According to many pet owners, and doctors, pets are a proven method for therapy and pet owners often live longer and are healthier than those who do not own pets.
The question is why do pets play such an important role in our healthiness and livelihood? The answer is simple, when you are around animals and specifically pets; you are free to be yourself.
Research has proven the therapeutic use of animals as well. People with AIDS, cancer, the elderly and mentally ill seem to benefit from animals the most however.
Pets bring out our nurturing instinct and provide a constant comfort source. People are often times too unpredictable and complex to provide those same qualities.
Research shows that owning a pet can help to reduce stress as well. A study was done by an oral surgeon in which three groups were tested prior to surgery.
Group A was hypnotized, Group B watched tropical fish in a fish tank for a few minutes, and Group C went straight into surgery. Groups A and B were found to be much more relaxed and comfortable than Group C during the surgery.
In addition, petting a dog has been shown to reduce blood pressure and when animals are brought to nursing homes and/or hospitals the morale of patients residing there has increased as well.
Pets have also been found to reduce the amount of medical care needed in your lifetime and to add years to your life. In a study performed at UCLA pet owners, and more specifically dog owners required less medications and medical care for stress-induced conditions and pains than non-dog owners.
The City Hospital in New York has also found that owning a pet helps patients with heart conditions to live longer, concluding that patients who owned pets were much more likely to be alive after a year than non-pet owners.
Ironically in this same study, they found that pet owners even survived over those with a spouse or a close friend or relative.
An important part of pet therapy is touch. Being able to pet or communicate with the animal through touch may be a source of soothing and comfort for many people.
Watching pets such as a cat, or fish may also bring a relaxing mood to many people and therefore reduce their stress. Pet owners often feel as though they are an integral part of something and are needed, because their pets depend on them for survival.
Be careful though when using a pet as a source of comfort and stress relief, as it may cause more stress and worry than anticipated. Some pet owners are in a constant state of panic as to who will properly care for their beloved pet when they have passed on.
Another thing to be aware of when getting a pet is the surrounding and environment in which you live. Allergies, noise, and additional care needed for some pets may increase levels of stress instead of reducing them.
One last thing to remember, a cat or dog, or really any pet in general can help a person feel unconditionally loved and connected to the world around them. Never underestimate the power of pet therapy and the unconditional bond of love that can be shared between people and their pets.
Author Resource:-
Terry Daniels is a veterinarian and pet-lover. He also volunteers at an animal shelter in his free time and has written hundreds of articles about pets and dog walking NYC.
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