Animals Are Purrrfect For Our Wellbeing
*Collaborative Post
Did you know that most households have a pet living in them? Even though owning your very own dog, cat or hamster can be a lot of work and responsibility for the entire family, it is very much worth it. They are a great addition to any family, as they make the perfect play companions for children. Plus, you will find that you get a lot out of their loyalty and companionship as well. And they can even help to teach children some necessary life lessons. For instance, some parents buy their young children small pets, such as hamsters or guinea pigs, so that they can experience death once the animal passes. Even though that might not be the happiest thought, it can help set children up for some of the sad experiences that they will meet later in their adult life.
So, as you can see, there are many benefits that come with welcoming a pet into your home. But did you know that there are some advantages to our health and wellbeing as well? It’s true – here’s how animals, in general, are helping us all stay in good health.
Useful In Medical Research
Animals are critical in the development of new treatments and medicines in various areas of medical research. If you take a look at the herabiolabs.com, you can see that SRG rats are now helping to push research into certain cancer treatments forward, which is some very good news in our fight against cancer. Just a few decades ago, animals were treated quite poorly in laboratories but, thankfully, that isn’t the case anymore. These days, you don’t need to worry about the cruel treatment of animals as their welfare is a paramount part of medical research. There are strict regulations that scientists need to follow to ensure that the animals are never left in bad conditions. By following these regulations, the animals can continue to be used for research purposes which is helping with some of the biggest developments in our healthcare.
Can Help Us Beat Depression
Pets always have unconditional love for their owners. And this can give us a great little boost as your dog or cat will always be there to cheer you up when you need it most. There has been a lot of research into this benefit that pets bring us, and the results show that the cheering power of pets is so powerful that it can actually help alleviate the symptoms of depression. You can see more about this at psychcentral.com. The main points to take away, though, are that pets can help to distract us from our negative moods and give meaning to our life by making us responsible.
They Lower Our Anxieties
Depression isn’t the only mental health condition that pets are known to help ease. They also have positive effects on those of us who suffer from anxiety. I’m sure that you have already heard plenty about therapy animals, as they are now being used increasingly in public spaces that could trigger an individual’s anxieties. For instance, most airports now have dogs and cats that travellers can pet before they board a plane. Research has shown that having access to these animals before getting on the plane can help reduce someone’s fear of flying. Similarly, therapy animals are used in other stressful situations, such as in dentist’s waiting rooms and in some colleges. Once people can pet these therapy animals, their anxieties are lowered and they are able to then get on with what they need to do.
Encourage Us To Exercise More
If you already own a dog, you will know that you need to give it a lot of exercise. Even small dogs need at least a couple of short walks a day so that they have a chance to do their business outside. All of that extra exercise that you’ll do with your dog will help to improve your fitness which can then have a positive impact on your overall wellbeing. For instance, those of us who get twenty minutes of gentle exercise each day are thought to benefit from better mental health. Not only that, though, but exercise is key to maintaining a healthy weight. If you are currently trying to shift some extra pounds, you might find that getting a dog is the best thing you could do as it means being a lot more active in your daily life.
Good For Babies’ Immune Systems
This point may sound slightly counterintuitive, but it is surprisingly true – having a pet in the home can reduce a baby’s chances of developing certain allergies. In fact, some studies show that early contact with cats and dogs will also prevent young infants from developing asthma. This is because they will be exposed to allergens at such an early age that their immune system will be able to build up a resistance. So, you could find that bringing a dog or cat into your home can stop your children from suffering from a variety of allergies in later life!
They’re Good For Our Social Lives
Owning a pet, especially a dog, can help to give our social lives a little boost. There are a number of ways your pooch can help you get out there and be more social. And that all starts when you are walking with them. Just getting out the house to take your dog for a walk will bring you into contact with others. You might even find that you start to strike up conversations with some of the other regulars at your local dog park. Lots of people who own dogs also attend puppy training classes and other such training sessions that can bring you together with other like-minded pet lovers. Once you start to make new friends through your dog, you will find that your mental health starts to improve.
So, now that you know all the benefits, do you think that it’s now time you considered getting a new pet?
*This is a collaborative post. For further information please refer to my disclosure page.
If you enjoyed this post you can follow more of our life, opinions and antics over on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram. Plus feel free to come and join in with my parenting group ‘From One Parent to Another’ on Facebook.
If you’d like to contact me you can either leave me a comment or drop me a line via my contact me page.
For other topics similar to this one check out these suggestions below…
Related Posts:
A Quick Guide To How Aromatherapy Can Change Your Life
Essential oils have been used in Ancient Egyptian, Indian, Chinese, and Ayurvedic medicines from time immemorial. These fragrant oils are Read more
Updating Your Kitchen Decor
*Collaborative Post The kitchen is one of the most frequently used rooms in any home. If your kitchen is looking Read more
Your Dog’s Wishlist: 7 Must-Have Items You Should Get Today
As a dog owner, one of your main responsibilities is to ensure your furry friend is happy, healthy, and engaged, Read more
6 Stress-Relieving Hobbies You’ll Wish You Knew Sooner
Life has a funny way of sneaking stress into our daily routines, doesn't it? From the relentless hum of work Read more