Whether you have a fur baby, feathered baby, reptilian baby, or finned baby, your pet is more than a loyal companion. Having a pet can be a boost to your health.
Do you want to get more physical exercise? A TIME magazine article shared the results of a study which showed that “dog owners walked about 20 minutes more every day—and took 2,760 additional steps—compared to people who didn’t have a canine companion at home.” Prevention magazine shares, 15 Major Benefits of Walking, According to Experts:
- Improve your mood
- Burn calories and maintain a healthy weight
- Improve heart health
- Reduce risk of chronic diseases
- Help stress
- Improve sleep
- Boost brainpower
- Alleviate joint pain
- Delay the onset of varicose veins
- Stimulate the digestive system
- Kickstart your immune system
- Protect Bones
- Enhance creativity
- Make other goals seem more attainable
- Boost longevity
Have you ever noticed that many pediatric dentist and doctor offices have fish tanks in their waiting rooms? Even the dentist in the Disney animated film, “Finding Nemo,” because observing fish in an aquarium has shown to be calming (stress-reducing). Dr. Ran D. Anbar wrote in Psychology Today, that he chose to decorate his office with two 225-gallon fish tanks, which serve as tools of therapy in his practice as a pediatric psychologist.
“Early research indicated a link between viewing fish in aquariums and benefits such as reduced blood pressure and increased relaxation, perhaps contributing to the widespread notion that aquariums are beneficial in healthcare settings,” according to The effects of interacting with fish in aquariums on human health and well-being: A systematic review, published by the National Library of Medicine. “More recently, research has linked interaction with fish in aquariums to outcomes such as reduced anxiety, increased tolerance to pain, and improvements in nutritional intake and body weight among residents of specialised dementia units.”
Did you know that cats do not only purr when they are content? They also purr when injured. One study found that when in pain, the frequency of a cat’s purr can promote bone growth and healing. That purr is not only your cat practicing self-care, it can impact your health as well. The frequency falls in the range that correlates with lower stress, which can impact blood pressure and heart health.
Your bird’s chirp or tweet may contribute to your well-being, both mentally and physically. A study utilizing phantom birdsong played through speakers on certain trails at regulated periods of time, found “improved hikers’ perceived psychological restoration.”
Therapy animals are used in a variety of situations. You may have even found yourself seated near one on a plane. An NPR article entitled, “How Guinea Pigs Could Help Autistic Children,” stated, “The researchers found that autistic children were significantly more talkative and cheerful in the presence of guinea pigs than in the presence of toys. The children were also more likely to look at faces, make physical contact, and interact with other children and adults.”
I know two families whose sons are on the autism spectrum who have adopted dogs from Monkey Tail Ranch in the South Bay. For one of those families, their son has had a fur companion since being a young boy up to now as a young man. In his mother’s words, the organization and her son having a trained therapy dog “has changed our lives in (a) way words can’t quite express.”
For those sixty-five years of age and above, The Impact of Sustained Ownership of a Pet on Cognitive Health: A Population-Based Study, found that those who owned a pet for five or more years scored higher on cognitive tests than did older adults without pets. The study authors listed potential pet effects like increased oxytocin, increased physical activity, decreased incidence of high blood pressure and lower stress as some possible contributing factors…