Are Pets Good for People's Health?

Whether your best friend is a faithful canine, a cat with an attitude or a fish that spends more time staring at you than you do at him, you know your pet has entertainment value. Your pet also may provide you with health benefits you may not have considered.

Fitness

• Dog owners are apt to stay physically fit as they take their pets for walks and participate in the high energy playtime that is necessary to help their canine pals work off excess energy. Horse riding and care takes a level of physical fitness than only can be achieved through regular exercise. Even small pet owners will expend calories in the regular care and interaction with their rabbits, gerbils, lizards and ferrets.

Physically

• Recent studies have shown that children who grow up around animals are less likely to develop allergies to pets. Children are not the only people to benefit from pets. Adults with pets tend to be less likely to suffer a heart attack if they have pet pal by their side. Service animals, such as dogs trained to spot hypoglycemic episodes in diabetic patients and seizures in people suffering from epilepsy can provide assistance that can save lives and prevent permanent damage.

Emotional

• Pets give the elderly and depressed a reason to continue with a daily routine. They also have a calming effect on people and help lower blood pressure. Pets also provide much needed socialization and provide emotional support to owners during times of distress. Petting an animal is soothing as is watching the tranquility of fish in an aquarium. People become invested into the well-being of their pets, and this provides a sense of purpose.

Drawbacks

• Pet ownership is not for everyone. If you feel saddled with a pet you do not enjoy, you may not benefit from the relationship. In fact, unwanted animals can increase stress levels and create negative feelings that can manifest into physical illness. Before you decide to gift a pet to a loved one, make sure the person is open to caring for a pet and will find the family addition a happy one.