Pets Guide

Reduce stress with a pet

When thinking of ways to reduce stress, techniques like meditation, yoga and journaling usually come to mind. These are great techniques to be sure but getting a new pet also has many stress-relieving and health benefits.

While human friends provide great social support and come with some fabulous benefits, here’s what pets can do:

Improve your mood. For those who love animals, it’s virtually impossible to stay in a bad mood when a pair of loving puppy eyes meets yours or when a super-soft cat sits in your lap. Research supports the mood-enhancing benefits of pets. A recent study found that men with AIDS were less likely to suffer from depression if they owned a pet.

Control blood pressure better than drugs. Yes, it’s true. While many drugs can lower blood pressure, they aren’t as effective in controlling spikes in blood pressure due to stress and tension. However, a group of hypertensive New York stockbrokers who got dogs or cats were found to have lower blood pressure and heart rates than those who didn’t get pets. When they heard of the results, most of those in the non-pet group went out and got pets.

Encourage you to get out and exercise. Whether we walk our dogs because they need it or are more likely to enjoy a walk when we have a buddy, dog owners do more exercise than non-pet owners. Because exercise is good for stress management and overall health, owning a pet will increase these benefits.

Help with social support. When we’re out walking, having a pet with us can make us more approachable and give people a reason to stop and talk, thereby increasing the number of people we meet. This, in turn, gives us an opportunity to increase our network of friends and acquaintances which also has great stress management benefits.

Stave off loneliness and provide unconditional love. Pets can be there for you in ways that people can’t. They can offer love and companionship, can enjoy and are comfortable with silence, keep secrets and are excellent snugglers. Lastly, they’re the best antidote to loneliness.

It’s important to realize that owning a pet isn’t for everyone. Pets do come with additional work and responsibility which can bring its own stress. However, for most people, the benefits of having a pet outweigh the drawbacks. Having a furry best friend can reduce stress in your life and bring you support when times get tough.

If your dog or cat suffers from arthritis pain, don’t make it suffer any longer. Relieve joint pain, lubricate the joints, increase flexibility and improve mobility with the right Dog Osteoarthritis Medicine .