imported_womens-health

Doggone It! Can Pets Improve Your Health?

By: Karen Barrow

Coming home to find Fido wagging his tail or Felix purring at the doorstep may be doing a lot more for your health than simply warming your heart. A new look at studies on pets suggests that your furry (or scaly, or feathery) friend may be linked to better physical and mental health, especially for the elderly.

Evidence for the health benefits of pet ownership has been conflicting. While early studies concluded that pets help to reduce the risk of asthma in children and cardiovascular disease in adults, more recent data has found otherwise. But researchers in the recent review, published in the British Medical Journal, point to the close relationship between pet and owner that drives the positive benefits.

"The main issue may not be whether pet ownership confers measurable physical benefits, but the role that pets have in people?s lives." writes Dr. June McNicholas and colleagues.


Man?s Best Friend
Studies have found that pet owners may benefit from their companions in one of two ways. First of all, pets promote social contact with other people. Dogs force individuals who live on their own to get out of the house for walks, while also creating a "social catalyst." aiding interaction with others.

But the innate exercise involved in owning a dog may confer benefits, too. In fact, one study found that dog owners were more likely to survive one year after a heart attack than cat and non-pet owners, an outcome that may be caused by the physical benefits of dog walking.

Besides helping individuals get out of the house, McNicholas suggests that pets often fill the hole that individuals may miss when living alone.

"Close human relationships have a powerful influence on wellbeing by providing emotional support." she notes.

Who?s Really the Master?
While it is no surprise that having close human relationships seems to be connected to lower anxiety, better reaction to stress and improved recovery from stroke, heart attack and cancer, studies show that having a dog or cat emulates the emotional support found in a close friendship. However, a close relationship with a pet can interfere with proper medical care.

Some studies cite that as many as 70 percent of pet owners would ignore a doctor?s advice to get rid of a pet if they were diagnosed as allergic to it. Even worse, some seniors report avoiding medical care altogether, worried that a diagnosis requiring long-term hospitalization or placement in a nursing home would mean giving up their beloved pet.

To counter this, McNicholas emphasizes the importance of doctors being aware of these concerns and offering alternatives to simply abandoning a pet. Losing a pet, for whatever reason, can cause more distress and grief for a patient already coping with an illness.

"People do not own pets specifically to enhance their health, rather they value the relationship and the contribution their pet makes to their quality of life." she adds.

MissGoddess

When I was very little, [maybe 4 or 5] I had really bad allergies to animals, and I had a bad case of asthma.. At that age, my brother was born, and since everyone seemed to give all their attention to him, I felt pretty lonely most of the time. Mom wouldn't play with me anymore. We didn't go out to the park, we didn't play dolls, we didn't dress-up, nothing. Life got boring. One day I saw this stray cat walking by, and I went and gave him some milk. He came and drank, and stayed there for a while. Then he left.. The next day I saw the cat again, so again, I gave him milk. Eventually, the cat just stayed around the house and I asked my parents if I could keep it. Of course they said no, cause I was sick [getting shots once or twice a week]. But the cat kept coming, and I wanted it, so I "kept it" [just outside the house, haha] I hugged it, chased it, played with it, everything, because it made me so happy! Then I started getting really sick.. Dad told mom to take me to the hospital to get my shots again [cause she had stopped taking, due to money issues] but since there was no money, we couldn't go. They decided "if she doesn't get better in a couple of days, we'll have to take the cat somewhere far so it doesn't come back". But they were also tired of changing my sheets everyday, not allowing me to have stuffed animals, not allowing me to play in the grass too long, no pets, etc.. Anyway, we kept it and I got worse the next day. I felt like ****, so I hugged "kitty" to make myself feel better. Guess what.. Eventually I DID start feeling better, because my immune system learned to fight it and now I've have at least one cat with me ever since then. :] YAY KITTIES!

C

Without a doubt they can improve your health...We have twins a boy and a girl...Only problem is improving our health, we had to improve their health...They have gotten into everything and now when we look at our little boy and girl who are not yet past their terrible two's, we are looking at a brand new small size car. But oh how we love them.

My poor tired husband just caged each of them in their bedtime cages in the library. We also have day cages in the breakfast room...There they will stay quiet until the morning...Would you believe that we have stopped the Grandfather clock from chimming so that it does not disturb them....They are so wonderful and we love them.

What this small amount of money has brought in pleasure to us I truly could never say...Oh, they have gone through three Spot Bott's (the boy) but they are just adorable and small puppies as we call them.. We figure for as happy as they have made our life that they may live until we are 106 years old...or else when we are told to pay our dues and check out....Either way, we just love them...

CHANDLERS WISH

As a woman whom lives alone, with two dogs, i can relate to all of that, as to whom is the Master?

Well, they know i am but they can be cheeky and get a way with a few things....

As for "Asthma?" My ex-husband suffered enormously from the minute hair of our Husky, an allergic reaction only to her, not my little one, nor my cat.

As i result, i gained the added exercise, still do, of sweeping the floors daily, as whilst i am now alone, my floors are jarrah and she is white!!

That would be the love side, i have instead of making her stay outside...lol...

CW

Private.Flangeamin

I have two mini poodles and a British Blue cat .just love them to pieces, ive always had pets since i was knee high to a grasshopper! fish, rabbits,hamsters, dogs and cats and budgies. Its very upsetting losing a much loved pet but every animal ive had has its own little personality i think by not having a pet you really do miss out ...after all what would i do if i wasnt greeted by two smiling (yes, poodles can smile !) pampered pooches each morning when i wake ....boyfriends come and go but your pets are always faithful ...GINGER (september 1980) i miss you ..