{"id":19701,"date":"2022-06-15T13:39:06","date_gmt":"2022-06-15T18:39:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thepapergown.zocdoc.com\/?p=19701"},"modified":"2023-03-06T15:51:54","modified_gmt":"2023-03-06T20:51:54","slug":"health-benefits-of-having-a-pet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/health-benefits-of-having-a-pet\/","title":{"rendered":"The Health Benefits of Having a Pet"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pet ownership is a fun and enriching experience. Pets make great companions and help improve physical health. They can even <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.waltham.com\/news-stories\/human-animal-interaction\/pets-mental-health-benefits\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">improve your mental health<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by reducing stress, depression and anxiety.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<hr class=\"squiggle\" \/>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, having a pet is also a big responsibility. Your pet depends on you for food, exercise, companionship and more. Here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing a pet that\u2019s right for you:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Pets need attention.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> If you work long hours, a pet that needs walks and attention throughout the day might not be the best fit. A dog walker or pet sitter can make sure your pet isn\u2019t neglected while you work, or you can adopt a pet that doesn\u2019t need as much attention.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Just like humans, pets have personality.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> An animal&#8217;s personality and enthusiasm can determine if you\u2019re a good match or not. If you want a running partner, you\u2019ll want a dog with high energy levels. If you\u2019re more of a homebody, a pet that doesn\u2019t need walks, like a cat, is a great option.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Pets are expensive.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> You should be able to afford the costs of caring for your pet, including food and veterinary bills. Some pets like birds and snakes need special veterinary care that is more expensive.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Make sure it\u2019s legal for you to have a pet.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Before adopting any pet, you\u2019ll need to make sure local laws and your housing arrangement allow you to keep it. You should never keep a wild animal as a pet.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While a pet can help you improve and maintain your health, these benefits don\u2019t happen overnight\u2014they are gradual and long term. Getting a pet isn\u2019t a solution for acute health needs. You should still seek medical attention at your local <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/urgent-care\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">urgent care<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as needed. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are several ways a pet can help improve your health.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Promotes exercise<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Having a pet <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com\/articles\/10.1186\/s12889-017-4422-5\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">increases physical activity<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Dog owners walk for 22 more minutes each day and are <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ahajournals.org\/doi\/10.1161\/cir.0b013e31829201e1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">54% more likely<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to get the amount of exercise recommended by doctors.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Taking your dog on a walk is an excellent way to get some exercise and lower stress. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.arthritis.org\/health-wellness\/healthy-living\/physical-activity\/walking\/12-benefits-of-walking\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Walking promotes<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> weight loss, improved circulation, and relief from insomnia. There are several places you can take your dog on a walk, including your neighborhood, a dog park or out in nature. Going on a hike or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/the-nature-pill\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">nature walk<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is so beneficial that doctors even prescribe them for their patients.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you want to adopt a dog that will help keep you active, the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.akc.org\/expert-advice\/lifestyle\/active-dog-breeds-that-will-help-you-stay-fit\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">American Kennel Club<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> recommends high energy breeds like the Greyhound and Vizsla. Dogs aren\u2019t the only pet that can keep you active, though. You might consider investing in a horse if you have the resources.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Creates social opportunities<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Have you ever seen a dog and instantly wanted to pet it? Many people feel this urge around other people&#8217;s pets.\u00a0 Although potentially annoying, this is one of the many benefits of having a dog! Our furry friends can create social opportunities just by being by our sides.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not only does going on walks promote exercise, they also allow us to interact with and befriend people in our neighborhoods. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.akc.org\/expert-advice\/news\/dog-actually-great-social-life-mental-health\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nearly half of dog owners<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> have made friends while on walks, and sixty percent think their dogs have friends, too. In fact, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3408111\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">having a pet<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can reduce symptoms of depression while also improving your vital signs. These benefits may increase the quality of social interactions when they happen and help increase self-confidence over time.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Lowers blood pressure and cholesterol<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pet ownership also has a positive influence on blood pressure. Dog and cat owners have <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ahajournals.org\/doi\/10.1161\/cir.0b013e31829201e1#:~:text=A%20study%20of%201179%20subjects,)%3B%20however%2C%20after%20adjustment%20for\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">lower rates of high blood pressure<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014even among people with similar weight and socioeconomic status.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These heart healthy benefits persist even though the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/why-does-the-definition-of-normal-blood-pressure-keep-changing\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">normal range for blood pressure<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> keeps shifting. Take note of what is normal for you and keep an open line of communication with your doctor. If high blood pressure is one of your health concerns, adopting a dog might help you keep it at a healthy level.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Can help prevent certain diseases<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lack of exercise and high stress levels are two factors that influence the development of chronic illnesses. According to the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/chronicdisease\/resources\/publications\/factsheets\/physical-activity.htm#:~:text=Not%20getting%20enough%20physical%20activity%20can%20lead%20to%20heart%20disease,cholesterol%2C%20and%20type%202%20diabetes.\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, there\u2019s a link between a sedentary lifestyle and chronic diseases like heart disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer. Regularly walking a pet encourages a healthy weight and decreases your likelihood for getting these chronic illnesses. Increased physical activity can also help you fight insomnia, avoid dementia and manage arthritis.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Emotional stress can also <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thelancet.com\/journals\/lancet\/article\/PIIS0140-6736(16)31714-7\/fulltext\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">increase your risk<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for a cardiovascular event. Pet therapy has <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.iss.it\/documents\/20126\/45616\/ANN_11_04_04.pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">calming effects<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that help reduce emotional stress and improve mental health.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Benefits to mental health<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pet ownership can add structure and purpose to your everyday life. Having a pet promotes exercise, contact with nature and social interaction, all which contribute to improved mood, and easing anxiety, depression and loneliness.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Improves mood<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Having a pet <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.iss.it\/documents\/20126\/45616\/ANN_11_04_04.pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">increases the amount of oxytocin<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in your body. This is the same hormone that your body rewards you with when you have a close bond with a romantic partner or your child. Higher levels of oxytocin encourage an <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S0306453013002369\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">amplified sense of well-being. <\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Eases anxiety and depression<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The mental health benefits of pet ownership aren\u2019t limited to improving a bad mood. If you struggle with anxiety or depression, it can also help ease symptoms. Having a routine from taking care of your pet can also help provide motivation, distraction and a sense of self-worth.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Eases loneliness<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pets can also soothe you through companionship and physical contact that eases feelings of loneliness. Regular pets can help, but a trained emotional support animal or a service animal is a better option for people struggling with more complex mental health challenges.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even though it may be tempting, you shouldn\u2019t adopt a pet for health benefits alone. It\u2019s a time-consuming responsibility that you should take seriously. Make sure you\u2019re getting a pet for the right reasons before you make the commitment!<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h1 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Ready to book a doctor\u2019s appointment? Visit\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/\"><span class=\"s2\">Zocdoc.<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/h1>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The health benefits of having a pet go beyond just companionship. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":77,"featured_media":19703,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[227],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19701","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-guides","reviewer-dr-nassim-assefi"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>The Health Benefits of Having a Pet - Guides<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The health benefits of having a pet go beyond just companionship.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/health-benefits-of-having-a-pet\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Health Benefits of Having a Pet - 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