Having a pet is therapeutic!

I have always been a pet lover. Note that when I say ‘pet’ I basically mean dogs or maybe cats for some. I have always had a dog as a pet while growing up and never had any other kind of animals at home, however I have been to places with pets like those of domesticated pigs, cattle’s, even horses and rabbits for that matter. It has been scientifically proven that having pets can improve the standard of our lifestyle by many folds and it is always good to have a pet as a child as well as an adult to improve or just to maintain a healthy mind and body.

The study put forward a few of the way how having a pet can improve the standard of living.

Lower Stress & Anxiety: Whether it’s comfort, cuddles, laughter or physical activity, having a pet leads to a release in calming endorphins — oxytocin. Increased calmness can also be associated with simple activities such as watching the smooth nature of a swimming fish. Now who wouldn’t want to feel relaxed and stress free every day?

Lower Blood Pressure & Cholesterol: Having a pet is believed to lower blood pressure and cholesterol, especially for those with hypertensive or high-risk patients. research suggests that cat owners are 30% less likely to have a heart attack and 40% less likely to have a stroke. This sure sounds really interesting.

Increased Physical Fitness: It could be frequent trips outside or long runs and walks with your animal, but either way, moving with a pet increases physical activity. According to research published in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, walking dogs has further been shown to promote engagement in and adherence to regular physical activity. And, getting exercise with your pet is free, unlike gym memberships and many organized workout groups. A kind of therapy where you are not burning a hole in your pocket. It cannot get any better than that.

Increased Happiness & Decreased Depression: By providing companionship, pets can combat depression, particularly in those who are elderly or sick. Veterans dealing with post-traumatic stress have also been found to have improve mood and health outcomes when adding a pet or service dog to their lives.

Improved Socialization: Whether physically interacting with other people outside or engaging in a conversation about your pet, having an animal is a great way to connect with others. If you already are a pet owner, you’d realize that we tend to have better and far more relaxed conversations with other pet owners because they understand where you are coming from while you are showing them pictures of your pet.

I think these are more than enough reasons for us to believe in the fact that getting a pet can never go wrong.