
Feature/General
A Smooch from Your Pooch Can Help Fight Illness
By Amanda Rodriguez
March 2005
Oh, those cute furry faces, wagging
tales, wet noses and constant eagerness to please can make any
pet owner's heart melt, but
can owning a pet actually make you healthier? Pet owners take
heart: owning a pet really can enhance your own personal health.
One of the most noticeable health benefits of owning a pet is
a lowered heart rate. In one study, doctors measured participants'
resting heart rates, then their heart rates during normal conversation
with little or no movement, and finally their heart rates while
they were physically engaged with their pets. Though the amount
of physical activity was the highest while the pets were present,
participants heart rates were the lowest recorded. Some even
dropped
50% lower than their own resting heart rates!
In addition to lowering your heart rate, Little Rover may also
help reduce your out-of-pocket health care costs. Individuals
and families with pets report fewer minor health problems,
meaning less trips to the doctor (Friedmann, 2000, Serpel, 2000).
The
savings
add up even more if you replace expensive therapeutic techniques
with walking a dog or gazing at fish swimming in an aquarium.
Both are proven to be far more effective in lowering blood
pressure than any of the more traditional meditative techniques
(Lynch,
1985).
Even more than adults, children greatly benefit from interactions
with pets. Their cognitive development can be enhanced by
owning a pet (Poresky, 1988). It's been shown that children that
live
with dogs or cats in their first year of life have a lower
frequency of allergic rhinitis and asthma (Hesselmar, 1999).
Pets help
children better cope with a parent or family member's passing.
Many times,
pets offer an outlet for emotions that children would ordinarily
have trouble expressing to an adult. Dogs are now being used
in reading programs. When children are reading to dogs they
stutter less, have a smoother reading pattern and better
annunciation. Children who own pets score significantly higher
on empathy
and
prosocial orientation scales than non-owners (Vidovic, 1999).
These
children are also more likely to be involved in activities
such as sports, hobbies, clubs or chores (Melson, 1990).
Pets have
such an overwhelming calming effect on children that the
presence of
a dog during a child's physical examination decreases their
stress level (Nadgengast, 1997, Baun, 1998).
How animals have such a profound effect on human's mental
health isn't known for sure, but the positive effects
are easily noticed.
People with less of a social life are less likely to
experience loneliness or depression if they own a pet. The pet
provides
the social acceptance that they are lacking in other
areas of their
lives. On a personal level, pets provide stability during
emotional distress. They are our comforters, counselors,
companions,
family members and exercise partners. They are non-judgmental
and always
think that your singing sounds great. In short, if you
are considering adding a pet to your family, don't only
think
about the fun you'll
have or the added work they require, just think you're
doing it for your health.
Amanda Rodriguez is owner of Pawtropolis, Inc. in Athens, GA.
She has been doing obedience training for 12 years, obtaining five
titles from the American Kennel Club.
|