The Pet Prescription
Pets can not only make our lives more enjoyable, they can make us healthier too. Pets provide a variety of health benefits.
An active dog can help his owner make time for exercise in his busy daily schedule, strengthening his bones and making his heart healthier. Exercising with a pet can seem more like play than drudgery, and those soulful eyes and dancing paws can be a great source of motivation.
Stroking a cuddly companion can also decrease feelings of anxiety, stress, and loneliness for the human caretaker, as well as decreasing blood pressure and slowing respiration and heart rate.
Just having a pet in the room with you, or watching a fish tank for a few moments can lower blood pressure as well as feelings of stress and anxiety. (How many times have you seen an aquarium in the waiting room of a doctor or dentist’s office?) Watching birds and other small wildlife visit feeders outside the window can provide similar benefits.
Pets can also help persons suffering from low self-esteem or who have difficulty interacting with other people. Pet therapy visits to in-patient facilities have also demonstrated that those suffering from a host of emotional or mental problems can become more communicative and interactive and less depressed by interacting with an animal. Generally speaking, the greater the emotional disability, the more the patient benefits from interacting with an animal.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Related information:
First time pet owners may not know how to take proper care of their pet puppies and kittens. The first step (best taken before the pet is even brought home) is to make sure you purchase all the pet supplies needed for your pets. The supplies for a dog include training, feeding, grooming, and bedding supplies, as well as toys. The supplies for a cat often focus on the comfort of your kitty, which can mean anything from a private hideaway bed to even a cat spa! For your bird, you will need proper bird houses or birdcages as well as feeding supplies, food, and toys. Owners should also consider appropriate pest control.
