You may feel an overwhelming sense of joy when spending time with your family pet, unaware of the impact it actually has on your life. There are several physical and mental benefits to sharing your home with a furry friend, especially a cat or dog. Animals such as these are able to create an emotional bond with us. They are able to understand words that humans use to communicate with them, as well as the art of body language, gestures and interpreting a tone in one’s voice.

Overall Mental Health Benefits of a Family Pet

Their ability to evaluate our emotional state, can provide many benefits to our mental health. Recent studies have shown that the human-animal bond can reduce depression, stress and anxiety, among other things. Having a pet can allow you to feel safe and secure, as well as providing a companion that will love you unconditionally.

Overall Physical Health Benefits of a Family Pet

Sharing a bond with your family pet can also help to promote good physical health. Dogs, for example, encourage exercise in otherwise inactive adults or children. With the help of a canine friend you will notice an increase in activity level, promoting a healthy heart, mind and body.

Pets fulfill the basic human need for contact. Hugging and touching an animal, and having that animal share a mutual affection in return, is a great way to boost your mood. While the contact between animal and human certainly has an immediate effect on our emotional state, it can also provide long-term effects. Experiencing such a positive connection with your companion on a daily basis, can create a joy that lasts a lifetime.  

How Family Pets Can Promote A Healthier Lifestyle

Taking care of a pet can help you to promote a healthier lifestyle. Here is how:

Creating Structure to Your Daily Routine

Dogs, as well as many other pets, require a strict schedule. Most pet owners work outside of the home, so keeping your pet on a feeding schedule will help to eliminate any accidents in the home. Giving the animal ample time to relieve him or herself after eating, and before you leave for work, is an important part of training. This will not only benefit you and your home, but also the pet. Structure is very important in the human-animal relationship. It requires a certain level of effort and activity on your part. Therefore, waking early to feed your pet will help to get your day started.

Getting Some Exercise

Pet owners, especially those that own a dog, are generally exposed to more activity. Taking your dog for a walk, a run, or playing, are all excellent ways to get some exercise. Because of this, staying fit may not be much of a challenge.

Meeting New People

It is fairly easy to meet new people and form new relationships if you own an animal. The social aspect of it alone may have you more in-tune with the people around you. Pet owners and lovers will often strike up a conversation when you are out and about with your furry friend.  Allowing you the opportunity to experience personal growth.

Finding A Forever Friend

Having the companionship of an animal means that you will never be lonely. Taking care of another, human or animal, helps to eliminate isolation, and promotes a more positive energy. Feeling needed and wanted by another can often take the focus off your own problems so that you can tend to another. Many pet owners talk to their animals. Using them as an outlet to speak of their troubles out loud. This can be very therapeutic.

Recent Studies

Studies have found that pet owners:

• Are less likely to suffer from depression
• Have lower blood pressure in stressful situations
• Can elevate levels of serotonin and dopamine, which calm and relax the body and mind
• Have lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels (indicators of heart disease)
• Live longer
• Have fewer visits to their doctors
• Can help reduce muscle tension and lower pulse rate (for example, watching fish in an aquarium

Health Benefits for Children with a Family Pet

Children with a family pet can benefit greatly. The brain stimulation of interacting with a pet can serve as a doorway into learning. Taking the time to teach a dog a new trick will help the child to learn perseverance. This is a lesson that will stick with a child through their adolescence and into adulthood. Having the determination to stay focused, and not give up, is an important life lesson to learn.

Playing with a pet can also help to provide a calm and relaxing environment for any child to thrive in, along with the ability to stimulate their imagination and curiosity.

Your Family Pet

Owning a pet is a major commitment. One that is very time consuming, especially during the training period, if there is any. Making the decision to adopt or purchase a forever friend should not be taken lightly. If your main reason is to help with a mental illness, then you should know a pet, of any kind, is not a miracle cure. It definitely has many benefits for many people, young and old, but it will not cure a mental or physical illness.

While there are several benefits to having a family pet, there are some drawbacks too. Here are just a few:

Money

The cost of owning a pet can be challenging at times. Especially, if you are already living from one paycheck to the next. Having a pet in the home is the same as having a child. There are food bills, veterinary care, grooming expenses, toys, bedding, boarding, and more. Because of this struggle, you may need to consider all of your options when choosing a pet that you can afford. Of course, you have the option of requesting a fast payday loan or a car title loan to offset the cost, but do you want to go that route?

Dedication

Most pets require daily care and attention, but others, such as a dog, require much more. As a dog owner, you will need to ensure you dog receives plenty of exercise. This will help to keep your dog well-balanced and calm, as well as healthy and happy.

Destructive Behavior

Many pets have the ability to be destructive. From a cat shredding your upholstery, to a dog chewing your shoes. You may even have an animal that has an accident in your home. While training is a great way to eliminate some of this behavior, if left unstimulated for a long period of time your animal may otherwise occupy his time in a negative way.

Social Activity

While there is social aspect of having a pet that can be beneficial, there are also some drawbacks. If you are a dog owner, then you know you can only leave your furry friend for a limited time. While you can take him with you to visit friends, run errands, or sit outside a coffee shop, you will not be able to leave for vacation or even stay out overnight without considering a dog sitter.

On a final note, make sure whatever pet you choose is right for your family.