The Joy of Pets: How Animal Companionship Can Impact our Health and Wellbeing

Please enjoy this special content from George Ethan.

Walking a dog, playing with a cat, stroking a rabbit or watching fish swimming – all pets bring us joy. But did you know that animal companionship can also benefit our health and wellbeing? It’s actually good for us to spend time around animals of all shapes and sizes.?

Why are pets good for us?

Most pet owners are clear about the immediate joys that come with sharing their lives with companion animals, but what’s the reasoning behind it? We take a closer look.

The impact on wellbeing

• Stroking dogs, cats, or other pets can elevate levels of serotonin and dopamine, which make us feel good and relaxed. Serotonin is a chemical that carries messages between nerve cells in the brain and throughout your body, and it’s believed to act as a mood stabilizer. Dopamine is another important brain chemical that influences your mood, particularly around feelings of reward and motivation.
• Spending time with animals can reduce stress levels. In fact, dog owners can have lower blood pressure than non-owners, which may be due to the fact dog owners tend to go on walks,?according to some older research .

The impact on physical health.?

• Pets are a great stimulus for healthy exercise, which can substantially boost your mood and improve your cardiovascular fitness levels.

Pets promote positive social interactions.?

• Most pets are a great talking point, but dog owners in particular will often stop and talk to each other on walks.

Pets provide structure and routine.?

• Pets need a regular feeding, care and exercise schedule. Having a consistent routine keeps an animal balanced and calm, but it has benefits for owners too. It’s a motivation to stick to a routine and gives you a reason to get out of bed to feed, exercise, and care for your pets.

More than anything, our pets become our friends. They comfort us when we’re feeling our worst and make us laugh with joy in our happiest moments. Not only do they boost our mood and improve our health, an incredible bond is formed between pets and their families. There are some additional benefits felt by the youngest and oldest owners, though, which we explore further below.

Further benefits of pets for families and children

Pets can also play an important role in child development, including supporting with:

Confidence

• Pets are non-judgmental. They offer unconditional love, are great listeners and won’t criticize. This can be helpful for the self-confidence of kids, especially if they feel isolated or misunderstood, which can happen throughout childhood.

?Social skills

• When it comes to social skills, kids can learn a lot from their pets. Dogs, in particular, are known for their ability to build bonds with people. They provide unconditional acceptance, which can be very reassuring for kids who are shy or feeling insecure. And when kids witness their pets behaving calmly in different situations – whether it’s meeting new people or going to the vet – they learn how to model that behavior themselves. Pets can teach kids a lot about how to interact with the world around them.

Learning opportunities

• Not only can caring for a pet help children develop a sense of ownership and pride, they also offer an opportunity for children to learn about responsibility and empathy. Through daily caretaking activities like feeding, walking, and playing games, kids learn the importance of responsibility and patience.

Family time

• A pet can give a family a chance to spend more quality time together, as well as having a shared interest to talk about and bond over.?

Animals can boost immunity

• Pets can lower our risk of developing allergies. In particular, dog exposure in early life?has been associated ?with lowering the risk for subsequent allergies when children get older.?

?Further benefits of pets for older individuals??

While the joy of owning a pet doesn’t change with age, there are some benefits which older people may enjoy more:?

Companionship

• As people age, they may find themselves living a more solitary life. Their friends and family members may have moved away or passed away, so caring for an animal can provide much-needed companionship. This companionship can come in a range of shapes and sizes, depending on what type of lifestyle someone can offer.

Routine and purpose

• A pet can also provide a sense of purpose, as they rely on their owner for care and attention. Most animals tend to thrive on a routine, being exercised and fed at similar times each day so it gives a structure to your day. In return for all of this care, pets can provide unconditional love and affection.

Gentle exercise

• As we’ve mentioned earlier, pets can keep you active. Having an animal that encourages exercise and playfulness is useful at any age, but can be more important to have encouragement as you get older. Dogs especially can give their owners an excuse to get outside for a walk each day.

Research has shown ?that both pet owners and non-pet owners:

• Agree interaction that pets can help reduce loneliness (85% of respondents)
• Agree human-pet interactions can help address social isolation (76%)
• Believe human-animal interaction is good for their community (72%)

If you are a senior individual and living on your own, you can find useful tips on home safety, accessibility options, types of independent housing, managing finances for peace of mind via our?guide on independent living for seniors .

In Conclusion

A furry friend can be a wonderful addition to your household, bringing joy, play, and companionship. Why not stop by your local shelter to see if there's a new friend waiting for you?

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