Therapeutic Pets

Medical research is starting to confirm that having a pet may contribute to a longer life for you.
In particular, the elderly or those who live alone may benefit most, but everyone is a potential beneficiary.

The University of Missouri's Rebecca Johnson says in a news release that, "Research in this field is providing new evidence on the positive impact pets have in our lives."

The health benefits include lower blood pressure, encouragement to exercise and improved psychological health.
Pets can contribute to improved health, but be aware that some pet diseases can be transmitted to humans. Proper care, cleanliness and attention to the animals health is a responsibility to the animal as well as insuring your continued good health.

CNN.com reports that a recent study by Dr. Karen Allen of the State University of New York at Buffalo looked at 48 stockbrokers with hypertension. Half the candidates adopted a cat or dog at the beginning of the study. After a significant period passed, stress tests that the ones without pets were twice as stressed.
The same report quoted Dr. Lynette Hart, associate professor at the University of California at Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.
"Studies have shown that Alzheimer's (disease) patients have fewer anxious outbursts if there is an animal in the home," she said. "Their caregivers also feel less burdened when there is a pet, particularly if it is a cat, which generally requires less care than a dog."

Do these reports mean that everyone should dash out and purchase a cat or dog? That is definitely not the case. Each individual must evaluate their circumstances and determine the potential benefits and enjoyment of having a pet as opposed to the responsibilities, expense and any inconvenience that a pet might cause.

North Dakota State University stresses the requirements of time and expense in caring for a pet. Pets require health exams, immunizations and you should consider options such as neutering or spaying.

Also, people with allergies or asthma might not be able to have pets without adverse effects.
And animals can carry parasites and disease, so owners must take proper precautions. Washing hands after contact with animals is always a good thing. Checking animals for fleas, ticks and other parasites as well as regularly scheduled check-ups by veterinarians is a good idea.

Help in Nursing Homes
One of the positive benefits of having pets is to shift the focus from our own problems to the companionship factor that a pet brings. Our interactions with them get us involved in activities other than being totally introspective and dwelling on our problems, whether they are real or imagined.
Nursing homes have found that having animals brought in by outsiders to visit has a very positive effect on the mental state of the residents. Many who are withdrawn respond to the affection of a friendly animal. Dogs are particularly good in this role because of their more affectionate nature with strangers. Cats can work in this role, but are sometimes more aloof.

Animals such as dogs and monkeys acting as helpers for the blind or otherwise handicapped individuals have proved to be invaluable. Many of these people are able to be much more independent because of the companionship and assistance that these animals provide.
Based on the overwhelming positive information available, we must conclude that animals definitely have a positive impact on the health of humans.


Pet Therapy
Research has shown that heart attack victims who have pets live longer. Even watching a tank full of tropical fish may lower blood pressure, at least temporarily. A study of 92 patients hospitalized in coronary care units for angina or heart attack found that those who owned pets were more likely to be alive a year later than those who did not. The study found that only 6 percent of patients who owned pets died within one year compared with 28 percent of those who did not own pets.
The therapeutic use of pets as companions has gained increasing attention in recent years for a wide variety of patients -people with AIDS or cancer, the elderly, and the mentally ill. Unlike people, with whom our interactions may be quite complex and unpredictable, animals provide a constant source of comfort and focus for attention. Animals bring out our nurturing instinct. They also make us feel safe and unconditionally accepted. We can just be ourselves around our pets.
Research has shown that pet ownership can:
Reduce stress-induced symptoms.
In a study people undergoing oral surgery spent a few minutes watching tropical fish in an aquarium. The relaxation level was measured by their blood pressure, muscle tension, and behavior. It was found that the subjects who watched the fish were much more relaxed than those who did not watch the fish prior to the surgery. People who watched the fish was as calm as another group that had been hypnotized before the surgery.
Other researchers have found that:
Petting a dog has been shown to lower blood pressure.
Bringing a pet into a nursing home or hospital can boost peoples' moods and enhance their social interaction.
Requires Less Medical Care
A study conducted at UCLA found that dog owners required much less medical care for stress-induced aches and pains than non-dog owners.
Add years to your life
In a study conducted at City Hospital in New York, it was found that heart patients who owned the pets were significantly more likely to be alive a year after they were discharged from the hospital than those who didn't own pets. The presence of a pet was found to give higher boost to the survival rate than having a spouse or friends.
We should point out in this connection that pets can be a source of stress to some people. They may worry who will take care of their pets when they die. In most cases, however, the need to take care of the pets give a reason for living to many terminally ill patients, prolonging their life span.
What Type of Pet?
It is surprising that it does not matter what the pet is to get the therapeutic benefit. It could be a dog, a cat, parakeet, a gold fish or anything else. The only thing which matters is that the animal is of interest to you.
However, it is important that the pet you have selected fit your temperament, living space and lifestyle. Otherwise it will be additional source of stress. So, look over the pet and see whether the chemistry is compatible before you decide to adopt one.
How?
It is possible that people who own pets may have different personality traits than those who do not. Research has found that complex, varied, and interesting daily activity is the strongest social predictor of longevity. Pet ownership may affect people physiologically through the soothing and relaxing effect of touch. And speechless communication with a pet, or simply watching a cat or fish, may produce a relaxation response with little demand on the patient.
Pet owners often feel needed and responsible, which may stimulate the survival incentive. They feel they need to survive to take care of their pets. (Many cancer patients with pets have lived longer because they felt that their pets need them!) Stroking a dog, watching a kitten tumble, or observing the hypnotic explorations of fish can be an antidote to a foul mood or a frazzling day.
Pets such as dogs and cats provide unconditional, nonjudgmental love and affection. And pets can shift our narrow focus beyond ourselves, helping us to feel connected to a larger world.