which in turn can heal traumas.
Pets can enhance your social life! Chances are, if you bring your pet out and about with you, at least one person will stop you to gush over how cute your dog is. This can make for great icebreakers when meeting new people, and can even help you connect to other pet lovers.
Studies show that cats decrease a person’s risk of stroke and heart disease, as well as lower their blood pressure. According to the University of Minnesota’s Stroke Institute, non cat owners are 40% more likely to die of cardiovascular concerns than a cat owner is, due to their calm nature and low maintenance care.
Exposing oneself to pets can actually improve your immunity to allergies. Since pets often have dander, someone with a pet is more likely to become immune to allergies and not show allergy symptoms than someone without any pets is. A study done by Clinical and Experimental Allergy showed that children exposed to pets within their first year of life were less likely to have allergies or asthma problems in adulthood.
As always, don’t hesitate to reach out to your local pet store if you have questions on this or any pet related topic.