The Health Benefits of Keeping Pets

Pets: you can love and hate them at the same time. One moment theyre sinking their teeth into your expensive shoes, and the next, they shower you with affection. But regardless of what they do and how you feel about them, there is no denying that there are various health advantages of having a pet:  

1) Decreased stress levels and blood pressure. Research conducted by the University of Warwick has revealed that, in many cases, stroking or playing with a pet relaxes the person and lowers their blood pressure. In another study, researchers tested whether pets had this effect on stockbrokers who had high blood pressure. It was found that stockbrokers that were pet owners had a significantly lower blood pressure reading than those who were not. Of course, you have to like animals in order for this to ring true; if you are nervous or afraid then pets will probably make you more anxious as opposed to more relaxed.

2) Recovery from illness. Pets have been known to help people in astounding ways, but they have the greatest number of success stories with heart attack patients. Various studies show that patients who have suffered from a heart attack tend to live longer if they have a pet at home, and they are also less prone to heart disease than non-pet owners.  Pets can also serve as a loyal support system to their bed-ridden owners, providing them with the comfort that results in a quicker recovery.

Pets have also been recommended by some surgeons whose patients have fallen into a coma. While there is no substantial scientific research that proves this, the mere presence of a pet at the bedside of a person has helped patients emerge from a coma. Dogs, in particular have also been known to minimize the symptoms of Parkinsons and Alzheimers.

3) Social enrichment. As most domesticated animals are very social creatures, pets can be highly enriching to your social life.  Whether it is a dog follows you everywhere, or a cat that crawls on to your lap to be stroked, pets provide a constant stream of social interaction. They can also be great ice-breakers and topics of conversation, both among friends and strangers.

4) Happiness. People often forget how happy a pet can make us: they help us cope with difficult situations such as pain and loss, and have even helped people suffering from depression to feel better. Stroking a cat, dog, or rabbit elevates serotonin levels in the brain, and some psychologists have even used pets in their therapy sessions. Being greeted by a purring cat or an ecstatic dog every time you return home can be a great self-esteem booster, especially if the world has not been on your side. This is also why pets are sometimes taken to elderly homes " they work wonders against loneliness and isolation.

Regardless of whether you face unemployment or divorce, your pet will continue to love you unconditionally; and it is precisely this love that keeps human beings healthy and happy.

Article Archive

The content of this page is informed by feedback from osteopathic practitioners in Hertfordshire and also osteopaths in the Exeter area. Further input was received from practices in Croydon and a practitioner in Covent Garden. Finally a contribution was made by clinics in Brighton